Are wedding ceremony pictures essential for a qualified PR application ?

[Creampop]

I got married by an ordained minister in a Bed and Breakfast in Niagara Falls, My mother and his mother and our 2 children were the only ones in attendance, we also explained that we would have a bigger who ha when we could afford it and all of one sides family had passports in order to travel... It is NOT misrepresentation... otherwise I would not be a PR now.... because what she is explaining is exactly what we did! is it illegal to get married and then say 2 yrs down the road have a vow renewal? the big who ha you always wanted? LOL

Amazingsho, they do not need professional pictures... at my sisters wedding they had a photographer, but they also laid a disposable camera on every table they wanted the "real" experience the natural photos from their special day and sometimes those photos are better then the "staged" professional photos of course they look good but you don't see the happiness and excitement on people's face... you have to have a witness give them a camera of course have a few staged with the person who preforms the ceremony, but they don't need alot with my whole application I sent in 23 photos 1 photo for each year we were together and 10 from our wedding/honeymoon. Good Luck!

 

[fall247]

I am not being offensive to this individual in any way just stating possibilities. The individual asking the question can take the advice or leave it and instead of you being so defensive about your City Hall marriage you could have simply responded by letting this individual know how you successfully arranged yours.

 

[sunsun]

One member said without marriage photo so it means marriage of convenience....My question is : How about Common Law ? It doesn't have any legal marriage .... Common Law is more flexible ( before 25 Nov 2012 ).... They can separate after got PR without using lawyer and going to Court etc.....

 

[Sweden]

One member said without marriage photo so it means marriage of convenience....My question is : How about Common Law ? It doesn't have any legal marriage .... Common Law is more flexible ( before 25 Nov 2012 ).... They can separate after got PR without using lawyer and going to Court etc.....

true it's easier to separate, but if you apply common-law you also need to include more proofs, and qualify as common-law - having lived together for at least 12 months and be able to prove it! not many people would be able to be in a "fake common-law" relationship as you need to send way more proofs ( I applied common-law!) than a marriage, and things that real couples would have... living together for one year at least, common bank account, etc...
Sweden

 

[canadianwoman]

Moochops

No we are not going for common law, we plan to gain legal marital status(Go to city hall and get registered) and apply for PR. Actual wedding comes later.

You seem to be misunderstanding what a wedding ceremony is. When you get married at city hall, that is your wedding ceremony. You need photos of this occasion - any application without photos of the wedding when there was a wedding is viewed suspiciously to say the least. However, city hall weddings are perfectly acceptable. Just try to make the occasion look like it was special for you two: get dressed up, have rings, maybe flowers, it would be best if someone from both families was there (if one side or both can't come, explain why). Have something you could call a reception afterwards - even dinner with your witnesses at a nice restaurant afterwards would be enough.
You can then also state your plans for a big wedding later on, and explain why you did not do it that way this time - lack of funds, wanting more family and friends to be able to be there, etc. Just don't say you did it for immigration!

However, I must add that while city hall weddings are fine for CIC in most cases, applicants from some backgrounds will have trouble with them. New Delhi seems to expect a big, traditional Indian wedding if both bride and groom are of Indian heritage, for example.

 

[Amazingsho]

Thanks for all your opinions, I think each of post got its point !

I think we would just go for a simple city hall ceremony at the simplest way it can be and submit the photo of it. Its because we both think wedding ceremony is quite big for first time marriage couple like us and we want to make it the only proper one just for heck of once in a life memory.

Maybe not a proper wedding pictures but we both keeping few airticket slips and passport stamps for our joint trip around world, monthly skype phone record since we entered into Long-distance, and all the picture we took together.

"I hope CIC would seriously consider these evidence for their decision !!!"

Additionally below infos for some of your questions

I am from visa-exempt country,
I will first land with ICE visa (YAY, I can work !)
We are applying for Inland

 

[rubyclay]

Yes they are important as a proof in future.

 

[mikeymyke]

To quote your post, you said that

"Its because we both think wedding ceremony is quite big for first time marriage couple like us and we want to make it the only proper one just for heck of once in a life memory."

Well, you should also consider that, for your sponsorship application, it's a once in a lifetime thing to do, and you only get one shot at it with your spouse. So I would recommend you wait until the big ceremony and have the pics. Because also, you say you're applying inland, if they refuse your application, you CANNOT appeal. It's better to wait for the big ceremony, and make your application strong, rather than rush it and produce an application that has a higher chance of being refused or interviewed.

 

[bacontoaster]

Planning a big wedding can take a long time, so along with your city hall photos you should probably submit evidence that you are planning your bigger event. For example the contract for the venue you are going to book (usually you would have this a year in advance of the wedding) or receipt for the deposit on a dress or things of that nature. This way you can show that you really will have a second "proper" wedding.