It's 1 month old - Jin & Carol's marriage!

Dear Friends,

Today marks the first month celebration of our marriage!! *\(^o^)(^o^)/*

After our registration on Apr 27, we made visits to Macau, Shanghai & Suzhou. After a brief bye-bye, I headed Paris and then Belgium and met Jin again at HK airport for another week in HK...now that we are both back to our "normal mode" working hard in Tokyo and Hong Kong respectively. phew... The lucky thing was - we were able to stay together for almost half the month! yey yey!

It was a very colorful and busy busy month for us...yet, there is a call inside us keep reminding us to send this thank-you note to all of you!

Friends, we did not expect our day to be so marvellous until we had your presence. Your warm words of blessings, your true smile, big laughs, strengthful hand-shakes....your caring and support meant a lot to us. We could not thank you more but we promise to treat you a proper celebration next year either in Japan or Hong Kong.

In the meantime, let us share as much joy as we have with you:

• Photo album of the registration day: Our memories with you to last and treasure -
  http://picasaweb.google.com/jctakamura/OurWeddingPart1HKRegistration
• Preview version of our pre-wedding photos: (http://picasaweb.google.com/jctakamura/ZRuDzH)
  We took our pre-wedding pictures in Nara, Japan on April 8, 2008. (Exactly 2 months after Jin proposed!) Besides standard wedding dress and colorful evening dress, we also prepared "Kimono"/ "和服" (in Chinese) - it's the one and only "振袖" I wore in my life!! (Note: 振袖 is the type of kimono only for unmarried female, with long long sleeves.)
• Our wedding blog (http://jincarol.blogspot.com/):
  Many of you have asked the same question: "how's life after married?" "how do you feel being a husband/wife?" We are trying to address these questions via our blog - keep you eyes on it! You will also find detailed steps how we put together the wedding registration and other wedding arrangement - hope it will be helpful to the next brides/grooms!

ENJOY & STAY TUNED!

Warmest regards,
Carol & Jin

The Marriage Registration Day - 2008.04.27

On 27th of April, Carol and Jin made our eternal vow to be bonded for the rest of our lives. This is the day we start our married labu labu life!!!!! yey!!! yey!!! yeeeey!!!!!

It was supposed to be a humble & simple registration process but with all your presence, my dear friends, it became such a shiny memory for us. Thanks for coming, thanks for your blessings - we are so glad that you were there!

Friends, let us replay this very precious memory to you. Especially for friends who we did not managed to invite to come...(><

6:00 Wakeup
J: Today is a big day. I need to be fresh and healthy, ... but, .... my cold, ....... please let me sleep a bit more..... zzz

C: Wow, a straight-through deep sleep (although just 5 hours) without nightmare/ stupid dream! Mind sober, heart peaceful, Ok...let me start ticking my checklist...no conditioner for hair wash, dry hair to 100%, open button clothes..."to-bring" items ready.


7:00 Stylist (Helen) arrives to turn Carol to a princess
J: OK, gotta wake up!!! Rise and Shine!!! From this point on, the real and serious day starts!

C: I saw Helen from my window at 6:45 am. She arrived early and waited downstair...pressed my door bell at 7 am sharp. Helen knew my character & request (she remembered it so well!)from the trial make-up, thus, quickly started her art. The whole process was just relaxing and fun, especially with my cat, Ken Ken who welcomed Helen and sat still looking how Helen played the magic. I really like Helen, she is more than a stylist, she just wants to help. She also helped me to dress up, escorted & brought our stuff all the way to the car park....Thanks a lot, Helen!! I will defintely go back to Helen for my make up next year (make sure I book her well in advance to secure her timeslot!! ><).

9:00 Fiona (Carol's old friend) arrives to pick us up with her car

J: Whoa!!! The car soooo pretty pretty!!! Thank you soooo much to the sisters!!!!! Carol really does have very caring and gooodo goooodo friends around her!!!

