Marie

Hey-I just got married last week. The photoshop do not accept credit card...we paid with american travellers cheques...they accept american money only. As for Chandlyn, we paid for everything in cash and travelers cheques......we went to the bank before we went and got loads of travelers cheques-I pretty much knew everything I had to pay-there were no surprise cost...HOWEVER....I do remember sitting down with her, and she was doing it all up-there were only particular things that we COULD use credit cards with,t hen other things HAD to be cash-I didnt pay attention tho cause I wasnt using credit card....I think it may have been for outside vendors, like the steel drum band, speaks, and flowers? Sorry I cant be more help-email her...SHE ALWAYS wrote me back in a day or 2....short and sweet n got to the point.

Wow---looks like you'll have a huge crowd with you! Wwhat a great turn out! We just got home yesterday from ROR and had 40 guests......we had planned to have a welcome/meet n greet...but we changed our mind-only because it was so much more planning to be involved. And honestly-Im so happy we didnt go ahead. I found that we, my husband and I hardly got a second of alone time...we had the king jacuzzi suite and used the jacuzzi out on the balcony once....we had a rehersal dinner-and only had interest of 18 out of the 40 guests........they were all there for vacay too-I think they wanted to do their own thing for the most part-we all went on excursions together, and I thinkt hat was complicated enough to plan.....we spent so much time trying to plan those....and dinners with our families at night-Im glad we didnt try to organize this type of event too-its too much going and coming in my opinion......the whole 7days were planned out.....and I wish they hadnt been like that.....anyways-my advice now would be to meet in front of the stage for the entertainment at night-have a few of you in the group pull all the tables and chairs together-we done this a few times.....theres 3 bars surrounding that area...another night we had 2 guests bring guitars and we all met on the beach-stayed til 3am...and had drinks delivered from the sports bar.....it was a more casual thing.....as big as ror is-its also small...everyone always gathered in the same area at night.....you could just plan to meet the first night there in front of the stage....I even found at our wedding dinner none of us got to mix enough-we were all sitting and eating-it was the reception where the funw as had-same with every other night watching the entertainment...

Perplexy! It rained on our wedding day May 6th too!! AND YOU'RE RIGHT-NO PROBLEM. Just as dad and I were walking down the sand, lol-it started showering...it was a beauiful day up til about an hour before the ceremony-dark clouds hovered......I remember saying to my then groom as we stood listening to the minister "Mathew-its rraining....its raining" ..we were both half laughing as if saying "what were the chances" he kept whispering "dont worry about it"...and we didnt.....it ws sooo refreshing.....we welcomed it-no one got soaking wet...but Chandlynn was there on standby just in case.....Im so happy now that we had that weather vs the the hot hot sun shinning down on us-it wasa blessingin disguise....and you're right-its good luck!

450 is a lot......one thing when it was 350. Jezz. And then Ive read reviews where birde and groom tip them too. Honestly, once a tip is involved, its gonna be bout 500.....I think we're still going with them, breaks the bank.

Hey..Im just seeing this post now.....what caught my attention was the 350......our rate at ror went up to 450-seems so high........cd sounds like a good idea. thanks.

wow!! Thats not the greatest news to receive and deal with hey? I can imagine how you're feeling-I was pissed when I saw the photoshop and steel drum band prices go up at Riu Ocho Rios......(rates changes from 2009 to 2010) SO there was nothing I could do about it....but in your case, that seems a bit drastic. Hang in there. It will all work out int he end. It has to!

I LOVED everything I read about Half Moon. Just seemed a little out of budget for guests...and possibly us too! I havent seen much inpostings here about Half Moon tho....I think its a little more high end in comparison to Rose Hall...which was also another resort I researched..I thinkt he deciding factors were cost and the 18 and over age restriction....(if I remember correct they dont allow children) I also totallllly wanted to get married in Negril. But again, out of budget for guest, fi and I will go back there for a honeymoon to ourselves I think. I loved all the sandlas resorts, but again, restrictions with kids etc. Grand Palladium was another place we looked at..its fairly new I believe. My sister stayed there and loved it....we ended up with RIU Ocho Rios mainly because the price was right, it seemed adult, child, couples and single friendly-and had something for everyone..perhaps why its so popular........gluck with planning, cant wait t hear what you go with!

