michelle6114

Just want to post an update in MIL from hell. Sunday was our AHR. After not giving us a card in JA, refusing to contribute to any of the cost of anything, my MIL shows up at AHR with still, NO CARD or gift and told everyone in her family to sit wherever they wanted since a few of their clan didn't show up. NO CARD NOT EVEN AN EMPTY ONE? Not even a small check to maybe cover part of their dinners that WE paid for? We had a few cards fall out of bags in the car, so I had my husband call his mother to ask if they gave a card, in case it was lost. Her response was "no, I figured going to Jamaica was enough". What kills me is that this woman goes on 2 exotic vacations every year. She was complaining at the AHR how she does not know what cruise to go on, since she has already been on most of them?! Then she takes all the leftover favors and drives home in her Lexus!!! What did I get myself into?

Hi, I brought my own silk bouquet. I was very particular about the flowers and colors I wanted, and now I can keep them forever. I stuffed them in saran wrap and a box, put it in my suitcase (brought a glue gun for back-up) and they were fine. I also asked the WC for a credit for my free bouquet, and aplied it toward boutiners and hand corsages for the moms.

We got married at Beaches Boscobel and transfered to SDR for our honeymoon. I have been trying for 2 weeks to think of anything helpful to write. I believe in the power of reviews though, and hopefully this info will come in handy to anyone who is traveling. Grounds- One word, GORGEOUS!! Beautiful architecture, mecticulous landscaping, they were always sweeping and cleaning too. The property looks fairly new. It has the theme of an italian villiage and usually has soft italian dinner music playing over the loudspeakers. 2 pools, both with swim up bars. One is created to look like the waterfall with 2 bridges over it and a little gazebo up top. They are both lovely. Beach- sparkling water, sand is raked several times throughout the day. There are no "floating vendors" like at Beaches. There is one guy on a jetski though. They still have the little shacks of vendors right over the pier which you can visit but are not affiliated with Sandals. There are massage huts and a gorgeous wedding gazebo right on the sand, and one of those floating decks you can lay on about 20 feet out. Room- We had a Roman honeymoon suite in the Genoa wing (the 1st level in concierge category) The room was not huge, but a perfect size for the furniture. There was a small balcony that overlooked the ocean and RUI. We loved getting room service every morning and eating out there. Bathroom was sparkling with marble tile, huge raised vanity, lighted magnification mirror, jetted whirpool tub. The only thing that bothered me was the design of the shower allowed a ton of water to leak onto the floor so I had to roll of 3 towels and wedge them in the corners. Great shower pressure though . Furniture was polished mahogany wood, looked fairly new. There was a stocked bar and a auto-shot dispenser on wall. Everything was very elegant and a nice change from Beaches which was a little run down. Food- ok this part is a little complicated. Every meal we had was delicious, my husband was a huge fan of the wood burning pizza place there which is set up outside, with table service. There is another stand/bar where you can grab pre-made deli sandwiches, nacho chips, sodas, or order chicken sandwiches or burgers (freshly prepared). There is another little area with fresh cookies, cotton candy, ice cream, and cofee. Aside from this there are 3 restaurants. One is a buffet for breakfast/lunch, turns into an elegant italian place at night. We tried Kimonos, it was hibachi with great food. Cook was hilarious. There are 2 other restaurants that we did not bother going to, we watched couples being turned away continiously because their shoes were not the right type or attire wasn't dressy enough. After watching people grumbling all week, we decided to take advantage of the pizza and room service. On Thursday all the restaurants are closed for dinner but they had International buffet, which was poolside and delicious. The dessert table alone was about 15 feet long and decorated with ice sculptures. Nightlife-maybe I am missing something but I did not see any, except one night we saw a steel drum band playing by the tree bar. The whole resort was extremely mellow to us but the staff claims they were at full capacity. Rarely did we see anyone in the pool or beach after 6pm. Also, maybe it was just my view... most of the couples we saw were in oblivion with each other and really didn't socialize much. The staff also, while just nice enough, really didn't seem to have that extra "heart and soul" in their attitide that we saw while at Beaches. I saw the bartender in the pool totally ignore my husband quite a few times even thought he wasn't busy. We did a lot of self portraits with the camera, while seeing this the staff would walk right by and not offer to take a pic for us. We did ask a few couples to take some, and those are the only pics we have of the 2 of us there. At the end of the week we did have the photographer take photos of us for 2 nights. They came out ok but he kept trying to pose us in front of anything that said Sandals on it which I got fed up with. We got 15 images on disc, a free bottle of rum and free 8x10 frame for $140.00. They told us we had to be checked out by 11 on our departure morning. I asked if we could check out at noon, since we had 14 hours of traveling ahead. First they told me it was an extra $50.00 to have a later time. I spoke to the manager and told her we wouldn't be getting home until 2am and could use the extra hour in the room but refused to pay for it and shouldnt have to, since we were concierge level. She finally relented but I was still mad. Another thing, laundry- I only needed 12 things washed and they charged almost $40.00. They have to do it for you and charge per garment. Overall, This is a gorgeous property but extremely quiet. We did not feel as welcome as Beaches. Since this was a re-occuring theme with everyone, everyday, I can only assume that the management there is hard to work for? The only one who was really nice to us was the housekeeper, who we left a nice tip. Interestingly, we had moved our plans because we were going with Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, which we heard was huge and TOO much partying for our tastes. If that is what you are looking for, then try them out. Hope this helps. If any questions, feel free.

