Zin:
In the ultimate appeal situation - that is, three layers up to the service desk, announcements are usually delayed until final notice comes back from the branch. With one initial delay of the JC for a week or so and exhausting all appeals until that response - all that should be enough time to make the wedding.
However my thoughts are more than just the wedding. I understand Cheese wants to leave - but if he's like most of us, he just wants to leave the false belief system behind and get on with a life no longer controlled by another one of countless man-made religions. Still, he may have friends and family that he still would like to remain amicable with. But they would be the ones that are controlled by the shunning policy. Also - it seems his wife was just thrown into this suddenly as well. If she didn't even know she was being investigated it's likely that improprities may have occured. In essence it seems that there is a lot going on here - and Cheeze may be more prepared time-wise on how to handle this than his wife. I don't know - it just seems that the elders have probably spent all kinds of time in reviewing this situation and neither cheese nor his wife have been given the same luxury to prepare their side of the case. Not saying it would change anything - but i think, if either Cheese or his wife would prefer to be able to leave without the DFing - some more prep time on their end could possibly help.
Two things come to mind that I would research in my prep time:
1) when it comes to doubts - there is scriptual protocal that elders are required to follow, even by WT standards, about warning such ones twice before taking congregation action. Have they each been officially warned and counseled by elders at least 2x before this JC was formed?
2) When aksed the infamous question about whether one thinks the WT is God's org - I think there are more ways to address this than just saying yes or no. I've given this some thought and know what I would say while staying true to myself but not allowing them to use my words as some kind of confession. Having served as an elder I am pretty sure my idea would work. Fortunately my plan is to avoid ever being put in such a situation to begin with. But for those like Cheese that at some point have to face the kangaroo court for BS like private emails between one's family members - a well thought-out plan could get you the results you want.
