FURLOUGH FRIDAYS - AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU

Brenda and Rob making it legal, their blog...coming soon!

FURLOUGH FRIDAYS
How local over spending in Hawaii affects your wedding

Let me put it to you bluntly. Our state is broke, our city and county is broke, and the outlook doesn't look good. Here in Hawaii, we got word this past week that our tax income returns will be delayed a few months. So this means, like California, Hawaii residents will most likely be issued I.O.U.'s instead of a check. NICE. How did we get in this mess? Well, to the politician, it's rocket science, to you and me, it's common sense. The State of Hawaii simply spent and borrowed too much. It's insane to see how out-of-shape old sacks in government mirrored the spending habits of a teenager with their first high-limit credit card, but that's exactly what happened.

Primarily, the finger can be pointed toward the legislative branch of the State of Hawaii, as they created the out-of-control budget. They literally flung the numbers onto our governors desk and said, "Fix it, we're broke." Since the Governor is incapable of controlling the budget, the only thing she, Linda Lingle, could do was force the state to take Fridays off. Her decision affected schools, state offices, including the Department of Health.

Kids, used as pawns to protest furlough Fridays.

The Department of Health is primarily the main office where you will get your marriage license from. Now, at first glance, you would think that furlough Friday's would greatly affect your ability to apply for a marriage license on Fridays. Well, relax, it doesn't. Although the Department of Health is closed on Fridays, this means that you just have to your marriage license from independent wedding agents on Fridays.

When you get your license from an independent wedding agent, the entire process is the same. You'll need $60 in cash, an official means of identification (driver's license), and that's it! The only difference between getting your license from an wedding agent vs. the Department of Health, is the location. Instead of heading to the Dept. of Health, you'll be heading to the agents house. And just to add, these agents work at nights, holidays, weekdays, you name it.

So relax my brides. There's no need to lose sleep over government stupidity....yet...haha.

I do have those independent wedding agents phone numbers, but won't post them on the internet for obvious reasons. IT'S THE INTERNET! HAHA.... I those numbers to you by default when you book with me :)

My two cents on this entire furlough Friday fiasco. I honestly don't see it getting better. I wouldn't be surprised if another day were added to the rotation. Government waste is still very rampant here. Why, just the other week, yet another blatant "stimulus" road construction project was created down the street from were I live. They are adding "calming circles" to stop racers from drifting through that street. The cost of the project, $100,000. Have there been any instances of racers drifting through these street? Nope...none. There are no skid marks, and the road there is too rough to drift on. The real reason for the project is simply to create jobs. Although, they are only creating jobs for a month for union members. $100,000 could supply year long jobs to at least two individuals right?

I also find it rather funny that the legislature is pointing their finger at our governor. This is equivalent of a teenager running up some outrageous credit card debt and then blaming their parents for not having the responsibility to keep an eye on them. It's just frustrating to say the least!

With that being said. I'm outta here. Remember brides, even if we added another day to the furlough, it will not affect your ability to get a marriage license.

Steve Young
The Hawaii Wedding Reporter
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com/