JamaicaBrideToBe

They will only allow guests in 1 hour prior to your wedding. They will allow them to stay through the night - including the disco until closing. But they are not allowed in any rooms at any time.

I'm here right now, I'll try and get some pics for you before I leave Sat. I can give you more details on these places when I get home too.

Once you meet her that sounds just like her! Chandlyn is very easy going, she will make it all work for you don't worry!!! Everything she said is true! I'm still here at the Riu and I see her out working every day morning til night!! We got Rum cake for our cake - it was AMAZING!!!!! Not one person disappointed and all the staff were drueling!! It's a jamaican favorite, trust me, it's yummy!! Since there is Rum in it however, it does cost more.

Well we had 108 guests attend and about 40 of them were hotel guests. 50 were locals as my husband is Jamaican born, and 18 stayed at a villa nearby. Since we had a private reception at 55US pp and each visitor required a day pass at 50US pp they allowed this. However, they will not allow it if you are trying for a "free" wedding at Mammee Bay or Plantation (rented) Our wedding was last week, I did have the email confirming that this would not be a problem.

I don't have time to read all of the replies, but I am here right now. We had a cost of 7G US for our wedding and we paid in US cash, Jamaican Cash as well as Credit Card, there is no taxes on credit card but you have a one time fee - like $5. Tai Flora will charge seperate and again add another fee of $5. Photography/videography only takes cash.

I only have 10 minutes left on my internet, they are out of minutes until tomorrow morning. I haven't gone through to check my posting about requests people had for me while I was here. The two that I had since I left were to get pics of the pond gazebo which I did - lots!! And that the reception food at Mammee Bay can not be changed. So....other than that!!! WOW!!!! Poolside reception was UNREAL!! They did every detail exactly as I asked and the display was utterly amazing, we had a total of 108 guests, everything worked out amazing. There is a beach reception I see that is happening as I was on my way down here and I must say, the location is very pretty but you are located directly behind the evening show which is very busy and very loud. We were off in our own little world with no interuption. Our speeches were not overtaken by the show (which goes from 7-11ish) and we had no stragglers. Chandlyn is simply amazing. She can be hard to track I agree but that happens when you have 3 weddings a day, meetings to get them arranged, and meetings to arrange the following - I honestly don't know how she does it but I can get into all that she did when I have more time. The hotel is beautiful, most of the people who work here are great and very accomidating. The rooms are clean, big, views are amazing. Weather is gorgous, been here since Saturday and only 1 hour of light rain first thing in the morning. I do find that at this time of year the 4pm weddings will more than likely be clouded over, 6 out of the 7 days had light clouds before noon and blue skies around the 2pm slot. The spa did a great job, we did mani's, pedi's, updo's and I went for a wrap the morning of (highly recommended!) Anyways, I will check back within a couple of days if anyone has more requests I'll do what I can. Oh, and I highly recommend getting your wedding booked during the first few days of your time here. Seems like I barely saw daylight being so busy with preperations - which I expected, so I had 4 days of work and 10 days of relax!!! Going for a drink..... Cheers! Vanessa

Quote: Originally Posted by panther Are you tipping them all $150 each or total of $150 split between then all? Heck NO!! I'm not rich! I got Chandlyn a bottle of perfume and 75US Minister 20US Steel Band 20US Bartender 20US Service people 5US each Plus I have 150 in $1 bills to tip for the 2 weeks we are there.

I would suggest Seagrape after dinner. You do have to pay $10USpp for this option but I've heard that it's well worth it. You can either hire a DJ or bring your ipod and some speakers. They will only allow you there until 10:30 so if you have late night partiers you would take it to the disco from there. Otherwise, go to the disco right afterwards and that saves having to move from Mammee Bay to Seagrape and again to Disco. Our reception is poolside but that's dinner and music/dancing afterwards...we do have late nighters and plan on going to the disco when they shut us down. You do have this option but to have a private dinner is 55US per person - however we are having the Jamaican menu with that option. Few other costs to consider: Free wedding package: 350US Photographer package: ? (we are bringing ours so I haven't researched this) Videographer: 300US Cake: We did rum cake, 3 tier and its 510US Flowers needed (mammee bay doesn't need much for centerpieces which would save you some money) Bouquets run an average of 100 Boutenniers are 15-25 Music for the ceremony? We are doing the steel band - 1hr 350US Tips - We are tipping Chandlyn, steel band, minister and bartenders 150US

This site can be overwhelming at first, but it can be very informative too. It sounds like you already have it under control and your decisions are already made! My wedding is on Tuesday and I leave tomorrow, I have 8 guests already at the resort and they had Mammee Bay for dinner last night and thoroughly enjoyed it (AND we are comparing Alberta Beef!!!) As for the video, are any of those kids in the wedding party? Or are any of them yours? When there is kids involved I would do the video, just of the ceremony though. If there is any specifics you want me to check when I'm there let me know!

