The Road to HK Civil Registry

2007 May 31, Wednesday
~woke up early to register our civil rites ceremony at HK City Hall (HKCH), here in Central for 2007.09.13 through their online facility, ESD Life. Was nervous that logging on and getting the date would be a problem since it's an "auspicious day" and everyone in HK is rushing to get married this year. Good to say that things turned out well...I was prepared for battle and go through just fine. Woohoo! Okay...too early to celebrate as I realized...see below.

~ after telling Ed and my parents that we have confirmed the date already and that everything's a go, my dad just realized that he won't be able to come since he'll be in YVR during that weekend! This was an afterthought an hour later. My dad not attending is fine with me since EW & I would like a very simple and fast 15 minutes with no fan-fair but my dad and I know that this will not pass with my mom. Thus comes the very stressful and anger-filled day of having to change the date and realizing that my dreams for a HKCH civil wedding will not be happening.

~had to go through when, taking into consideration "auspicious dates" and making sure our date will not fall on the "ghost month", July in Chinese Lunar Calendar. Ghost Month this year falls August 13 to September 10 so the wedding has to be before or after that period. It was a "trying" morning of coordinating with both sides and my dad going on the "deep-end" about me not telling him and rushing into things...hay...

~ good thing that there are other alternatives of getting married here in HK and one of them is to go through a lawyer. MW referred a lawyer/registry venue that she booked early on for her wedding - Eden Marriage Registry, and that I take the HK Park Venue. It's convenient and can be booked anytime of the year. How true she is...with EW's and my family's ever-changing minds...this was a better route to go. Price is about the same as what HKCH would have charged me though it's more tight with regards to MW was able to check some dates for me - June 18, June 19, June 24, August 5, and August 11 were all decently free. She was also able to make an appointment with the lawyer for me for this Saturday.
**Note: if you visit the site, you will get to see the points why Eden Marraige Registry is a better route to go for your marriage rights...talk about really marketing and educating the idea. :) It's quite interesting!

~ I'm a bit concern on how to cancel my online booking but MW assured me that this would be easy and the best thing to do first is to see the lawyer and secure the final date before canceling my Sept 13 booking. That's the new game plan! :)

~ Went around on my lunch break for some white/beige dresses that could be used for the civil event as per my mom's instruction since she said that I don't have anything white or beige to use that's appropriate for the event. It was good timing since spring sales are up and new summer stuff are available too. It's shopping time...a justified shopping spree. :P

~ Dinner was at KC's place for Jac-jac's birthday. Thai home-cooked food and company was great just the experience of getting to the venue and how I got to the venue was just troubling. Damn taxi lines and limited taxis on Fridays! Swong was too tired out of her mind to come and join us. It was a sad. Also Ali just had her tooth taken out by the dentist so she hardly ate since I know she's feeling tons of pain. At least the kids were all in good spirit with all this and Jac-jac was happy. :)

2007 June 02, Saturday
~ I trecked out early, about 11.30am, to have a decent lunch before going to the lawyers. Tastey in IFC was the normal choice since I felt like having congee and veggie since I felt that last night's party of Jac-jac required me to cleanse myself internally.

~ I was able to browse around IFC for a bit since it was still early. I went around the stores again and this time I was equipped with my camera to take photos of cloths I tried on. I was almost out of time since I was taking forever trying on cloths left and right that I almost missed out my time to leave IFC to see the lawyer! :P Women and shopping.

