magz88

I got married there! I am sooo awful about getting my review up and have no idea how to put pictures up. Overall we were very happy with how it turned out. there were a few little quirks that i wasn't thilled about but what're you gonna do. Overall, i was pretty relaxed about the whole process and maybe if i had been more concerned and more detailed, these things wouldn't have slipped, but at the end of the day, i went to jamaica to avoid all the crazy planning and details of a traditional wedding so i am very pleased with how things turned out. A couple things I will call out on the negative side: 1. Aunt Ruby's is HOT at night, very little air circulation. We still had a blast, but i was drenched and so were the guests. It was mid may and usually the weather isn't quite that hot but it was a heat wave and you have to be prepared for that. if you want to be safe, i would do an air conditioned restaurant, or possibly dancing on the beach where there is more of a breeze. Although, even with lighting, pictures aren't going to come out as nice with the reception dancing being on the beach. (just a thought). i probably should have considered that. 2. A couple of things at the reception: - I asked that the whole wedding party and their dates be at one long table. Instead of having seats all the way around, Nicole had them set up a longgg table so everyone was on one side of the table looking out to the rest of the reception area. I did NOT like this at all. But what was i gonna do. I wanted everyone to be able to talk around the table. it was a little awkward. - Also I had discussed with Nicole having a designated area for a small dance floor in the dinner area so it wouldn't be weird if people wanted to dance while dinner was served...but there was hardly any room. I told her where i wanted it to be, but it must have been disregarded. there was enough room by the wall for 1st dance, etc. But everyone had to go to other empty side of restaurant for dance floor. That was one thing i wasn't fond of. It felt a little awkward transitioning to that side, esp since some people don't dance and others were too hot to dance..it would have been nice for them to be able to sit at their tables and watch. Instead they stood on the walkpath and watched. It was fine, but different. 3. Last thing is that I would have to say i gave Nicole a timeline and it wasn't quite followed. I wanted to do the dances as soon as we were announced and that was over. It didn't happen. Instead our reggae band started to play which was fine..but i wanted the dances and speeches to go first that way the party could be started and run smoothly through. I would say that you should make it more obvious that the timeline NEEDS to be followed if you want it a certain way. 4. Be very concerned about the hair stylists at the salon. They are not very good. They are good if it is an easy hairstyle, but if its a little complicated, it will not come out how you want it to most likely. Mine came out alirght after 3 tries but it wasn't exactly what i wanted. not even close..but i accepted it. I wish i had a stylist with me. Besides those things, the whole day/night was wonderful. I wanted to point them out for future brides, but they didn't ruin the night by any means. Just frustrating a little. Nicole was great, she is there for you all day every day if you need her..i didn't really talk to her except for the meeting we had on the day we arrived and stuff i dropped to her the morning of the wedding. you can be more hands on if you choose..she is always around. The resort is great. After about 5 days, it starts to feel like groundhog day like most of the all inclusive resorts, but it's a blast and such a clean resort. Our guests are still talking about it and wishing they were there. o and the weather, unbelievable. HOT but everyday gorgeous, nice breeze and sunny! Our wedding day was superb, if it cooled down at night would have been the only thing to make it better. reservations are a pain in the freakin butt. we made reservations the day we got there for every day except the last two. big mistake bcz then we couldn't make them and the buffet doesn't compare to the restaurants. 2 of the nights we had reservations of 40 people and that was awesome. one was the day everyone arrived and the 2nd was the rehearsal. The food was great. My favorite restaurant was the steakhouse, mediterranean, then gourmet, then mexican. I had a lot of shrimp, steak, and lobster..no complaints here. If anyone has any questions let me know. I'm sure i left some things off my review..i'm not very good at this stuff. I will check in on the blog to answer any questions. maggie

Hi everyone! I would like everyone to know that I just spoke with Nicole on the phone on Friday night. She is not very good about answering emails at all and it is VERY frustrating. The best thing I have learned is to write down all your questions and have her call you or if you have ability to call her, just do it. You will get soo much more done and soo much faster, then waiting for a response. She is very organized and has an answer for everything..if not, she will get back to you with the question. She is the only wedding coordinator at the suites and it is a busy time for her with wedding season. If you have any questions. Let me know. I am getting married next friday so I feel like i know everything there is to know about this resort already and i've never been. ha.

Lisa, Thanks so much for answering my questions. Did you have to bring your own string to hang the lanterns with or does Nicole have that? Also, did you have to bring your own votive candles and holders or does Nicole have them there for an option?

Lisa!!!! Many congratulations to you! It was beautiful. I'm sorry to hear you didn't have your beach wedding...its actually something i think about alot since we are in may which is start of rainy season. It's good to hear that your alternative worked out and you were very happy with it. It looked beautiful. It seems like the lobby balcony would be a nice option too in case it rains?? Couple questions: are we allowed to have the cocktail hour w/ hor d'eourves right on the beach after the ceremony? that was my hope. In the steakhouse, is there room to set up 8 tables of 8 and have room to dance? I am hoping to keep everything on one side. how did it feel to have the party kinda separated? thanks so much for your help. can't wait to see more pics. congrats again!! you were a beautiful bride.

Can someone send me their templates for chapstick and the hangover kit or wedding survival kit? I tried opening someone's attachement but i guess i don't have enough posts to open. I would really appreciate if someone could email it to or Thanks soo much! If you have any other good templates, maybe you could add those as well. Thanks very much appreciated

I got mine in nyc for $26 / dozen. I got all different fun tropical colors..everything they had, and i will just randomly put in each bag...that way everyone will have different and they are not your everyday black /white which a lot people have already.

Best of luck to you!!! i know your wedding will be wonderful...can't wait to see pictures and hear all about it!!

