Getting a marriage license in NY is easy, too easy that it’s scary. We took a day off of work to get our official papers on each other and had to show up at the City Clerk office in Manhattan. From our friends’ experience in getting their license and reading comments online, we anticipated a long wait and agreed to get there early in the day. We arrived around 9 am, an attendant at the information desk checked out IDs, instructed us to fill out the application at the computer kiosk, where we got a confirmation number and a printed ticket number. We saw other couples getting their licenses, many of them dressed up and we showed up in our jeans and sneakers. We walked down the big hall of the office and sat in their large green couches for no more than 2 minutes and our number was called. We approached our assigned station teller to sit down again and show our official government issued IDs, verified that our application information was correct and then signed our marriage license. That was that, about 8 minutes at the City Clerk and had a license to wed – now we have papers of each other, no turning back. As we were signing the license, I felt a slight tinge of nerves through my stomach because we’re almost there. People say that it’s just a piece of paper, it doesn’t really matter, but means at least a little bit of something to us. Even though the license is not complete until our officiant signs it, we walked through the Chinatown streets (where we went to on our first date) holding each other at the hips tighter, grinning more, and laughing more.
After the license, technically we just need a signature and we’re married – do we really need to go through the whole ceremony and reception?? Of course we do, unless we don’t want to get killed by my grandparents and mom. So what else is there to do? Since we were at Chinatown, we picked up the wedding bands, which I’m extremely excited over and couldn’t resist trying on over and over again. We have final appointments left over – dress fittings, hair & make up, flowers – ceremony rehearsal and table seatings (how much fun). I’ve noticed myself getting more nervous each passing week. Not over taking the leap into marriage, but over the details of the big day. I wonder how all of the colors will come together, from the combination of the flowers in the bouquet, the bridal party’s chinese dresses, the tuxes and the reception venue. Before I was very easy going with the details but now I need accurate visuals, or close to it. Part of me understand why brides get the horrible Bridezilla label, or I can understand how brides can get caught up in the stress and frustration to the point that they’re just tired of it all so in defense put their guards up and put their foot down. It’s at that moment people, who are not in the thick of the details and enjoying the sheer excitement of the wedding are at ease to say that the bride is being too uptight and is a Bridezilla. I’ve been called that even before the nerves were piling up but the days training with the Weapons9 family helped me not to react to unjustified name calling and keeping me in wedding dress shape.
Speaking of dresses, next week is the second fitting for both the white wedding dress and the qipao. When I went for the first fitting, I was relieved that the white dress still fit. Mabel was able to make a slight change in the sleeves that made a big improvement in look and fit. It really demonstrated her experience and knowledge in the wedding industry. The qipao is going to need some alterations at the hips but the design looks great. I’m still warming up to the bright red though. I’m more stressed about fitting into the qipao than the white wedding dress because it’s not as forgiving, there is no room for flaw. I find it funny that I’m squeezing my jook sing, not so typical Chinese girl body into a traditional Chinese dress.