~ It was a long walk on a hot and uphill direction to get to St. John's Building, where Eden Registry is. Good thing that the landmarks are familiar to me and that the weather held to mild. Got there and saw the place...simple hall but bright, clean and helpful staff. I can't really complain since this is better than having to log-on online and not be able to pick the exact time of one's wedding...oh, plus the date that we wanted was already booked up and no available already. Booked the 24th of June, 11.20am slot, as per agreed upon and it will fit the "100 days". Brought the photocopy of the IDs of everyone...but forgot to bring my original passport since they wanted to see my working visa! Oh well...Sydney told me that I can fax it on Monday instead of having to go up the hill again.
I was able to check out one wedding while waiting for the lawyer. Very interesting...it's a bit shorter than what I expected but heck...no homily...what else is there but to say a few words, exchange the rings and sign the contract...all in 20 minutes tops!
When I finally got to meet the lawyer, David K. L. Man, I pictured correctly as how I thought he would be...kind of big and slower than a typical HK. He was nice and polite. He was a really funny man too since he had my read the oath to swear that all the IDs I've provided is correct and I'm not in conflict with any Marriage Ordinance. :P He also suggested that I get a translator/civil servant who would translate things in Cantonese for the Chinese guests but I told him that only two families will be attending so he dropped that idea. :) I guess I look Canto enough and was able to understand what he was saying in Canto before I interjected that I would like the conversation to go further in English.

~ I paid the bill and left with a lighter feeling. It's the same feeling as when my mom told me that my church and reception has been secured with the deposit already. Hay...I can breathe now! I felt better after seeing them and paying the full payment for my wedding date. All the stress of the week has somehow melted away. I got a nice wrap-around dress in Vivianne Tam though not for the civil wedding...oh well. I rewarded myself with a high tea set at 4 Seasons again. I didn't mind the wait since I was in no real hurry and didn't really want to go home just yet.
Cora was there and was really nice to give me priority seating at a really nice area and the staff seems to be more attentive again to me due to my connections. Love the stuff...relaxing and definitely a nice place to just "chill".
I love the passion fruit chocolate tart...totally not very chocolatey but nice!

~ Getting home...didn't have dinner anymore since the high tea was more than ample to keep me for the night already. Good that it did since I just learned around 11pm that I need to change the date again!?! Okay...the tough part is not the changing but informing EW's side of the change...that's the killer especially since EW & his mom have already booked their tickets last May 31 to get some airline deals on this.

2007 June 03, Sunday
~ went back again and had to change the date...yet again. This time...EW and I just put our foot down. No more date changes and there was no other way to get this done. Aug5, 11.20am slot, is the date and we are so sticking to it! I provided my working visa proof and finalized the date change. The staff was super nice and it's really great that they are open Monday to Sunday. They speak decent to good English, helpful and quite patient with me. They are also accessible by phone or just walk-ins that makes it easier for me than having to wait for the HK Immigration Hotline that wouldn't really be able to help me immediately since they have to route me to the correct department...that is if you don't die of waiting to get connected to talk to someone first. :P

~ I was taking notes on what route I should go through if my parents and I were to take the MTR and walk over to the registration place. At first, I was concern of the June heat but due to the new date, August might be good and milder in general for a walk instead of taking the cab from home.

~ I will have to also instruct my brother to pick up the bouquet when the time comes. Dolls or fake flowers were not the option...it would not look too well in general and I'm sure it would cause some "comments", if went to that direction.
I'm still deciding on whether I go about Agnes b Fleuriste (right) photo of their peony arrangment, HK800) or Armani Fiori (left), though I think the latter would be better since it's closer to Central and the landmarks are easier. Chater's my favorite building in Central. :) I have to check the prices, delivery, operating hours and the flowers they offer through a shop visit at Armani Fiori this Saturday and website viewing. I do know that (1) I would like a nice bouquet of peonies; (2) that EW's bouttonneirs matches mine; (3) price is what market is offering...that's about it!
Based on the my visit to Armani Fiori, Armani has more variety though price a bit more. I find more creativity is put into by Armani's florist than Agne b...sadly since their decor changes each week and it's all well-thought of. Plus I heard that the store opens at 10am on Sundays compare to Agnes' 11am shop opening.
Everyone has to be at the civil registry venue 11am...too tight for something that might or might not be important for the real date.

~ I went on a big shopping theraphy...enough to get me a Vivianne Tam VIP and a Rayure gift (plus one stamp closer to a HK500 vouchure & VIP).