C: Wow!!!! I did not expect my 'house members' to prepare the car decoration! When Helen pointed at the pretty car, I said I was not sure it's for us...coz my friend told me her car is just a not-so-good one...hey, Captain, it was GREAT, OK?! We were all very excited...and Captain said she washed the car the day before...hahaha...yey! Thanks 'house members'! It was a big present and a pleasant surprise!


9:30 Pick up kaachan (Jin's mom) at hotel
J: As kaachan (母ちゃん) and I had briefed before flying to HK, the outcome was as expected. Nicely done, as usual.

C: Wao! Kaachan looked so nice in Kimono. It was a humble one yet very elegant! Many of my friends are coming purposely for Kaachan's Kimono...(?_?) They won't be disappointed!


10:00 Meet at Cotton Tree Marriage Registration Office
J: A bit nervous, but more than that, my cold...... (>___<; But, I have a strong will, so I should be fine. Keep my integrity and I will be fine. But, since the guests are all of Carol's, I felt both envious and sad. I wouldn't have this much of a crowd on my side, ... and at the same time, but then, Carol has such closely bonded friends... iinaa...

C: My Papa arrived really early, he dragged my uncle all the way from Canada back to HK and escorted my grandma. I could feel the intense love they have for me and their welcome to Jin as a new family member. For every small move they take, especially my papa, was full of caring and love...(n_n. I guess my Papa was the No.1 nervous person for the day... Friends started coming, one after the other, some were long-time-no-see friends, some are super good friends, colleagues...I was so hyper to see all their faces! In fact it wasn't the full list yet...I still have many good friends that I wished to invite while either couldn't come or ran out of time to invite...(sorry!) in 2009...!!


10:30 Marriage Registration Starts

J: Nervousness had gone away, and I was fine all the way. I think Carol's father took all of our nervousness into him..... The feeling I had was more, ..... of a fulfillment of "finally, we have come to this stage". Throughout the registration ceremony, I was thinking of the happy image of our married life and thus, I couldn't even shift my eye focus to the guests (sorry all...!!)

C: Happy, hyper! But maybe too hyper that I didn't check/know what I was supposed to do...hahaha. It is indeed lucky to be a "junior" of marriage to enjoy the advices & help from my experienced married friend - Erica! I did some stupid things (e.g. pop in the marriage hall before guests were seated, wondered whether guests could see me from the veil....) (><

The other day a photographer told me that 9 out of 10 girls could not finish their vow smoothly becuase of the tears... I didn't feel anything at all. Probably same to Jin, I was filled with positive energy to anticipate our new life.

My papa looked really "heavy", as if a dark cloud is ahead of him....Papa, we will be alright, we are commited to be faithful partners to each other, we promised, together, we will make better lives. Papa...I know you really love us, I know you were surprised how fast time flied and worried how far we will be apart...we assure, our bond is always there, no matter the distance/ frequency that we could meet.

Photo shooting with everyone:

• scene 1: In the office

J: Still daydreaming. Really thank Daisy for the initiative in started to lead in taking the photos.

C: THANKS DAISY and FIONA as back-up cameraman!!! BIG THANKS TO ERICA on her help with my dress and all 'Dos & Don'ts'! (><

• scene 2: Outside the office

J: This is the first moment when we are out in public as a married couple. I want to scream out of happiness and accomplishment!!! But, ... can't still yet! Pictures pictures pictures. Take all as much as you wish!!! But more than that, Carol is sooooooooo wonderfully beautiful!!!!!

C: hmm...how can I treat my dear friends? offer our photo-shooting buffet...take photos photos and photos...we really wanted to make sure we entertained our guests and thanks every of them to come to withness our big moments. (hmm..but always keep my friends waiting..sorry ><) But it was a bit too dark and we moved quickly to another location.

• scene 3: By the small deck with white pillars

J: Better location la. Gooodo goooodo!!! Get them flashes and shutters sing a song to us!!

