Picking wedding date with deployment in the middle?

[Dr. K]

He's getting deployed sometime in May probably for like 6 months (so say a return date of mid November). This will be our first deployment. So how do I plan a wedding around a deployment? I mean... is it safe to choose a wedding date in December?? I have no idea how to do this. I don't want to have like a 2 year engagement. I want to get married when he gets home!

How did you ladies pick a wedding date??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[carmel11725]

ya know, there's really no safe way to tell. the military always changes their dates. My, then DF, got back from deployment Oct, we had our wedding mid nov. I dont really know what to tell ya...sorry.

[bubbaswife]

I think we're sitting the same boat in the middle of the pond... without our paddles. Same exact timing and all. I'm not sure how all of this is supposed to work out. Where are you planning on having the wedding? We want to have ours back here in Minnesota. It's so hard to plan without a date...

[marinewife_sd]

We didn't pick a special date, we just said "hey wanna get married on this day"

As for you since there is a deployment involved I would say wait until he is home then choose or if you know a round about date he will be home pick your date a month later.

[Dr. K]

well... i don't think you can really plan a wedding in one month, so that's why i don't want to wait for a month before we know he'd def be home for it to try to plan it. i mean... you have to have a site, invitations, caterer or know how you are making food.

[carmel11725]

i would say a safe guess(maybe) would be 2 months after he gets back. he gets back in nov? then plan for jan. i think thats what i would do.

[*MarineBug*]

If It were me I wouldnt pick a wedding date till he is deployed or has his deployment papers. It changes to often to know. Then I would pick the date atelast a month after he is supposed to be home if not 2

[lacy+chk]

i am planning right now for during his post-deployment leave...he is guaranteed at least 3 weeks off after he returns from iraq, so it will be in that time...it's just the easiest...now, with not knowing exact dates, we are still guessing, but our vendors have been pretty nice about remaining flexible due to the military factor, so make sure to talk to them to find out if they will be willing to do so...

i guess DF had a general idea of when he would be home and we're just not putting dates on anything for sure until much later in the deployment...there is a lot you can get accomplished without knowing dates, though

[Julianne]

If you're planning a big thing, it would be safest to schedule for a date you're really certain he'll be back. Like maybe January then? I don't know... Even if it makes your engagement longer, opt for a safe date. If you're inviting a lot of guests, it will be well worth it to allow yourself some cushion.

[LoveMyHalos]

Originally Posted by carmel11725 i would say a safe guess(maybe) would be 2 months after he gets back. he gets back in nov? then plan for jan. i think thats what i would do.

Yeah exactly. DF got back in October and I actually set it in February, because there is way too much to do and it's harder with them gone. Even just sending invitations is stressful, lol.

BUT, I do know a girl who got married December 8 and her DH got back November 11, so you CAN do it.

I would plan for extensions though... so if you go 2 to 3 months out, he should be home and you should still have enough time to get everything really set.