Not getting wedding rings or wearing dresses/suits, a problem?

[MilesAway]

Hi everyone,

Well, it's under 3 months to go to the wedding, and I'm also trying to get the paperwork sorted out. Technically we're already common-law, since we've been living together since July 2012, however I had to go back to Canada for 5 weeks this summer to renew my passport, so I think that would reset the counter to 0.

Anyway, we're planning the wedding, and there are a few potential "problems", so I'm looking to get some feedback from you.

1) I did not buy my fiancee an engagement ring, as she is allergic to most metals and does not wear jewelry (other than a simple pair of earrings). I fidget obsessively and lose any jewelry I have very quickly. Therefore I thought it would be a waste of money. So we will not be buying wedding rings, for the same reasons. Would the VO have an issue with this? We'd rather spend money on a trip or something fun, instead of jewelry that neither of us likes.

2) I don't think we're going to wear dresses or tuxes. The wedding will be outdoors in winter. We'll likely be in snowsuits, so it would seem kind of stupid to get all dressed up under the snowsuit. And the "reception" will just be a dinner at the house we've rented, with whatever family makes the trek there. Everyone will be quite casual, but we will have a nice cake.

If I explain the reasons, do you think it will be an issue in our application? If I did get those things, it would be almost strictly for CIC's benefit, not ours.

Only my side of the family is coming, as her mom is not really aware of our relationship, and has stated that she despises gays. So...yeah. Her mother is also not in the best health and requires a visa. Her sister doesn't talk to her, so that's also out of the question.

 

[Rob_TO]

I wouldn't worry about it. The ring is not a requirement. The VO will most likely just naturally assume rings were part of the ceremony, whether someone includes a picture of them or not. I doubt people include a dedicated photo to just the rings anyways, so I wouldn't even mention it.

A casual wedding is also fine. Any typical destination wedding is pretty casual (people in shorts) so i don't think yours will be a problem at all. May even get the VO to laugh a bit at seeing a wedding in snowsuits outdoors in the winter.

The most important things to show from a wedding are things like:
- some photos of the ceremony itself
- both of you doing "wedding stuff" i.e. you with the wedding cake, doing a speech, first dance, whatever else...
- the reception/dinner afterwards, and all the friends & family that attended
- if you sent out formal invitations or had a formal menu or welcome card at the wedding, you can include that
- get a few close family members to write testimonials on your relationship and how they enjoyed your wedding

 

[MilesAway]

Thanks.

I don't know about a first dance, might be awkward dancing around the living room.

We're going on a tour of the countryside, so we'll have photos of all the family and friends, and us of course, there.

There weren't any formal invitations, everything was done either in person or e-mail. And we are keeping it really small, because I don't want to deal with my entire extended family (30+ aunts and uncles, 60+ cousins), half of whom I've never actually met. Not to mention having them trek across the ocean. So the important people got invites, everyone else can wait until we get to Canada.

My parents will get to meet my fiancee for the first a few days before the wedding. They haven't been able to get over here, and my fiancee has been refused a TRV 4 times.

Here's hoping everything goes smoothly. I'm also concerned about showing proof of returning to Canada, considering my VO is especially sticky about that.