C: quick...I need to make sure everybody was taken into the photos. Friends, come come...

• scene 4: By the big stage of Beijing Olympic front sign; a group photo

J: Stairs for group photo la!!! C'mon everybody!!!!! :-D

C: ....this was the area with Beijing Olympic 2008....very patriotic. The stairs served as a platform for group photos. Yey!

• scene 5: By the waterfall in the back

J: Ooops, our crowd is sooo huge we're blocking the way... Sorry!!! It is then, kaachan elaborated her current situation, that her feet hurts, and thus she wants to change from the Japanese kimono to something easier. I quickly relayed the message to Carol and was able to pass the message to Fiona to snatch her items from the car. Thank you to Fiona for her kind and spontaneous act, and Stephanie's kind help in assisting kaachan change.

C: It was a great day for photo shooting, not too bright and no rain. It was probably a nice day for a walk in the park, too. Crowded crowded and we were blocking the way ><. We probably took quite some time for photos and the parents and elderlies get tired. Also thanks Eva, Shirley & Mavis to check availability and get them settled in the teahouse.

J: (to add to Carol) ... [thanks to Eva, Shirley & Mavis] also for passing the gift photo for those early leavers!!!


Photo shooting with some close friends and us two alone:

• scene 1: By the pond

J: yey yey yey!!! More pictures la!!! Getting hyper both from the medicine and the feeling. Carol's beautiful, her bouquet and hair flowers match so well with her, .... She is an angel!!!!!

C: Mic seems to be in his mood...started taking artistic photos of us...like the photo-shooting we did in Japan! hahaha...

• scene 2: By the barrack (I was learnt the other day that my colleague passed by us in HK Park, the couple was wondering "is this Carol???")

J: Kind of a silly picture, but was interesting. Still hyper hyper!!!

C: hehe...I always enjoy silly photos with Jin, and my secondary school friends...hahaha..we all couldn't help but laughing so hard...oops... I need to be elegant...(><


Family lunch at Lock Cha Tea House

J: More and more guests have left by then, and we only had the really close close friends and the family members share the lunch. The vegetarian dim sum was simple but nice enough for everyone to enjoy. Give gifts and received gifts. Gooooooooddo nya!!!!!

C: The first funny thing was...getting ourselves changed. There was no elegant place but a privacy place...W.C. (><) It was just simple food...everything was just simple enough to make a cozy environment with slow slow pace. We had the quality time chatting with family and family-alike friends. Thank-you all for today! We will treat you a better meal in our wedding parties!!! We finished at around 2:30pm and Mr & Mrs Takamura rode on Fiona's pretty car again and went back home.

Overall comment:
J: I think all went well with the limited briefing. I really feel that Carol does have very close mutual friends who can make a very close teamwork just on the spot. I think this is a treasure. Moreover, Carol was, ....... just toooooooooooo beautiful!!!!! Her efforts in making this event the one and only best one did indeed come true. Her body fit and slimmed down, her face so bright and smooth like a baby's face, everything was just perfect. On the other hand, how about me? I kind of was a bit shamed since I haven't done much; not as much effort in keeping myself fit or taking the steps to make the event one and only. Is this ok or not? I just cannot stop wondering and thinking.....

C: haha..Jin, please don't say that. You did of course, put efforts and did something revolutionary - shaved! Everyone said you look so refreshed in your new look =P hoho, handsome handsome yo~

Meeting Jin is a very beautiful thing in my life. Our path was indeed short and our passion has made it even shorter… (time flies all the time)! It was probably too short for me to portrait the details of our wedding and on THAT DAY, I was totally blank and in an inexperienced + curious + looking forward mode all day long…

With that psychological state, my sensor to the external world was so much more sensitive then to the inner self. I could only feel my darling Jin’s soft eyesight, mild words and heated heart, I could only see my dear family members’ and friends’ happy and touched faces…All these turned my smile and made me the “1/10” girl who did not cry while making the vow of love…