Sweetluna is right. The only thing included I believe is some type of flower arrangement that people use at the ceremony site and sometimes bring to the dinner etc. Im bringing all my stuff down...packing it in peoples luggage.....for example, I found these cute white lanterns on web site i ordered...so Im bringing about a dozen down, we ll use them at dinner and on the beach at night with candle lights in them, I also picked up brown little candle holder things i got a pier one (color for wedding) and sea shells for the tables.......things like that...also bringing bubbles, and fans for the ceremony.........they 'll then move your stuff from dinner down to your reception....if the 2 are seperate..

TA Maureen, I do apologize. Ive been here now over a year reading and researching and searching over n over myself-and I too get annoyed when I see people not taking the time to originally research like myself, and other brides did at the beginning. So your rant was completely understandable....we can delete tis thread...I was trying to figure out how.......... after reading the other threads there was something still not clicking with me...perhaps its my serious case of wedding brain..... I truly appreciate you taking the time to reply. You've made it QUITE clear to me now-totally understand the pricing...lol...........that all I wanted....thank you again! lots n lots!

Gang, Terribly sorry if this has been discussed. Actually, I know it has been, but Im still confused. Can someone help clarify this for me? We leave in one week and Im really trying to straighten out the budget! At dinner....are we charged $10 per person if we want alcohol besides wine? And the champagne that Im paying extra for? Whats that about? So then at the reception on the beach later that evening-I have to pay another $15 per person as a fee for set up/private bar tending etc...I get that........but does that include drinks too? Or do I pay ANOTHER additional 10 bucks per person?

I think I wanna sit square int he middle of the table...not at the beginning or top of the T. i DONT wanna be at the top not hearing a thing...lol

Yup-the trying to relax thing is hard. I just went down thru my to do list-and realized how great Im doing with it, and we dont leave for another 9 days......whas my deal? The things I have left to do inlcude shopping for a bra lol....a memory card...simple things...give the bridesmaids their gifts, try on my dress one last time with the bling....figure out the packing .....so really...Im far ahead, reading thru your note sounds like you re in the beginning stages-or at least the hardcore planning now lol......I remember that, seemed liek it was tkaing forever to come toegther-but you knwo what...we had a year to plan, it flew-and Im glad I stayed on top of it all........you will get thru it....lol.......but don count on relaxing anytime soon haha.......mind you-Im a control freak...didnt realize that until this last year.....hopefully you ll breathe easier then me|!

Perplexy-I didnt realize you were getting married Married May 5th! Wanna swap dates? haha....we're getting married 4pm May 6th..also doing the beach reception. And I have not even THOUGHT about the rain. With everything else going on, Im not even giving that a second thought-til now!! lol........ Great question. Im looking forward to the answers. What date do you leave ON? We fly out of Halifax NEXT Sunday. Im praying the fog will stay away........and volcanic ash......the airport here in NL was closed because of the ash Monday morning!..and now Im worried baout the rain damnit! lol