I will tell you something about my sister's situation. She worked her ass off to get her master's in architecture. She had no time for a relationship though, so right out of college she hooked up with the first guy who looks twice at her. We call him "the nice guy with a bad situation" because that is how she seems to see it. This guy is totally comfortable with living off my sister, uses her income to pay his child support and his trip to Jamaica. She even had to pay the child support in NY over $1500 before they would allow him to get his passport. When anyone asks what she sees in him her answer is "we get along really great". Of course he will get along great with you, you fool! You are supporting him! Anyway, I watched my sister in JA, she just looks so drained and refused to spend a dime on herself, while that idiot was in the giftshops buying himself toys for the pool and other various crap for himself. I pray every day that she kicks him to the curb. She worked hard for a good future and it's all going down the tube. Like I said, you have to worry about yourself now. No one else is going to.

We are doing a bride and groom table, just so the familes arent offended that we are not sitting with one of them. We plan on only really sitting at it while eating though.

Wow, sorry about all this. You have to worry about yourself though. It sounds like this man has way too many issues that will make a relationship with him very stressful. My sister is in a relationship like that and I wish she would leave because he is dragging her down. This is all your decision obviously but it looks like you gave it your all and like I said, you have to worry about you now.

We are spending just under 4,000 which includes the tip for the waitstaff. It is in a private room at a restaurant. We even looked into renting the VFW but between the charge for that, the catering, decorations, ect, it was not much more to do it this way and less stress on us. There will be about 80 adults and 15 kids.

Oh it never ends... My MIL is now unhappy with the seating chart for the ahr this weekend. She sent us a email full of demands, and claiming they will "just shove the tables together if that is easier". Um, wtf?? She is not paying for any of it and this is a plated affair at a fancy restaurant. I will not have these people be shoving tables and chairs around like a herd of cattle. We work hard on the centerpieces, chart and seating cards. I am tempted to tell this woman if she does not like it, there is an Applebees on the way home. Unbelievable!

Don't know if this helps any, but maybe for the AHR favors? In the Montego Bay airport by the American Airlines gates, there are 2 liquor stores with insanely cheap prices. We grabbed half a dozen bottles of various jamaican alcohol to give as christmas gifts. I got a bottle of appleton rum there for $3.00. The more deluxe version was 50 cents more. It was a good sized smaller bottle, defitely bigger than shot sized. They even packed them in carboard boxes for the plane. Nobody at customs checked anything on the way home. My husband was pissed that he paid triple the prices at the resort gift shops.

We are having our AHR this sunday, in a private room at a nice italian restaurant. We are expecting 85 people. We are paying for this (per plate)ourselves, as well as the entire wedding 2 weeks ago. Last night we stayed up late making the seating chart and place cards. This morning my husband gets a phone call AT WORK, his mom wants to be seated next to so-and-so and behind so-and-so's table. When he said the seating chart was done and turned in, he gets an e-mail saying from her stating no big deal, they will just shove the tables together at the restaurant!! Hello? WTF?? I think this is totally disrespectful. This is our party we are hosting and these demands are ridiculous. Who would show up to anyone wedding reception and start shoving tables together? The seating chart is made for a reason, right? We cannot have 85 people shoving tables and chairs around and confusing the waitresses. My husband will not stand up to her much, and am fuming. I made favors and centepieces and a have a vision of a big rowdy mess now this weekend.

You can always do some adults only activities, Dunn's River tour was $40.00 pp including the trip there, but not appropriate for little kids. There is Margaritaville, which I heard was great. There is a tour/excursion desk right there ouside by the pool. Are you going to Sandals after your family leaves? Another awesome experience, the Dolphin Cove dolphin swim. $220 pp but so exillerating you will not regret paying that much.

Wow your date is coming up close, has anyone in your group booked or paid yet? You have to consider that as well. If it makes you feel better, I loved Beaches. I had more fun there than at Sandals, where we went for the honeymoon. And the wedding coordinator there is great. Also, if you guys need a break from the kids, drop them off in the daycare and go to Eleanor's (adults only).

The wedding gazebo is built into the Venetian terrace with coordinating stone/tile, off to one side. It is beautiful, I just wasnt crazy about it because some of it faced the hotel doors and I didn't want them in my pics. We didn't even have decor where we stood but the pics are still beautiful. I have a slideshow on the Boscobel review thread I made.

The only plans in advance we made with everyone was dinner the night before, and the wedding itself, of course. However we all ran in to each other several times throughout the day at the buffets and ended up sitting together. My MIL though she had to spend the entire trip with us and it got annoying. By the end of the week we were ready to ship everyone off just so we could have time alone. There definitely is a such thing as too much together-ness.

