Yes, we finally did it! On Tuesday morning, July 22, 2008, we made it official and got married at New York City Hall. We stayed at the Duane Street Hotel a few blocks away for the two nights before, so we were able to walk over. The morning of, myself and one and half year-old headed out to the streets of Tribeca for a boys' morning after stbw returned from the flower market. One of stbw's fashionista friends sent over a stylist for stbw's hair and makeup and Tal, a photographer friend, spent the morning with us taking photos. Other than that, it was just the four of us and an unknown witness we grabbed from the line to sign for us. A bit of waiting after we paid our ceremony fee of $35, and the two kids managed to throw rose petals pretty much everywhere in City Hall. The ceremony was all of two minutes (Beats the hell out of those Church weddings--no offense Father Haddock). The fun part came after the wedding. Since we are moving overseas, we needed an Extended Form marriage license for it to be valid in other countries. So, you get back in line (5 people ahead of us) at the Records Office. At this point we made a good decision to send cw (current wife) and the two kids back to the hotel. It was 10:30 a.m. and car was picking us up at 1:00 p.m. for the trip to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. After ten minutes in line, cranky Civil Servant gives me form, tells me how to fill it out, and tells me to get back in line after filling form out. I fill form out, get back in line (ten people ahead of me) and wait. Back again with cranky Civil Servant who takes form and tells me to have a seat until name is called. After twenty minutes, name is called (along with ten other people). I get in line (six people ahead of me) and wait. Cranky Civil Servant gives me a receipt and tells me to go to the next room and pay and then return to her line. I get in Cashier line (twelve people ahead of me) and wait. I pay cashier and return to cranky Civil Servant line (At this point I cannot believe that I have been in this line 4 separate times--this time I am first in line) Mayor Bloomberg, if you are reading this post, please do something--otherwise I cannot support your Presidential ambitions. So, cranky Civil Servant gives me my extended form Marriage License and I am home free! It's noon and I have an hour to pack and have wedding luncheon with the family. No wait, this is New York City and this Civil Servant is really cranky. Along with my extended form Marriage License, she hands me a piece of paper with directions to two separate buildings, which I know are not that close, especially on a 95 degree day in a tuxedo. It turns out, the signature on the license has to be validated by the New York State Supreme Court and the New York Department of State. I won't go into the messy details, but an hour later, I have my signature validations and cw and the kids are picking me up in lower Manhattan just in time for the boat. The process could take the romance out of a Danielle Steele novel!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Going to the Chapel...
Yes, we finally did it! On Tuesday morning, July 22, 2008, we made it official and got married at New York City Hall. We stayed at the Duane Street Hotel a few blocks away for the two nights before, so we were able to walk over. The morning of, myself and one and half year-old headed out to the streets of Tribeca for a boys' morning after stbw returned from the flower market. One of stbw's fashionista friends sent over a stylist for stbw's hair and makeup and Tal, a photographer friend, spent the morning with us taking photos. Other than that, it was just the four of us and an unknown witness we grabbed from the line to sign for us. A bit of waiting after we paid our ceremony fee of $35, and the two kids managed to throw rose petals pretty much everywhere in City Hall. The ceremony was all of two minutes (Beats the hell out of those Church weddings--no offense Father Haddock). The fun part came after the wedding. Since we are moving overseas, we needed an Extended Form marriage license for it to be valid in other countries. So, you get back in line (5 people ahead of us) at the Records Office. At this point we made a good decision to send cw (current wife) and the two kids back to the hotel. It was 10:30 a.m. and car was picking us up at 1:00 p.m. for the trip to Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. After ten minutes in line, cranky Civil Servant gives me form, tells me how to fill it out, and tells me to get back in line after filling form out. I fill form out, get back in line (ten people ahead of me) and wait. Back again with cranky Civil Servant who takes form and tells me to have a seat until name is called. After twenty minutes, name is called (along with ten other people). I get in line (six people ahead of me) and wait. Cranky Civil Servant gives me a receipt and tells me to go to the next room and pay and then return to her line. I get in Cashier line (twelve people ahead of me) and wait. I pay cashier and return to cranky Civil Servant line (At this point I cannot believe that I have been in this line 4 separate times--this time I am first in line) Mayor Bloomberg, if you are reading this post, please do something--otherwise I cannot support your Presidential ambitions. So, cranky Civil Servant gives me my extended form Marriage License and I am home free! It's noon and I have an hour to pack and have wedding luncheon with the family. No wait, this is New York City and this Civil Servant is really cranky. Along with my extended form Marriage License, she hands me a piece of paper with directions to two separate buildings, which I know are not that close, especially on a 95 degree day in a tuxedo. It turns out, the signature on the license has to be validated by the New York State Supreme Court and the New York Department of State. I won't go into the messy details, but an hour later, I have my signature validations and cw and the kids are picking me up in lower Manhattan just in time for the boat. The process could take the romance out of a Danielle Steele novel!