Hey, I know this is totally my opinion.....and I hope Im not offending anyone, but honestly-I have been too so many weddings, and bridal showers and I always take a deep breath and shake my head when I see "green back" or "cash only". I mean really.......Im getting married because Im in love, and I want to be my fiances wife- not because Im excited about getting gifts and money. Im even awkward over the fact that people THINK they have to get us anything. One thing to be invited to attend a wedding or wedding shower etc, another thing to be TOLD what to bring. My fiance and I have own house, we ve been together 9 years.....but I soo appreciated the new dishes, the new bed sheets, the towels, the gift certificates, the homemade crafts-I thought it was so sweet people even brought me anything! I was so grateful. Dont get me wrong, I think registries are a great idea. Often people wanna give you something you will use and you will need. But unless you're like my grandmother or a close relative-i do not feel comfortable event taking your money. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable asking for donations towards a honeymoon? Its my opinion that if you need people to contribute to that, then yous shouldn't be planning one....again, its one thing for your parents or grandparents to slip you cash because they wanna HELP....but its another thing to demand money from guests. I think its embarrassing, and anytime Ive seen it done, I see the same reaction from people...... I feel far to string about the money thing to have even posted here I think! lol......again, just my opinion, Im sorry if Ive offended anyone.... Having said all that-because we felt so strongly about it, we included something like, "the only gift we ask for is your presence on our wedding day" We plan to have our reception when we get home too-again, the point is to have people celebrate our wedding with us-drinks, laughter, dancing, good conversations, catching up with friends, and have also included that the same line on our reception invite......

I paid my 50% down also-and will be doing the hair trial....

Hey, I have no ide why I cant receive pm....I always use to? let me check it out..Id ont mind sharing what we done, they re very simple looking, but cute n serve a purpose i think. I got them printed at staples tonight on a nice paper........

Hey, I just completed my programs actually. The main reason I wanted them was to give everyone a time line-when dinner was, when the reception was and where.........rather then just telling everyone. Soooo on the front cover, Theres a pic of me and fi saying something like,.."today I will marry my best friend", on the inside left its the wedding timeline along with a little poem at top...on the inside right theres the parents of the groom, bride, bridal party introduction, and on the back, its a little thank you note to everyone for coming...Id be glad to send you a pdf f it..you can pm me i f youd like to see....

We have 35 in our company. And being the receptionist, I know everyone of them, most of them pretty well actually. However, there's only about 5 of them that I would call up in the evenings or the weekends. Sooooo I talked to them, stressed how I wanted them to go..and gave them their own invites-BUT I also posted up our invitation up on one of the floors herein the building-you could put it int he lunch room, or cafe or lobby or wherever......and anytime we talked about the wedding at work Id always say "you should totally come" lol.....and I always meant it........just want very formal about it.......in my case...to print another 35 invites or so was pricey....and I didnt want someone to get one then think "why did she invite me? we re not that close?"....lol.....so...thats what I done....let my best friends know I wanted them..and posted the invitation up...

I say go with whatever you both want to! If you wanna be traditional....then great, butif you wanna spend the night together the night before too-then also great. Its up to you. You friends cant "make" you spend it apart. Im totally staying the night before with my groom.Honestly, I cant picture going to sleep the night before our wedding without him there by my side..Id never get one wink of sleep. AND We're only in jamaica for 7 nights, Im hardly spending one of them without him!!! And this way-if we re both nervous, we can be nervous together....lol......we plan on spending the night before with friends..then heading back to our room soaking in the outdoor whirlpool thats on our balcony....drink a glass of wine or 2....and relax...head to bed together knowing tomorrow is our big day. We'll go to breakfast together that next morning....then both be on our way-he ll get ready with the guys, and Ill spend the day with the girls...and see him at the ceremony at 4! I think at the end of the day, its whatever makes you both happy......