Ok, i think I might just use him them. I definatelyl think I want to have some sort of video to look back on. Thanks for your response. Much appreciated!

I am getting married at The Iberostar Rose hall suites and i have my photographer, Brian Nejedly, whom I'm very excited to photograph my wedding since I've seen his work and I like it. I just really need a good videographer because I want to have a video of my ceremony and reception for the future. The resort photographer I've heard is not that good and the pics look cheesy, so I assume the resort videographer is the same. Anyone have any advice or suggestions? Or perhaps someone has used the videographer at the Iberostar suites resort? Any help would be appreciated!

That is very nice. My father is making my invitations using the same technique with handmade paper...2 layers and then we are going to put a small starfish at the top. I'm very excited. I love the look of this invitation!

thanks for the review! sounds wonderful. I had asked about the lobby terrace as a potential cocktail hour but at the time it wasn't an option. I am glad that they changed that. Can't wait to see pictures. If you can't upload them, can you email me them at [email protected] Thanks!!

thanks for the review! sounds wonderful. I had asked about the lobby terrace as a potential cocktail hour but at the time it wasn't an option. I am glad that they changed that. Can't wait to see pictures. If you can't upload them, can you email me them at [email protected] Thanks!!

o boy...this is a tough decision! seriously, she needs to just knock down the wall..it would be soo much easier! by the way i also asked Nicole about the sunset at that time of year..this is what she wrote: Hello Maggie, The sunset in May usually starts at 5:45 to 6:00pm and it gets dark around 7:00pm. If you should have nay further questions please do not hesitate to contact us. Nicole Barnett

The seating arrangement is a great idea. Did Nicole mention if that amount of tables would leave room for dancing? if so, how much room?

I read that the sun set later...it was on this website. Sunrise and Sunset for Jamaica – Kingston – May 2010 For your wedding in January, it may set earlier. As for the 2 hrs for your guests to kill...if you are not going to have a cocktail reception, i suggest you invite them all to have a cocktail at one of the bars. This way they can all be together and it's like a cocktail reception. just a thought.

I agree...why is the wall even there!! lol it complicates things what time are you getting married? I was going to do a 5pm ceremony. I want time to take pics afterwards, but I also want to enjoy part of the day with friends and family and i want the guests to enjoy almost a full day too. I think around may the sun starts to set at 6:30ish.

Negril LB - Hi and yes I saw your photos and they were helpful. I am just trying to get a 360 degree idea of what the restaurant is like. I like the idea of having the dancing on the beach, but I think i may want to do what you're doing and have the dancefloor around where we eat. I'm just hoping that they can do that with 80 or more people. I don't really wanna do one side eating, one side dancing bcz i want everyone to be together ya know? I have to say, I had my first "phone meeting" with Nicole last weekend. It went well and she reassured me of a lot of things. I can't seem to get a response from her over email and it is definately frustrating.

also, would u be able to take a few pictures of the steakhouse for us. different angles of it and looking through to the ocean, etc. Also, where the dj would be if they were in the restaurant terrace and the beach. Where the dancing would be in comparison to where you eat, whether the beach or other terrace. I am going to have approx 80-100 people too, so I am in the same situation as you.

Yes, I like the idea of the dance floor on the beach as well! Only question i have is...during dinner, would you be able to hear music playing...bcz sometimes people dance in between courses and some people just wanna sit and eat and I would want everyone to hear the music. I know the restaurant is right next to the beach, but isn't there a walk path in between? That's my only concern...and of course if having the dancing on the beach is convenient for everyone. One more thing, do you have to pay extra for lighting on the beach? or a dance floor?

So how would you fit dancing? Where would the dj be?

Thanks soo much for your help! Can't wait to see pictures.

Edsweety, Congratulations on your wedding and Thanks so much for your honest review. That is too bad that there were a few mixups but I guess we all have to prepare ourselves for the possibility. I will be having a fairly large party at my wedding in may as well so I will keep your advice in mind. I have a few questions for you: 1. Did the DJ have an ipod hookup so you could play your own playlist? 2. When meeting w Nicole, did it take up a lot of your day? were you able to get things done in a productive and quick way? I don't want to miss a whole day at the beach...hehe 3. Did you have dancing at the mediterranean restaurant or did you go to the disco for your reception? If you went to disco, Did you rent restaurant at 7:30 til 8:30 for dinner, and then disco from 8:30 - 10:30? 4. For the welcome dinner/ cocktail party, did you pay extra for that or did they include? Or did you just give your guests an "itinerary" in which it said to meet at a certain bar at a certain time? Thanks so much for all your help. This is so helpful when trying to decide what to do... congratulations again. Can't wait to see pics! Maggie

Hi Monica, Thank you soo much for your extensive review and your beautiful photo album that you have allowed us to look through. You were a beautiful bride and your wedding looked perfect! Congratulations to the both of you! I am also getting married at IRHS in may 2010 so these pictures really helped me see different angles of the resort i haven't seen yet. I have a few questions for you re: the wedding. 1. did you bring the white tulle and dangling flowers from home to decorate the huppa? the resort just provides the wood huppa? 2. where are your bridesmaid dresses from? 3. did you bring the torches or were they provided by the resort? extra cost? 4. did you communicate well with Nicole? did she call you w/ questions you had before your wedding? What about the jamaica man who married you the 2nd half of the ceremony? did he speak good english? Thanks so much for your help...it means so much. Congrats again to both of you. best, maggie

Lady D- Thank you very much for the pictures. The resort still has my vote! Maggie

Imuze- Thank you sooo sooo much for the wonderful pictures. You caputured many details that I have not seen yet and they will help when planning the wedding. One question - did Nicole happen to explain the different options of where you can have a cocktail reception? There was a balcony outside the lobby that looked like it would be a nice option. Thanks, maggie