Apr 27 was in fact a rehearsal and a kick-off - we needed to register early to merge our lives together via the legal procedures. It could be a bit too rush that I was not well prepared and underestimated the joy we could bring to our friends…it was only a simple registration and nothing good to treat friends, I therefore, did not really plan perfectly and invite all my important friends to come. (><) Friends, please be patient with us. We need one year’s time to prepare our real celebration with you, and you will witness again our real love, where our passion, our caring and loving hearts are still as heated as we are now, and the warmth will be like ashes that bring every of you comfort.

There are always something "better than words" - snapshots of the day:

Our Wedding (Part 1 - HK registration)

The Marriage Registration - Background Information

I think we have made our loyal readers wait tooooooooo long. We must apologise for the loooooooong wait. There are just toooooo many things which happened all at once, and we need some time to prepare the posts. It does not mean that we have forgotten or become lazy. It is just that our private lives and our work lives are full of events all at once. Please be patient; for once we are back in pace, new posts will be uploaded.

This post was prepared to show our audience just a bit of information on how our customs of getting married in Hong Kong and Japan are different.

□■Background
Marriage is logistically an easy thing when the bride and the groom is of the same country. Under that country's law and custom, bride and the groom requests legal authority (whether this is a social or religious authority) for an eternal vow between the couple. And when the authority approves this "legal contract", the bride and the groom becomes a "bonded couple for life".

However, things are different when the bride and the groom is from a different country. We need to get both of our countries' authority to acknowledge that we had registered as a married couple. In our case, we took the choice of getting a legal authority in Hong Kong to register a HK citizen and a foreign spouse marriage, and then report this to the Japan authority.

However much we are a "married couple", that doesn't mean that the foreigner can come into the country like its citizen. If it is that easy, then a criminal of country A can force a person in country B to get married and escape to another country. It doesn't work as easy as this. The spouse of must apply for a legal permit for that "foreigner" to stay in his/her spouse's country. In our case, this applies to Carol to apply for legal permit to stay in Japan, since in the long run, we are planning to base are lifestyle in there.

So, the battle of getting the legal permit - called the spouse visa - starts here. Getting a spouse visa seems simple but really not for Japan. It requires:
1. Applying for legal permit to keep Carol in Japan for extended time (over the 90 days tourist visa). This is called the 在留資格認定証明書. It has a number (in fact, many many) of items we need to prepare, which includes snapshots of us two (to prove we are labu labu and that we did perform the marriage ceremony), an essay of how we got together until we decide to get marry, etc. This process takes from 1 to 3 months.
2. When the permit is issued, it is then sent to the citizen's (Jin's) address.
3. Citizen (Jin) delivers this to the foreigner (Carol).
4. Foreigner (Carol) takes this to the Japan Consulate Visa section and applies for the spouse visa. This takes about 2-3 days.
5. The spouse visa is issued to the foreigner (Carol).
6. Foreigner (Carol) buys a one way ticket to the country (Japan) and flies.
7. If the immigration passes through, then 無問題. Foreigner (Carol) can stay for 3years (limit for spouse visa). If not, then we need to start from step 1 once again and foreigner cannot enter the country.
8. Within 90 days after arrival into the nation, foreigner (Carol) needs to request for a "foreigner registration card" 外国人登録証明書 which serves as an ID in Japan.
9. After the limitation of the spouse visa, the foreigner has three choices:
a. Apply for naturalisation (Carol becomes a Japanese).
b. Apply for permanent alien visa (no need to renew, and can keep the alien status).
c. Apply for an extension of spouse visa (3years once again).


Phew, ... Really a long and scary project we are in.... (>_______<;
However, we have barely stood on its starting line. The project starts from here!!!