Is it just me? Or have any other brides forgotten that they are going on a vacation? An all inclusive? A trip away to relax, laugh and have fun? Ive been sooo caught up in the fact Im getting married at ROR, so caught up in taking care of everyone's plans and helping them make arrangements. So caught up in buying decor, finding pics cakes, hair, doing wedding programs, printing specific documents, organizing, shopping for wedding bling lol..shoes, clothes, chatting with Chandlyn plus trying to clue everything up at work-I forget that Im going on a vacation. It didn't hit me until I got my documents today from the travel agent. We have 18 days til we go to ROR.....I cant believe its creeping up so fast on us. Its unbelievable. If I could offer any advice-it would be to relax in the planning stage, take it slow and smile! Stop worrying over every detail....lol Ive been so stressed and overwhelmed I haven't had a chance to enjoy the excitement. And I know after all this planning Ill miss it, I think Ill be back in here regularly helping all of you out!! lol As many brides do. And, my lucky has been rotten lately. Well kinda. I woke up this morning dying with a flu-swollen glands, aches n pains, fever....Im still waiting on a call from my dentist to finish the 2nd part of my root canal...my stagette is this Saturday....I cant be sick-I have too much to do, and my fiance is out of the province until 2 days before we leave, so Im alone. Super super super busy at work. My mother is in excruciating pain with a slipped disk in her neck, my father is going in for surgery soon as we get back from ror (putting it off so he can attend the wedding), my grandfather is sick in the hospital. Ive spent so much time worrying over everyone else, that I think I dragged down my system and now here I am useless and sick myself....and dreading that root canal lol.........and of course, where else do I go to to vent, but here? I wasn't going to vent actually lol...I wanted to say how excited I am now over the fact that we are going to Jamaica! Going on a trip of a lifetime. But all this stuff has been happening in the background.......ugh.....thank god the root canal will be done and over with-and thank god this flu is here now and not hitting me a couple days before the wedding? right? Positive side. So yes-18 days.......crazy.....I cant wait to get to the airport ......and just board this flight! haha! Wish me luck with everyone guys! Deep breaths....

awesome, thanks so much-you guys answered me within hours...and the resort still hasnt bothered lol...I love this site.

I have never seen anything about an elevator at ROR. Nothing online, Ive emailed the resort and never heard back and I dont recall anyone mentioning anything in their threads. The reason Im asking, is my dad may need surgery over the next few days, thankfully it's nothing too serious, but climbing stairs for him wont be an option.....anyone past guests here can let me know?

Yes-I think I turned this into a rant lol... Back to the chairs......like I said earlier, if you had asked me a year ago was I stickin with the brown chairs, I woulda laughed out loud.....and said,.."Im not foolish enough to pay for white chairs for someone to sit in".........but as I got closer n closer to the wedding, Im talking 8 weeks on......I was no longer satisfied. Its all the little weird details now that I never thought would bother me or that Id think twice about, now they re a big deal. Honestly now-I cant picture havign the ceremony without white chairs lol..thats how passionate I ma now about this haha...god, I need a life..lol............ TA Maureen is right tho, guests wont notice these things, its us-so if you can let this one slip by-do it........but if you re thinking twice, chances are it will be in your budget down the road..... 3 weeks to go....I just got back from shopping....Iam totally overpacking, I have a dress for every night, a dresss for every day, 5 biknis, 5 covers up, 5 shoes/flipflops, shorts, tanks, skirts you name it......Im really trying to clue up packing and and clothing n stuff....still doing wedding programs, seating stuff, planning excursions...right-thats why Im on here looking for info on lees tours and got side tracked, Im a zombie fihgting sleep here-this is a great place to ramble when no one else wants to listen, its like my journal these days lol

We're doing ours at 4....I think its the latest offered.....I wanted the evening one so the day is so super long on everyone....guests can still enjoy the morni ng at the beach or pool, enjoy a nice lunch-relax, then head back early afternoon to get ready.....I wouldnt go any later actually, because of the pics.....wouldnt want to miss out on good sun n daylight.....

Sweetluna, From a lot of the reviews Ive read this last year an a half, I think most past brides that went and had make up done, said it was nothing fancy. Most cases, the bride washed it off and reapplied it-look back through the older reviews you ll see that there multiple times. SOme reviews said make up was ok, but just ok........I honestly dont think Ive heard a lot of positive feedback. Hair always seems great....brides always seem happy. Ive also heard good things abvout other services....just not make up....lol...........and most brides take their own make up too ......and just get them to aply it. I plan to do my own-Id love someone else to do it...but Im going with the reviews on this one.......as for mani n pedi, honestly-I plan to pamper myself the day before we travel, both fi and I have appointments, my treat lol.....facial, pedi, massage...hydrotherapy soak...one whole day.....I dont wanna miss out on anything down there.....