A Great Lakes A school wedding exprience

[Kelly]

Hi N4Ms just wanted to announce my sons wedding this past saterday it was the most exiting wedding adveture we have ever expirenced since it was a weekend and my son couldnt leave any earlier than 5pm the wedding had to take place in Great Lakes and they had to get married at the court house well what made it so adventurous as my son didnt get off base until 6pm and the courthouse marriage liscence place closed at 7:30pm they rushed over to the courthouse right away ( they had map quested just in case they got lost good idea) they got there just in time, after they got their lisence they thought they would have to waight until sunday but they found out they could marry on saterday. when they got to the courthouse on saterday they left early to be the first ones (arrived at 9am) there were 20 couples waighting they were the 3rd group to get married they married them 2 and 3 couples at a time my son and daughter-in-law loved it, they took pictures after wards because they are going to have a church ceramony later on,so this setup  was perfect for them and they didnt have to worry about all the details there were brides there with beutiful wedding dress on and there were couples with casual clothes also they dressed casual and were very peaceful to listen to them they are both very happy about the expirence and would do it agian if they had the chance also all the paperwork they  needed was given to them at the courthouse it was a very possative expirence.

[Mary Garner]

Thank you for sharing! My son and his fiancee want to get married as soon as possible! He just arrived at A school this past weekend so they don't know how long they will have to wait.

[Kelly]

hi mary159 he will at least have to waight untul he gets to phase 2 were he can stay out all weekend and not have to come back at 9pm every night. and there is a procedure for geting married were he talks to his head but im sure he knows that.

 

I will post the address of the courthouse some times it makes it easier to already have that info: THE COURTHOUSE IN WAUKEGAN 20 South county St Waukegan Ill 60085 phone #[phone]

my son got to get married at the same time as some of his division mates so he and my dil will have friends as couples it turned out real good for them we will have a big reception for them when he returns before they are ship out to his permanent base.

ps it takes 24 hours to get the lisence and the courthouse opens saterday and sundays at 9am so it is very important that they get there by 9am no later they start the weddings at 9:30 sharp and saterday is the best day to get married try not to waight until sunday  the lisence office is opened on mon thru thurs from 9am until 5am on friday from 9am until 7:30 pm

[Anti M]

Yay! I know you were all very concerned whether or not they could pull this off.

Congratulations!

[Kelly]

thank you anit M they pulled it off and had a lot of fun doing it, and it gave them memories that they will never forget and closer friends who shared the same expierence with them.and you know anit M some couples might not like getting married in groups and im shore if there had not been so many couples there they might not have been able to get married with other friends because im sure thats not garanteed but when you truly love your sailor you will do what ever it takes to make that day special for them and when you love your country you will be flexible, it realy is just like you counceled on your page to those wanting to get married and have planned a wedding thank for that refrence.

[CopiousAmour]

I am getting married soon and this makes me teary-eyed! I love it and would LOVE to get marred PIR weekend.

[Anti M]

This discussion is over two years old.  They now are cracking down on this, as the sailors sign a page 13 which says they understand the consequences of breaking the liberty rules.  One of those rules is don't go get married.  Your sailor will have a piece of paper in his record which he signed and agreed to ... so you may love to get married that weekend, but HE has to live with the consequences should they decide to punish him.  This can include losing his A school and going undesignated.  Please be careful.

[Bethin NY (Ship 11 025)]

Phew AntiM - we love our son's fiancee, but have been lobbying that they wait till AFTER A school to get married.  This may be the hardest thing my family has done (the whole having him leave home) , so I sure want him to get the most out of the Navy experience that he can.  They've been together since HS & he's 21, I'd like him to have some life experiences before he settles down into marriage. I know it's easy for me to say, but if they are meant to be married, it's forever, so they have a little time  I'm very relieved that PIR weekend marriages are discouraged - that would be a blight on what I'm told is a wonderful weekend. 

[Anti M]

There's a lot of pressure for spouses to be "on the orders" so they can move to where their sailor is stationed, possibly avoid overseas orders where a GF cannot go (and spouses in many cases), and to receive benefits and allowances.  The extra money looks like a lot of cash to a young couple, and it is.  This all means getting married during A school.  

A lot of young sailors leave their high school sweethearts behind when they get a taste of the larger world, and quite a few meet sailors of the appropriate gender and suddenly, that small town girl looks immature and silly when compared to the new, exciting professional women of the military. Not always, but often enough for it to be a recognized phenomena.  The girls it happens to tend to just fall off this board, you don't often hear from them.  I've talked via private messages to a couple girls like this every year.  "He found someone else", "he told me by text"!  Of course, dual military couples who meet and marry in A school have fairly high failure percentages too.  

Does this mean every Navy relationship is doomed?  No.  Does marriage seals a relationship forever?  Nope.  Been there, had that divorce.  I'm not opposed to young marriages, not at all, but then, I'm not opposed to divorces. If it doesn't work as they grow out of each other, it doesn't work.  No reason not to try.   I only oppose young couples rushing into parenthood.  THAT step in life should wait.  If the wife thinks she'll not be lonely if she has a baby, well, she should practice with a puppy. 

[Anti M]

Disclaimer... I can be a bit straightforward and have unconventional opinions... no offense meant to anyone specific, just speaking my mind.  

[Bethin NY (Ship 11 025)]

Actually am laughing - I could've written that post as it so closely mirrors my feelings on the subject :)  Also, I need a disclaimer as my "filter" is broken these days :)

[aVOL2]

I am right there with the mirroring my thoughts... and in my years who needs to do anything BUT be honest with our thoughts?!?  candy coating only takes longer and sweetens and prolongs the pain.  ... ugh...

 

Been there done that...  I was 20... and chasing those dress blues...that of a US Marine.. I remember...  After PIR I get to have a good sit down with my son.. I am so glad his girlfriend has 4 wheels and an engine, he got rid of the other one a while ago! :)