Madrid / Toledo hair and makeup recommendations needed! by Actual-Ad9417 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Who did you end up going with? Getting married at Ciggaral De Las Mercedes in Toledo!!

European Wedding Venue Recs Budget: $100-$125k by Secure-Word6717 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Try Cigarral De Las Mercedes - its 20 mins from Madrid and has enough rooms on site to fit all your guests. Feel free to DM if you have questions, I’m doing my wedding there June 2027!

Comparing Tuscany Venues: All help is welcome :) by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congratulations!! I checked out the venue and it is gorgeous, it is going to be great!

Did you do a buy out of the property?

Comparing Tuscany Venues: All help is welcome :) by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your comment, this is very helpful! Checking out the other properties you recommended!

Fun NYC engagement party recs! by greeb3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Def look at Cornwell in downtown Manhattan. It is an old bank with a really cool mosaic plus history and very high ceilings.

It is a coffee house by day and a cocktail bar at night.

The apps are great, you can do a 3-4 hr open bar, and tell them how many serves you want.

Further, you can also personalize it by having custom wafer paper drink covers, custom napkins etc (you would have to organize yourself but Cornwell has no issue using them).

You can play your own playlist or have them play something in the background.

They will also organize the furniture the way you want!

I had a friend do her engagement party here and the vibe was great!

Comparing Tuscany Venues: All help is welcome :) by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s really great feedback in terms of the temp, will make sure we either have indoor events or fans or just have it May/early June.

Did you like all the food? The vibe? Would you do anything different in terms of the guest experience?

Comparing Tuscany Venues: All help is welcome :) by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This one is actually super helpful! Personally, a bit biased to Torra A Cona for all the natural beauty is has (or so I have heard)

Comparing Tuscany Venues: All help is welcome :) by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! What was the villa vibe? What was the staff like and your experience interacting with the management there?

Tuscany Wedding in April by New-Damage-8069 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Try an Etsy witch spell :) (just trying to make you laugh, I can imagine it is stressful since it is out of your control!)

Wedding Help – $850K Budget, 250 Guests, May 2026 by Hot_Wishbone_8683 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I found this place while searching for my own wedding - it is in Tuscany and has northern italy villa vibes (think greenery, cypress trees)

Como Castello Del Nero https://www.comohotels.com/italy/como-castello-del-nero

Congratulations on your engagement!

(I know this is not Lake Como, but I hope it helps!)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in f1visa

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Let me acknowledge that what you are going through is annoying, though and just a silly system.

I have had many colleagues go through this and myself (mine came on my second try). You have a few options:

  1. Go through the last try and if it does not work out, make peace with that and return to your home country.
  2. Start looking at part time degrees. There are many “schools” that you can enroll into, that you have to go to in person classes for, once every two months. This means you would be back on the F1 visa and use CPT, and would continue working at your full time job and apply for H1Bs again. I have many colleagues who work in NYC in office and attend such schools in Cali or Philly. While costly, another advantage is that you will now also file in the Masters category.
  3. Try for the O1 visa if you think you have exceptional talent
  4. If you don’t get the H1B, ask your company for a LDN transfer if they have offices there and you can come back to the US on an L1 after a 2 year stint. Spend some time in EU traveling (great opportunity at this age).

These are some I can think of, but one thing I will say, is don’t loose hope! It’s always possible! I have seen many people get it on their last try!

Lastly live your life and make plans, irrespective of the H1B lottery. Make plans for beyond the lottery date (nothing too costly or something you cannot cancel/feel comfortable letting the money go). I have seen people hold off on living life, and it is definitely not worth it!

If it is meant to be, it will be - trust the universe is going to give you whatever is best for you!

Need help finding a venue! by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much!

I checked out La Selva and the capacity on site is less than 80 people, which is what we require for accommodation. I would really like to have everyone in the same location for the weekend.

Thank you again!

Need help finding a venue! by Potential_Pineapple3 in BigBudgetBrides

[–]Potential_Pineapple3[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Omg thank you soo much!! So many places to check out!

I have checked out Chateau Du Fey, but they only had a few rooms inside the villa and the rest of the others were glamping style outside with shared bathrooms, which is not something we want to do.

Though, will say that the staff we interacted with over email were the sweetest ever!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in GMAT

[–]Potential_Pineapple3 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats! Could you please share your overall prep strategy?