christenew

Thanks so much for the info about the hair. Silly me didn't even think about the humidity.

Quote: Originally Posted by melwru So, I am patiently( ya right!) awaiting the confirmation of my date and time from ROR. For those of you that have already received your comfirmation, how many of you actually got the time and date you wanted and how many were told it was unavailable and you had to change it? I request this past Monday and they emailed me late Friday night. I was able to get my date, so I am not sure what happens if you don't. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Quote: Originally Posted by jen rau i'm a photographer not a coordinator but i'd say i am offered tips at about 20% of my weddings. i feel like tips are meant for people who are not well paid, ie waiters OR vendors working for a big company. i work for myself, i get every dollar the couple pay me so i don't accept tips. i think the same goes for coordinators, if they work for themselves they don't need a tip. other vendors may kill me for saying this but its just my opinion. what is super nice is when couples send me a thank you. a lot of times they feel like i outdid their expectations and want to thank me. i'll never turn down a thank you because i love that they are taking special effort to let me know that love what i did. I am planning on taking a professional photographer with me to the resort. We pay his flight and accomidations and then pay a discount price for our package. He comes for 1 week and his photos start from the airport and end at the airport. He comes on excursions and all events. Would you tip him? If so how much?

I am still waiting. Poop! I put my request in on Monday and I haven't gotten a reply. I am trying to be patient and not be a bridlizza but my patience is wearing thin. I cross my fingers for all you other 2009 brides out there, except those who want the same date as me. LOL. How long did everyone wait for their confirmation code? The dates for January keep getting sucked up and I don't want to wait and then have nothing available. Nor do I want to be the bride that contacts them so much they say "hey lets mess with her and not give her a time". I have become addicted to my email that I check it every 15 min. AHHHH!

Quote: Originally Posted by JamaicaBride08 The Beach Gazebo, and the beach arch is infront of the Jr Suites, you will be in the perfect location to walk down. The guys and your guests will actually meet chandlyn in the lobby 15 minutes before the ceremony and walk together. The lobby connects the Regular rooms w/ the Jr suite, so you should be good! Love the picture. My fiancee and I were looking at your pics and he stops. He says "look at this classy girl, drinking out of the bottle. I want a picture of you doing that". We love it! Off topic I know.

Pouchie - another question. Your photographer, was that a friend of yours or did you know them ahead of time. You said you ended up just paying flight and accomidation - is that correct? I am looking into taking someone from home and I am just looking at cost.

Quote: Originally Posted by naga0066 Confirmed, confirmed? I am getting frustrated... Back in December when I contacted Riu they told me booking would be available Februaryish. So last week I had my TA try and request our date again... this is what I got back on last thursday (Feb 14th): Thank you for contacting Riu Weddings Sales Department. My name is Valeria Munguia and I am the Sales Wedding Coordinator for the Riu Hotels in Jamaica. I would kindly inform you that booking weddings for 2009 will be available approximately until March or April 2008. Please be informed that we book our weddings based on the Judges or Ministers availability which will also depend on the destination were it is request, every place has different Judges and Ministers. You are welcome to visit our web site that advertises our Wedding Packages 2008. Wedding Packages by Destination. Honeymoon Holidays. Weddings by Riu The probable dates in which the updated Wedding Packages 2009 will be at our website are March or April. Please notice that all the wedding requests for 2009 with a wedding package for 2008 are automatically canceled. I apologize for the inconvenience. ... okay so that makes me crabby. Anyways, I continue to stalk the Riu Wedding site and noticed this weekend that 2009 rates were up. I have re-submitted my date request and got the initial confirmatin email saying they got it and would get back to me. However, I have not gotten the actual confirmation of my wedding. K... sorry for the length of all that (needed to vent)... but my question is have you gotten actual wedding conformation? and if so, when did you submit your request? I have gotten the same email 3 times from them. I just put in my request yesterday and I am still waiting. Please keep my updated as to when you get a response. I am confused though kitty kat uk you said something about one wedding per day?? This makes me worry. Anyone claify this?

Quote: Originally Posted by KimmyKatBride That was the Beach! The gazebo is located closer to the hotel and is not on the beach. Hope that helps Christenew! Thanks so much KimmyKatBride. That makes me feel a little relief, because that is what I wanted and what I booked.

Is where you got married considered the beach or the gazebo?

After almost a year of waiting for Riu to come out with their packages for 2009 the time has come. I am beyond excited to see the packages with the updated pricing for 2009 on their website. I have finally been able to request my date for January 22, 2009 and I am waiting for my confirmation. All you 2009 brides and grooms get booking!!! Looking forward to adding my name to ROR date list.

Thanks for posting this. I was worried about the baggage limit as well as where it would be put.

Quote: Originally Posted by Heidi anything off of the menu! sample menus: Jamaica All Inclusive and Caribbean Cuisine at Riu Ocho Rios Hotel *they also can offer vegetarian meals* Steak House Specialty Restaurant Soup Onion Soup with cheese croutons Salads Fresh romaine lettuce and caesar dressing Endives in blue cheese dressing Tomato and mix leaves salad with crumbled fetta cheese Artichokes black olives and mozzarella Asparagus and mushrooms salad Grilled vegetables salad Russian salad Cold Special Smoked salmon with garnishes Cold cuts mirror Assorted cheeses Seared tuna with parsley salsa Garnishes and Dressings Balsamic vinaigrette Ranch dressing Caesar dressing Thousand island Green olives, capers, jalapeños, gherkins, parmesan cheese, croutons, biscuits, etc. Main Courses Served at Table 10 ounces beef master tenderloin Butterfly herbs chicken breast Center cut pork chops with fresh apples couli Grilled shrimps skewers with strawberries special couli Mixed grilled combination (chicken, shrimps, tender loin and sausage) Caribbean sea red snapper 8 ounces Australian cube roll Sauces Pepper sauce BBQ sauce Chimichurry All steaks are served with sauté Italian vegetables and baked potato Desserts Desserts bar, sliced fruit, ice cream and bread buffet Thanks so much for posting. I am assuming it is the same menu for the reception. It is just a la carte for guests?

