Jamaica Jenn

There was definitely room for dancing at the Calabash. Originally we were not going to privatize the restaurant because my parents insisted on having the disco for dancing as we are all avid dancers, and wouldn't have needed the restaurant that long. It was only after that my parents decided to make the restaurant private, but since we only needed our seating private, not the whole night, we worked out a deal with Nicole to have it from 6:30-8:00 for $400. At 8:00, other people started coming in for the next seating. Hope that makes sense! Jenn

Hi Camilla, Glad I could help! Here are the answers to your questions: 1. We were able to choose from all 3, as long as we let Nicole know who was having what before the day of the wedding. I gave her a list of names, what tables they were at, and what they were eating. There were no place cards, but the servers just asked who ordered what and they were given their proper meals. 2. The DJ just used our cd at our request. We had our cocktail reception on the beach with drinks and nibblies. The DJ probably would have kept on playing music the whole hour, but we asked him to stop it (actually my hubby gave him a sign and he just seemed to know to turn it off). We had a guest that we had asked to make a toast so we wanted the music off so people could hear her. There was no extra cost for this. 3. The disco was a bit big for 37 people. The dance floor felt a bit empty at times even though at least 1/3 of my guests were on it at all times. The dance floor is sunken which is nice for the 1st dance because people can stand around you and take pics. Most of my guests sat at the stools and tables around the edge of the dance floor while we danced. If you are having the restaurant private all night, you can have the dj set up in there and do your dancing there. It would be more intimate, but more expensive to privatize the restaurant. The disco cost $350 for 2 hours and the restaurant cost $800 to make it private from 6:30-10:30. Happy planning and I am more than happy to answer any future questions! Jenn

Hey all, I finally posted my review. I will post the link here. I hope you enjoy, and don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. I will post pictures soon! Jenn http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/products/iberostar-rose-hall-suites-all-inclusive-montego-bay-jamaica/reviews#3973

Thanks! Same to you! No problem about posting the pic of our wedding. We watched yours from off to the side and I LOVED your dress and shoes! Still waiting on the professional shots from our photographer before I post my review. Hopefully I can figure out how to post pictures!

Hi ladies, I have been married 2 weeks as of yesterday (at the Suites), and I promise my review is coming soon! I have just been so busy with work and moving that I haven't had a chance to sit down and write anything. I will also try to post pictures. Jenn

Good luck Wendy, see you there in a few days! Hopefully the weather holds up for us both! 2 more sleeps until I leave!

Hey Wendy - when do you leave? Must be any day now! Is your wedding on the Sunday or Monday?

Thank you - my FI voted for dinner too since the best man is super nervous and wants to get it out of the way. We leave in 4 days!

Totally agree - the journey of the dress was my whole family's favourite aspect of the video. Wish my photographer was a videographer and could do that for us. What a nice memory to have and to share with those who couldn't make it!

I am about to, but that is the Canadian Thanksgiving, not the American one. Ours is on October 11th this year. We leave for Jamaica on October 9th, and get married on the 14th. No turkey for us this year! LOL

The major things get figured out easily, its near the end when you are doing all the details and if you are anything like me, add lots of extra details (LOL) and make more work for yourself, that you feel a little stressed. Write everything down - make a list of the things you feel like you have to do, and just cross them off as you do them. Then you know you won't forget anything! Â

Oh wow that sounds beautiful! I will suggest it to my FI who is still a bit sensitive (since it is so new) and seems to be totally closed off to the idea of doing anything for his uncle as it would be too emotional. Once we get a little further from the hurt and a little closer to the happy, I will bring it up with him. I like this idea very much. Wendy you must be getting so excited!! We are so close now! Thanks for your condolences by the way. We should meet up at the bar one of our days there for a drink! Â Jenn

Certainly could! I have been watching the forecast lately and it is nothing but rain rain rain (and thunderstorms). I am not too worried though as I know the rain is usually quick and the sun comes out after. Only 12 days until we leave! Â

Ok - weird question - speeches during dinner (which is not private) or at the disco after (which is booked and private)? Please list your vote!