□■Difference of HK and JP "Marriage Registration"
a. Hong Kong: ceremony
The Hong Kong style Marriage Registration is a full-fledged ceremony. The couple applies, pays the deposit and picks the date of registration. After then, our marriage request will be posted up for public evaluation for 2weeks. Once no objections are made within this period, the date is confirmed and we are good to register.

On the day of marriage (in our case, we only did the registration, but it is common that the wedding ceremony and the marriage registration are done on the same day), we start from early morning to be the best bride and groom of the day, and move to the registration office. There, we first of all pay the charges for registration and submit our ID's. Then, in the actual ceremonial hall, we vow in front of our guests that we will become a married couple, and have our marriage rings exchanged and marriage certificate signed by two witnesses.

The marriage certificate is then provided at the end of the registration ceremony. Then, all is dismissed for further photo shooting and/or lunch. The ceremony was in total of about 30 min.

b. Japan: logistical handling of paperwork
In Japan, marriage registration is just a submission of paperwork. There is a form we have to submit which requests the legal authority to move the bride into groom's family tree (or visa versa, if groom decides to take the bride's family name). This form is called a 婚姻届 and this also requires two witnesses to sign and place a chop (印鑑). The bride and the groom, or either one can submit this form, and this can be handed in at any time (24x7); during non-office hours, the guard on duty will receive the form, but the record of submission will be counted on the date and time of submission to the guard. There are no certificate of marriage provided, but a sheet of paper which proves that the form has been received 結婚届受理書 so that at least, this proves that the marriage request has been submitted. After several days, the family tree 戸籍 will contain the name of the spouse under the groom's family tree. There are no charges or ceremony to be performed. This is just a transaction over the counter and will not take more than 5min.

However in our case, since we had already performed the marriage registration in HK, we cannot do it once again. What we can do is to report to the JP legal office that we have married under the HK law and obligations. In order to do so, we went to the JP consulate office in HK. This is the only legal office representing Japan and have Japanese authority and legality in HK. After filing the necessary form to report to the JP consulate, it normally takes about 2months to reflect the marriage registration to my family certificate 戸籍.


So, as seen above, the practices are quite different. Let's see how we have done in the next post (coming up soon) of what went on during the Marriage Registration!

Friends, YOU ARE INVITED !!!

We are delighted to announce this - Friends, you are welcome to join us for this "phase 1" celebration*!

For the every little step we took in the preceding 1.5 months...the marriage ceremony is taking shape. It is going to be a humble yet solemn (?) ceremony in the government office and we need you to be there to add some fun =p !!!

In fact our expectation evolves...the original plan was to keep it a very simple one with the presence of our core family members + some "pseudo" family members (^w^). We hoped to keep it a surprise to friends until 2009 for the wedding parties.

Well, we were right in the sense that people all like surprise - we received soooo much high-pitched "Congratulations!" and a lot of exclamation marks from you, our dear friends....!!!

Obviously, our friends were excited about our marriage! Some even said it's a 電擊結婚 (for JP)/ 閃電結婚 (for HK) haha...

However, we underestimated the joy and eagerness of our friends (hehe...). Everybody was so nice and wanted to celebrate for us in person!!!

This is so warm and we are very thankful to receive all your blessings and kind words, and for the help that you provided us all along to prepare for our "long-distance" wedding.

We want you to be there - we want to share our joy with you!!!

And most of all, we want to THANK YOU all of you =)

*Indeed, this is only our "phrase 1" celebration. We are planning to have our wedding parties in Hong Kong & Japan around spring/summer time in 2009 - stay tuned !

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P.S: Technical hints reagarding "How to reply":

Thanks XX for introducing this website!

Flower bouquet confirmed!

Yey Yey! Wedding bouquet also confirmed!

Having done plenty researches and sought friend's recommendation, I believed it worth a try at agnes b. fleuriste.

Indeed, in terms of price vs. quality (flower, design & service), I am happy with agnes b.

