I'm a lurker of the forums and initially found some of the post responses to be a bit over the top and disproportionate--specifically on the "not engaged yet" board. My now fiance and I had been talking very seriously about getting engaged for quite a while, and I knew he was in the process of picking out the ring,etc. and decided to join the knot. This was mainly because I knew once we became engaged the wedding plans would start happening very quickly--because my fiance is joining the Air Force. I'm pretty sure I caught that particular board on a bad day...but at the time I was appauled by their posting style. I've been lurking a while now and see things in a slightly different light; though I think this board is a little more sound minded in their responses and very frenquently offer good advice; good enough that up to this point I've seen no point in posting or asking for advice myself.
A little back-story. My fiance and I are from different cities; I am from metro Atlanta and he and his family are from Orlando, FL. We've been dating 4 years, and spend the majority of our time together in Orlando (I go to school 3 hrs away). I have had a really tough time deciding which city would be most appropriate in which to have the wedding. He and I are financing the wedding--so that doesn't neccessarily help in dictating a location. Here are my thoughts:
*I wanted to choose a city that had the least amnt of travel for the oldest attending members. His Grandparents will be able to attend, and live in FL. Mine will not be able to attend, they are too ill to travel:[
*Both of my parents are having a tough time economically. My Mom literally just left her abusive husband and is moving into a small apartment, and my father is losing his house and planning on living at a campground (sad, but somehow true...). They both live in the atl area. Travel isn't out of the question for them, but I know it would be hard on them.
*My fiance's Dad has breast cancer and is recieving chemotherapy. I don't know when or if he would be able to travel. He's dealt with the therapy very well and generally goes about his life the way he always had, but i can't say what the state of things will be later on.
*A lot less people will be able to attend, especially on my side, if we have the wedding in Orlando. I see good and bad things about this. I don't really want a big wedding, but would like my friends and family to be able to attend mywedding, etc.
*The majority of the wedding party consists of my family that would all be traveling from Atlanta.
*My fiance's family is considerably well off and are willing to travel wherever neccessary for our wedding/enjoy travel, etc. In other words it isn't something they would neccessarily consider an inconvenience.
I honestly don't know how to decide. Right now I am leaning on having the wedding in Orlando, but I am not sure if it is the right decision. Any thoughts are welcome/very appreciated (the good the bad the ugly, I am prepared;])
Thank you!