Hi, I just came back from there. There is no gazebo on the beach. There is a little gazebo called Arizona's Pier, which right off the restaurant. There is not much room or many angles for photo opportunities. But I saw a ton of weddings there. There is the Venetian terrace, which is huge and overlooks the ocean and resort. The wedding gazebo is there but we did not use it, we wanted to be against the wall overlooking the beach. There is also a beautiful garden area where you should take photos, regardless of your wedding site. I saw a few people getting married on the beach. I felt bad for them, the sand is hard to walk in and I'm sure most of their photos have the floating raft vendors in them. The night we arrived my husband and I walked all over the grounds to see which area we liked best. Also consider what time you are getting married, and where the sun will be so you are not squinting in your photos.

Ouch! Love letters from ex's?? Framed pics of them too? I think we should start a fund to send all 3 of our MIL's on a nice little trip of their own. Anyone with MIL's like that deserves a nice long romantic honeymoon!! Keep your chins up (and the miles between your houses, lol). I am glad I am not alone here!

Try this, tell her the average professional wedding camera cost about 3k. Since she probably doesn't have a camera that expensive....tell her they have a lot of digital editing equipment and electronic cards. Plus, she won't be able to enjoy the day if she has to capture every moment with a camera.

Yeppers, she contributed not one single cent to our wedding. Didn't even thank me for the oot bag or expensive favors I had made up. My family is fuming about the whole thing. They spent money they didnt have to come to JA with us, and had to listen to this obnoxios woman brag about her cruises, lexus, how much her gaudy dres cost, ect. They are telling me not to plan on having any joint holiday dinners anytime soon. I feel horrible for my husband. I still want to hear stories, ladies!!!

I really expected nothing more from this woman, but the "no card" thing really upset me. This is the same woman who brags about spending $60k on her daughter's wedding. I am interested to know about any other stories from brides here. This could be a good thread for blowing off steam!

Anyone who's destination wedding was monopolized by their MIL's raise your hand!! Ok, I'll go first. Mine followed us around the entire 6 days, whining that we had to spend every minute wth her. Took control of all the dining and seating arrangements, placing my family at the end of the table so we couldn't converse. Ignored my mother and disreguarded her and every person in my group. Wore the gaudiest dress ever to my wedding, and was swimming every day in shorts and a white t-shirt, no bra (the sunburn hurt her back, she says. Oh and her toast was "may all of your up's and down's be in the bedroom!" Did I mention she didn't even give us a card? Come on ladies, tell me about your MIL's!!!

Hi again, The stylists were very nice, I just trusted them a a little too much I guess. Don't be afraid to ask them to correct anything you don't like though. The whole photography thing there is very misleading. If you like your photos you can still get the packages, or you buy a print or image on disc for $20.00 each. So I really don't know why they want this money upfront, unless the main WC gets a booking bonus? Another thing that didn't make any sense (if any TA's know the truth about this, correct me) but they will have the same resort photographers take pics of you randomly, or you can schedule a shoot with them. Although the people are wearing the same uniforms and seem to have the same gear as the "wedding photographers", the wedding photos are still more (if you want to buy a pkg of your family on the beach it's cheaper, for instance).When I asked the photoshop staff about why the prices were different, they replied "um well yeah they use better cameras". I was very skeptical about this. When we went to Sandals we got 15 images on disc, a free wood frame, and a free huge bottle of Appleton rum for $140.00. But the cameras all look the same to me. Just FYI

Ok I am back from Beaches and here is the answer to my own question....NO I did not have to prepay for any hair or makeup appts. They charged it right on our room tab, not only that there were 5 weddings on my day and I still was able to request the appt time that I wanted, with only 2 days notice. Maybe they just go out of your way because they know you are getting married there, but I am annoyed that they were hounding me every other week by phone. Also, do NOT pre-pay any photography packages because then you may be stuck with photos you may not like. In all honesty, I was not impressed with my hair or makeup. I had never had either done before professionally and didn't know what to expect. I got there early to pick out a hairstyle from a magazine, and the one I ended up with looked barely similar. Also, she made my face about 3 shades too light which looked horrible in some of the photos lighting. I had spent 6 months getting facial peels and taking great care of my face, so to see the earlier photos of me looking like I was covered in caulk was upsetting. Ironically, the more I sweated and blotted, the better the photos looked. I did try and mention these things to the makeup stylist, but she kept telling me not to look in the mirror until I was done, and everything was always 'no problem, mon". Not to worry anyone, just keep an eye on what is going on.

Dress does not count as carry on...but be sure garment bag is clearly marked with your name. There were 4 other brides on my flight with davids bridal bags. I also stuffed my veil and under-skirt thingy in there as well, there was a ton of room on the bottom. It was only a hassle to lug around at the departing airport. My in-law just flew AJ and said there was only 1 bathroom, so make sure you go before you board.

Congrats!!! Your pics are gorgeous and so were you! I can't wait to hear your review of Beaches Negril, we may plan a trip there in a couple years. Wasn't the all inclusive bar great? lol

link to pics Pictures by michi6114 - Photobucket