Quote: Originally Posted by Sloan Holy crap! 108 guests! Our family and friends dont love us very much! You have 100x more guests than we do ... LOL. Have an awesome time! Ill keep an eye out for the review/pics! Wanna know what's funny. 8 of them are my family and 100 of them are his!!! LOL! I have a very small family and he's born Jamaican so nearly every person in his family that lives in Canada is flying down + we have about 30 or so local family members coming. It's almost become a reunion and I don't think this much family will ever be together like this again. I can't wait!!! Thanks for all the well wishes!!

Hello Ladies!!! I'm leaving in a few days! Thought I would take requests if there is anything you would like pictures of while I'm out there. I'll be back on the 17th. I know everyone is waiting on the poolside reception pics and I promise I will post when I return. Our wedding is a total of 108 guests!!! About 70 of them are already there and said the flight, transfer and hotel check in was smooth. They are loving life right now! Catch me before Friday so I can make some notes! Happy New Year! Vanessa

Thought I would bump this back up for Kristin, being so close to January and all! That's a beautiful pic of your little girl in your sig Kristin!!

Yes the water is safe

I initiated my communication with Chandlyn about 6 weeks before my wedding date. I emailed listing everything I knew I wanted (mostly info from this website) She confirmed everything for me. I told her the date and time I am arriving at the hotel and she gave me a time to meet her in the lobby. So far she has been excellent with me, responses are anywhere from 1-3 days. I am very happy with her so far.

Here it is.... This is a mock up I did before I packed it all up, there will be sand added to the base once we are there. There are 11 in total. There is also 8 tea light holders that go with each one. Just bring your own candles!!

Hi there, I don't plan on bringing them home - this is with hopes that someone has their wedding booked anytime between the 7-17th that would like them since they will already be at the resort.

Hi Ladies, I'm shipping a lot of stuff to Jamaica for my wedding. We are paying for the private reception and 100+ guests so we are trying to save costs by bringing our own. Anyway, my wedding is January 6th and we are there until the 17th - if anyone would like to buy these items please contact me at [email protected] Centerpieces - we have 11 sets, this is the center vase which we will also be putting sand inside. There are five 4" tea light holders and three 1" tea light holders as well as fake rose petals in coral colors surrounding the vase - all would be available just bring tea lights! I have the Butterfly Collection Ring Bearer Pillow in the Blue/Green. Seaside Allure Collection satin wrapped pen set (btw, this collection is WAY better than I expected when I ordered off the internet - the garter and guest books are beautiful too!) and Flower Girl Basket in the Butterfly Pink. Floral Embossed Card Box (you dress it with your own ribbon and/or flowers) Natural White Parasols - have 6 I have 3 Sand Ceremony Vases as well. I didn't take pictures of them but they are a great size for everyone to see - the big one is about 16" high, little ones are 12" high and not as wide. They are round with a curved shape. If someone is interested I'll try and find pictures that are close. Everything is sealed and packed in bubble wrap right now. I think that's about it...

Me too!! Must have been meant to be cause they only had 6 in stock and I snatched them up!!! Thanks again ladies!

Quote: Originally Posted by katedoeseurope i think ellipse22 might have meant sale coloured paper umbrellas - $7.25 - weddingfavours.ca they look super cute and say they ship in 1-2 weeks! thank you 100x over!!!!! I couldn't find them anywhere!!!

Your not kidding!!! I have about 300lbs worth of stuff so far! Doesn't help that my charter only allows 1 piece of luggage at 44lbs AND I have a 6 month old who needs to eat his food every day, and bring diapers, clothes for him AND they don't allow a piece of luggage for him!!!! Needless to say I am shipping all of his stuff, OOT bags, give away mugs, candles, candleholders for the OOT bags, centerpieces for 11 tables + head table...ugg....thank god for air canada cargo they are great prices!! So, your ideas I've thought of too, do you think the sashes would look funny on the wood chairs by themselves though Gosh, I've just never seen it. I do agree the flowers would be nice on the isle ends of the chairs, I may just have to do that and pay to just do the head table chair covers at the reception. I don't know. I'm so stressed!!!

Hi! It was your pics that made me want to get them too!!! When I looked up that website it doesn't exist. There is a Wedding Favours, Bridal Shower Favours and Party Favour Ideas but they do not have any parasols?? Can you possibly double check the site address?? Thanks!!

Anyone have 6 they would like to sell? Preferrably in Canada due to shipping and limited time. Thanks!

Thanks!!! So I found some local places I can bring my own. NOW I notice in pictures that the chairs have arms!!! AHHHH - I see some reception settings are a more narrow back armless chair and some are the wider back wooden with wicker chair. I even saw some plastic ones. Do you get a choice? If I bring my own covers I sure better make sure it fits!!

Does anyone know if the resort will charge me to put on chair covers and sashes if I bring my own? My guest list has increased from 60 to 103 and my budget is getting blown out of the water!!!! I can no longer afford the 12US per chair cost from the resort.... Thanks!!!

wow....I'm copy and pasting your list for my own reference!!! LOL Looks like you have it covered...