[jaykay]

You need to apply for a notice of marriage. The application will be displayed for 15 days and then approved (unless there is an objection). Once you have this you must get married within 3 months or you will have to apply again. The earliest you can apply for a April wedding is in January. When you apply for your notice of marriage you'll book a date at the same time.

[dainsai]

I heard that since wedding registry booking can now be done online, there are actually people who offer to do the booking for you. Otherwise you can group some friends together and have each one log on and get a ticket for you ... at 7:30am the day when your preferred date is available to be booked.

[Valencia1]

The Chinese restaurant is more difficult to book than the wedding date, if it's a good date. If your father in law is a traditional man, he won't let you get away with a small private wedding, it's a matter of face. Have you talked about the money (a gift) to your in laws? It's a Chinese tradition to give money to your in laws if you marry a girl, at least $10000 or more, and the cake coupons (Chinese and Western cakes) too. Usually people talk about this in a restaurant. Your wife has to wear a red Chinese gown in the wedding reception too.

[Valencia1]

An average HK guy gives $20000-30000 to his in-laws, in case your in-laws get mad at you.

[ohchk2001]

Originally Posted by Valencia

An average HK guy gives $20000-30000 to his in-laws, in case your in-laws get mad at you.

Yup I got the dowry covered, don't worry I plan on paying $30k plus $2k a month for life as a retirement benefit. As a victim of Communism he had a rough life, and I want give him a little something each month. Everyone one in the family contrbutes some money to him, so I plan on to as well. My fiance approved of my plan.

My parents escaped from Communist Poland, but their life seemed like a cakewalk compared to what my soon to be father in law experienced.

With the restaurant booking, when I book do I need to pay everything upfront or is it like a deposit? How does it usually work? Or is it like reserving a table at a restaurant.

As far as large weddings go, he is a very private man so it would mainly be close friends and family....so it will be pretty private.

[ohchk2001]

Anyone know how much I gotta pay for the restaurant booking in advance for like a deposit? Just a ballpark figure.

I plan on reserving 4 tables

[Valencia1]

Your in-law is lucky indeed! Even sons may not be able to do that. Since you're booking for only 4 tables, it's up to the restaurant to decide whether you have to pay a deposit. DON'T EVER PAY EVERYTHING UPFRONT, OR ELSE THE RESTAURANT WILL CLOSE DOWN, ESP AFTER CHINESE NEW YEAR! For weddings, most people book at least 10 tables, usually 20+, so they must pay a deposit. For 4 tables, you may need a deposit for 1 table or less (you can always negotiate on that point). But you have to decide on the menu you want on that night, and tell them in advance.

There's something tricky since you're booking 4 tables and want to keep it private. Some people who are having a private wedding do not want the restaurant to know in advance they're having a wedding, in order to avoid all unnecessary expenses. For similar or almost identical menus, it's much more expensive (can be a difference of $1000 per table) for wedding than for business dinner or birthday dinner, and the restaurant will include a wedding cake and wedding gift like chopsticks and dining set etc billed on you. Also, when you book the menu, look for those menus with everything all inclusive like service charge, a fixed number of drinks and beer and liquor etc), ask the restaurant what the approximate totalling of all costs is, since you don't want to argue with them at the end of the dinner.

If you tell them it's a wedding dinner, they'll have the appropriate decorations but be expected to pay a lot more. If you book it as a birthday or family gathering occasion then you'll pay much less. Ask your in-law what he thinks and prefers.

Don't forget to ask if free mahjong is included with mahjong tables. Some restaurants have free karaokes too.

Kung Hei!

[Valencia1]

If you want to buy cake coupons at a discount, look out for the ads and time of promotion in the local papers. Or if you have teacher friends you can ask them to buy them for you at the teacher's association in Prince Edward.

[Valencia1]

Dont' book the tables now. Book after the Chinese New Year since you'll likely to get 4 tables anywhere, esp on weekdays. Many restaurants will close after the Chinese New Year. Ask if they can give you one of those VIP rooms for free.

[ohchk2001]

How much should I expect to pay per table if I stated it was a wedding? Also I'm assuming each table can sit 12 people?

Now you said that my in law is lucky for getting that kind of a payout from me (The $30k plus $2k for life).

If people are booking 20+ tables, why don't the inlaws get a better deal as far as the payout goes?

Oh and one more thing. How much does it cost to rent a car? What about photos? When should I book that?