Today was a rainy stormy day...I rushed into the flourist with half of my body wet/soaked ><...this created such a contrast effect...as if I visited a paradise by accident - how peaceful the flourist was, and full of beautiful flowers.

With that very good mood, my sensitivity to beauty became sooo sharp...and I was finally able to make a decision for the long time struggle - whether to go with red roses or pinky bouquet, meaning to go with a mature image or a cute & gentle image....haha

My mind was 100% on pinky pinky when I saw the lovely hyacinth and tiny peony. Together with some creamy roses and bellwort, I am sure it will go perfect with my wedding dress (which has a ribbon around my chest) and my refreshing pink make-up.

Order confirmed.

agnes b. also provides floral decoration at banquet. Worth further exploration for my wedding party next year!

Wedding dress confirmed!

Ahhhhhh...finally!!!

Starting from Mar 1, I keep looking for wedding dress almost every another day.
Thanks Stuare + sister & Sandy, for the search in TST again on March 2; with Mavis the other day in Central & Erica for today!!!!

The more shops I went, the more frustration I had. Bad experience, over budget, time is running out...stress level went all the way up and thanks Jin for his comfort & tolerance...><

I was so desperated to a point that I also checked Shanghai air ticket...just 1 step away from going to Suzhou for tailor-made dress. (even though we will still go and make it in May...).

Today is the watershed. HK rental vs SH purchase.

The answer is .....HK rental!

In fact we only checked 1 shop today - Anovia, the sister shop of 浪漫一生 (my photo shooting company). It is a new shop, opened only for 2 months, new dresses & fashionable.

Staff were nice I would say but the bargaining process was not easy - probably the shop is just too new and they have yet been able to cover the cost...? Anyway, we found a gorgeous dress, priced at HKD 3,380 and made it a deal at HKD 2,000. Thanks so much for Erica's support...I did insist this time. (I thought we were not tooo aggressive but Jin said it's indeed...ha..ha..)

All in all, I am happy with Anovia and the dress I chose.

Want to take a look of the dress? hehe..I want to keep it a surprise on Apr 27 - I won't post it here =p

Erica is really a good friend of mine. She was soo busy at work but still spared the time with me. We both like rice noodle (河粉) a lot but for my diet, she accompanied me eating 米粉...no cold drinks, too. hahahaha, although they were just small things but that meant a lot! (Jin said Erica is a good mentor for me on this marriage project..hahaha)

Thanks again Erica!

Dress dress...stress

I thought I could keep the registration day simple...
I thought I would be satisfied with a plain dress like this --> (Goddess long dress from JCrew)

Well...obviously, I underestimated my desire to become a pretty bride (pride?)of Jin.

The story begins with the voucher I purchased at the wedding expo in Feb from 藏愛婚紗 for Jin's rental suit for the registration day. I went to the showroom to check out the suits today...and.... I FOUND KAWAII DRESSES!!!!

The staff was really nice, in the enojoyable 2 hours, I checked out many dresses and suits & looked at the wedding photo albums & package.

藏愛婚紗 is so proud of their dresses, they design them, they hand-make them. They use crystal instead of just shinny flakes you could buy from any stationery shop...the lace was of high class quality, too.

These are the 2 dresses that I really really like:
1) A shinny white dress with Austrian crystals on it..."J class" dress that costs HKD 3,000. (they offer me a discount at HKD 2,4xx.

2) A cute & sweet light pink dress...look at the details...so nice...it's a "K class" dress that costs HKD 5,000!!! *o* offer to me at HKD 4,000.

(sorry Jin...I didn't take any pictures of the men's...despite it was the primary purpose for the visit today...=P)

I spent another hour chatting with the staff for photo shooting in Taiwan...they were so patient & friendly and I was convinced that 藏愛 provides the premium of goodo dresses and supreme make-up.