I would love to order one of those and come out of the bedroom in it. I am sure my fiancee would just die laughing.

Maybe I missed it. Anyone know what that meal is for the Mammee Bay Steakhouse?

So I went to the weather website and copied some info for my fiancee. He says we are all crazy!

I laughed and I cried. Thanks so much for posting. I am so happy to hear that your mom made it in time. I think mine would have freaked out. I would have freaked out. Thanks so much for taking the time to do a review. It is so reassuring to hear what other people think and hear their experiences.

Quote: Originally Posted by MoWife I just got married there in november and most of the things I read said the second rainy season of the year was Aug.-Oct. However, I think that needs to be extended into November. I knew November was still the tail end of hurricane season, but we were lucky there were no hurricanes. However, I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer but the weather sucked. Everything I read said the rain was just a little liquid sunshine for about 15 minutes...WRONG! It rained from the time we arrived early Sat. afternoon all the way through the night and into early Sunday morning. The beach party was cancelled because of this. Then it rained in the late afternoon every other day for the next 10 days, with the exception of...MY Wedding Day! So we were blessed we had an absolutely beautiful day, and I wish that for all of you! Then onto the honeymoon. We were only there for 4 days after the wedding and it rained (torrential downpour) for 3 days straight. I was ready to come home. The resort is open air and filled with marble and tile floors. People were falling all over the place. My Dad fell and we had to get him a wheelchair to get him back to his room. The sports bar (the only totally enclosed bar, also has lots of TV's, video games, and slot machines, plus the computers) got flooded out and closed, which would have been a good place to go during the rain! There were supposed to be 2 weddings during this rain. One had hers in mammee Bay Steakhouse instead. The other opted to postpone hers till the next day in which I think there was a short clearing in the rain and she was able to get married. Most days there the morning and early afternoon was sunny and nice. Don't waste this time, get to the pool or beach. late afternoon, you can see the dark clouds coming from over the mountains and then the rain comes. Our experience is that it lasted a lot longer than a short shower but everyone swears it's usually just a half hour thing (in which case Chandlyn will allow you to wait it out before starting the ceremony). Hopefully, I was just there during a freak week or something. like I said my wedding day was the most beautiful weather we had there the whole time so try not to worry about it but be prepared with some other things to do in case it rains all day on other days during your stay (bring your own games). I am glad to hear that Chandlyn was so good about being accomidating. That makes me feel better.

Quote: Originally Posted by MoWife Yeah it was $250.00/hour in '07. That's what we paid. They increased the price for the '08 packages. They were really good and I think it's worth the money. Could you make requests Mo?

Welcome. My fiancee questions me daily about what happens on here. I wouldn't be suprised if he logs on when I am not home, so you aren't the only guy. My travel agent told me that 80% must stay and the others have to pay a day pass fee to attend. I heard Riu is strict on the 80% thing, but contact them to find out for sure. You may have to book off site.

Welcome. One peice of advice if I may. You can't go through all the ROR posts in one day. I tried when I first got on here and got burned out. Hubby had to drag me to bed. It took me a week. I probably won't have to email Chandlyn with questions 'cause these ladies know it all. LOL!

WELCOME!!! Happy planning

Quote: Originally Posted by jmhein For us Canadian brides... this is directly off of the Sunquest web site, I think I'm going to cry... That seems so ridiculously low... I'd love to hear how other Canadian ladies coped with this...? I have no idea how I am going to get 50 gift bags including stainless steel travel mugs down there. Guess I'm just going to pay a fortune in overweight charges.... Air Transat Baggage Allowance Each passenger is allowed a maximum of two pieces of checked luggage, the combined weight of both pieces not to exceed 20 kg (44 lbs) Excess baggage will be charged at $7 per kg for each direction. Skyservice Baggage Allowance Each passenger is allowed a maximum of two pieces of checked luggage, the combined weight of both pieces not to exceed 20 kg (44 lbs) Excess Baggage A charge of $10CDN per kg for each direction if passenger is originating from Canada. A charge of 5.00 GBP per kg for each direction if passenger is originating from the United Kingdom. A charge of €7.00 Euros per kg for each direction if passenger is originating from Europe. A charge of $8.00 USD per kg for each direction if passenger is originating from any other country. Thanks so much for the post. That sucks. I guess I am taking a bathing suit, my dress and a pair of sandles.

Thanks so much for getting back to me. I feel like such a nob for asking. I hope yours arrive soon!

The junior suites look nice. I bet it would be nice to have double the size, especially if you and your BM are getting ready there. To me it wouldn't really make a difference re the jacuzzi. I don't think with the heat I will want to be anywhere else but the ocean. With the suite it would be nice to have a little private space for sun tanning with the lounge chairs. You and your sweetie can sneak out there at night for a comfortable drink and a beautiful sunset. Hey I guess if you are going to spend 900 why not splurg for the 1300. Oh I don't know I can never make a decision

Quote: Originally Posted by naga0066 Hi Christene, No I haven't confirmed the 5th... I heard i would have to wait until February-March as well. I'm just hoping at the moment... I decided to do my preliminary save the dates with the week that we will be going. I then included a letter explaining the details and letting them know we will hopefully be doing the wedding on either the 5th or the 6th... that way people have a general time frame so they can plan what they want to do. I am collecting email addresses of all potential guests and will probably send out an e-vite STD of somesort with the actual date when we are able to confirm it with Riu. I will let you know when I am able to book. Would you do the same?