Hey there, Â I wouldn't worry too much about what you haven't done. At this stage, the main thing is to make sure you get your dress, as most dress places take anywhere from 4-8 months to get your dress in. Other than that, start looking at mens beach wedding attire - depending on where you live (if it is Manitoba), the stores might not have beach wedding attire like linen and such in until the summer. You might have to order online so it would be worth looking into at this point. At the 6 month mark, I had bought my dress, booked the resort and the group rate, sent out invites (to give guests enough time to book vacation and save money), thought about and started buying guest favours (OOT bag stuff) since I wanted to spread out my expenses so that they didn't all accumulate at once. I had also discussed with my FI some of the smaller details such as where we wanted to hold the ceremony, the rings, and talked about the music. When you choose a destination wedding, most of the details don't get worked out until about 1 month out - part of the reason why we choose to do it this way! Take care of the major things like dress and invitations, and the rest will fall into place. I leave in 12 days and my wedding is in 17 days and I am all set to go!! If you have any more questions feel free to ask! Â Jenn

Hello ladies, Â We leave 2 weeks today and yesterday my fiance's uncle passed away unexpectedly. Him and all of his family were booked to come down to the wedding. His family still might come, but obviously he won't be joining us, except for in spirit. I wanted to do something at either the ceremony or the reception to remember and honor him. I was thinking of lighting a candle in his honor during the ceremony. Anyone have any suggestions? My FI is totally a mess over the whole thing as he was quite close to his uncle - it was his godfather and namesake. Â Thanks!

Yay so exciting!! Congratulations, good luck, and I hope it is everything you dreamed of! Can't wait to hear your review! Only 2.5 weeks until I leave for mine!

Iberostar did not give me any credit toward the flowers unfortunately but Tai Flora did shuffle some numbers to accommodate the fact that I also had to pay for an outside vendor as well. Tai Flora has been great to work with, and so have the staff at IRHS.

Hello ladies, Â I leave in just less than 3 weeks as I am getting married on October 14th. We have just recently decided that we want to do a slide show during the reception dinner. I was wondering if anyone knows if they have the equipment necessary to do this. I am not talking a projector and a screen, I have my slide show on a USB stick and just wanted to know if anyone knows or has inquired about doing something similar? Â Thanks! Â Jenn

Ok everything is officially finalized. The assistant manager of something or other is responding to Nicole's emails. I got my schedule of the weeks events, the final estimate of all the extra costs (I added lots of extras), and the list to fill out my guests names. I finally feel relaxed and ready to go. Â

 Well to be totally honest - not too thrilled about the wait times for email responses. I emailed Nicole about 3 times with questions regarding details. She didn't get back to me but finally someone else did - Nicole is on vacation until September 25th or something. That is only 2 weeks before I leave! Hopefully I can finalize everything before then!

We were told that it won't be a problem about the father's names as they see that a lot. Just send down the notarized copies of the actual birth certificate and we should be all set to go!

Hi Kim - welcome! Any questions you have about planning, just ask!

Yikes broken teeth before the wedding! My worst nightmare lol. I promise not to stand behind the huppa during the ceremony or pictures . We are also doing the beach with the huppa but we have chosen to add some extra flowers and fabric, as well as bright pink chair bows. We have about 45 people so a few more than you guys. We only expected about 25! I will definitely insure my documents through the courier as it would be awful if they don't make it down there. One month - so close!! Where are you doing your dinner? We have chosen Calabash - the gourmet restaurant and plan on renting the disco after as well.

Hi Wendy - thank you, you just took my anxiety level from super high, to way down low. I am glad to hear that your papers got down quickly and safely. I am having mine notarized tomorrow, and sent down the day after by courier. It's nice to see someone getting married the same week as us! I may have to be sneaky and peek in at your ceremony to see what I am in for! Are you doing the beach ceremony or somewhere else? I think once I am down there I will be able to relax. Â Ireyes - I chose based on a lot of reviews from tripadvisor, pictures, and by selecting 3 that my FI and I liked, giving the 3 selections to our bridal party and asking them which one they would go to if they could choose. They all chose IRHS. In the end, I wanted IRHS and FI wanted Riu Palace Tropical Bay but we decided that Iberostar had more to offer our guests as it seemed to have more activities and entertainment than Riu. You will never please everyone, so just choose based on what sounds good to you!