The 高雄 plan seems to be something for us...studio, Greek style blue & white houses, flower sea, forrest & lake...the manager offers me HKD 9,888 [official price at HKD 11,288] for 30 pics in larger album size + upgraded (larger size) paint photo + tiny photo album (3R size) for 20 pics + thank you card x 100 + assessories, etc. Price exclusive of hotel & air ticket.

Well..still more expensive than 法國巨星 as I explored at wedding expo... put it aside for the moment first...

We then went to a few more shops, mainly HK's. The staff at 現代經典 was patient & helpful but their wedding dresses were not as good as 藏愛, not cheap, too. Thanks to Stuare's help, I also checked a shop recommended by her sis but unfortunately couldn't find anything.

Others are not worth mentioning...Ah, there was 1 cheating shop (黑店) that I need to bring your attention - "La Mariage". They had really nice dresses, European style, very classy. However, I was forced to pay HKD 300 after I tried on the dress (which I was not told before hand)!! It was totally @#$#@^%$& !!!!!! Anyway, we was able to leave the shop without paying a cent.

This unhappy experience drew an end to today's wedding dress window shopping day....SO TIRED.

My companion today is Kate - an always excited & curious colleague. Thank you so much for Kate's advice all along, her support & caring. Hope it was a good exposure for Kate & provide market info for her planning =)

Conclusion is - still, 藏愛 is the best among all....!

As the very last stop, we checked "裕華" for Chinese dress.

There was a tailor corner and it costs HKD 2,900 simply for workmenship!!! Making a dress would cost HKD 3,xxx!! Luckily, my size is quite standard and I was able to grap 1 dress (very fit!) after I got the jacket for Jin.

They are the trophies of today:

For JP photo shooting maybe? Then we will be able to get both JP style & CN style in our album...hehehe

Thanks again to Kate and hope she can take a good good rest tomorrow!

We are READY!

Look at this - our marriage was approved! Yey Yey !!! v(^-^) (^-^)v

Finally...!!!

International marriage is never easy! Especially for us who have the gene of FNAO*...!

We first needed to decide WHERE to get married (meaning 'register')...

To answer this question, we checked respective government offices in JP & HK, just to realise that they are apple and orange, they don't go along with each other and are unable to tell how the other tastes!

We researched all available resources from the net, studied so hard as if we were preparing for entrance exam...we got some hints, both pros & cons.

hmmm...we need a middleman to tell us from real experience & both perspectives- The Consulate-General of Japan in HK! Thanks to Jin's extensive communication and persistent follow up, we go t the answer - let's do it in Hong Kong!

Major Pros for Hong Kong - easy! efficient! internationally recognised! (HONG KONG...I Like HONG KONG~! )

• Easy - Carol only needs to present the HKID card, Jin needs the passport and a "single status" certification.
• Efficient - Once all documents are submitted, after 15 days, we can go ahead to confirm & hold our wedding ceremony and get the Marriage Certificate on the spot.
• Internationally recognised - there is a Marriage Certificate & in English, especially convenient if we need to move from here & there within the globe (who knows!) .

Well, it was not 100% easy though.

The HOW, especially the process of getting Jin's 'single status' ceritification was kind of difficult...difficult in the way that very limited info was learnt. No matter how detailed I asked, HK's marriage office was unable to give me the exact thing they need (e.g. issue from which insitution, what kind of letter) @#%$^#$@^

It's not only me...

Jin woke up early in a freezing lazy Sunday morning to get the household record from local government office...triple confirmed with the General-Consulate in HK for info I could not get from the HK marriage office, packaged everything so well to minimise my efforts...I am pigeon Carol .

For all the efforts that we put, finally we passed the 15 days. (marriage intention submitted on Feb 14) and submitted all necessary documents. How great to learn that our marraige is approved!!!!!!

It's only the begining but Stage 1 passed. Keep adding oil!!

* FNAO stands for "Failure Not An Option", it's the motto of our company.