Have you considered having your Wedding during the week between XMAS and New Years? Most UPT bases (and most home ops locations) slow down their tempo (or don't even schedule any flying or academics) during that week since so many are on leave. 30 December falls on a Friday this year, which just so happens to be Pima's and I's Anniversary as well, simply because we were facing the same issues as you those 27 years back. And ask her -- we we're sweating whether I would be available for the Wedding all the way up to a couple of weeks prior.
I have to agree to look at that week, but also we know people that got married Memorial Day and 4th of July weekends too. However, in those situations, it was basically fly in late Thursday night and back at UPT by Sunday night.
~ As stated we got married the 30th of Dec., a Friday. He reported to water survival on Jan. 2nd. with a follow on to LIFT (IFF now). I stayed back until he got a place at LIFT for us to live.
~ Our DS (2012) go engaged 4th of July weekend while at Laughlin during UPT so he could fly her in from NC, and take her to San Antonio for the weekend. Married Memorial Day weekend, and they sweated it out too. He winged April, sent to Water Survival right before the wedding and to SERE 10 days after the wedding.
~ Fencers DS also got engaged at UPT. Proposed over Xmas. Married 4th of July weekend, I think the 6th. Did water and SERE in June. Class start date for Little Rock (C130J) was July 15th, hence he had to be there by the 14th.
Just saying you will find a ton of people in the flying world that got married because they felt the best guaranteed chance they would have off without impacting the wedding is around a holiday.
Another option -- get legally married, have her move out with you, and plan for that Big Wedding Party later when you're done with UPT and your TX course for whatever air-frame you end up with., and you'll some better control of your schedule. Just an option. Another option? Weekend in Vegas, Baby!
We also have many friends that did this...not so much the Vegas, Baby! weekend, but courthouse wedding and later on the Big Wedding....many of them will do it in a church/synagogue, etc. with all of the bells and whistles, and honestly, the guests get it...the two of you had very limited options because the AF decided for you. If they don't get it, than IMPO, cut them loose out of your life, sorry if that seems harsh, but your life is going to be 10 years of deployments and moves. Holidays, birthdays, etc. will not matter to the AF. You need people in your life that gets the sacrifice and dedication you and your fiance have to keeping this great nation safe...not people that say "I can't believe they are making this such a big event like they are not already married!"
As Bullet stated getting married allows you the ability for many things.
1. PCS move.
~ They will cut her/him on your orders and pay for the travel to whatever base from your HOR. That means per diem too. You get $ per mile, but because she is a dependent you will get $ for her too.
2. Health insurance
3. Base housing/BAH
4. You can plan the wedding of your dreams without feeling like you have to hope and pray that you will graduate on time to make it back for the wedding.
I wish you congrats on your impending nuptials, but I will also say that you might want to re-think getting married before UPT. JMPO! UPT is not a cake walk, it will require a lot of time (see Raimius' s signature line...he is not exaggerating regarding what life will be like). If you get Del Rio it is in the middle of nowhere. Their job opportunities are few to none. Most students are not married. UPT students do not go out and party every night, however, they come home...scarf dinner down and chair fly until 10-11 every night. Friday night is their release valve....come Sunday at noon they are back to studying.
~ Been there, done that as a spouse when Bullet was at his airframe schoolhouse. Also saw through our DS's life that nothing changed in the rated world over the past 25 yrs..
~~ I missed Bullet a lot. I flew out every 6 weeks for a yr., and we talked weekly (No Skype in 1987) Hated it when we were doing it, but now that hindsight is 20/20, I believe it was the best decision ever. Bullet could give 110% to his studies. I got the opportunity to say a slow goodbye to my family and friends while working on my career. The most important thing that occurred was learning before we married our life would be filled with long distance.
~~~ I don't have enough fingers and toes to count on when it comes to him missing birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. That is the life you are entering. He will tell you that for our kids between 1995 and 2000 he missed every Halloween because he was deployed...not for a week, but for months. He missed our DS1's Holy Communion because he was deployed. His DD's 1st father daughter dance had his Dad stand in for him.
~~~~ Do not mis-read this. I loved every second and would do it all again, but instead take this is what life may be like. You may find out she is pregnant via skype because of deployments or tdys.
Wedding plans matter, but in 9 years from now you will look back and say that was the easiest part. You love each other, and in the end it is a day, that is all it is. Marriage is a lifetime.