CHAKLIT

Thanks ladies!

Quote: Originally Posted by snow88 I'm getting married at Coyaba too. They gave me Wedding Planner Plus and Tropical Weddings. I went with Michelle at Wedding Planner Plus because it was cheaper. We don't have 200 people though. We just have about 41 plus a few babies. Most of my fiance's family lives in St. Ann so that's why we are having the wedding there. The only problem we have so far is that we didn't like the cake so I'm having it done here and I'm waiting back from her about them decorating it. I'm picky about my fruit cake. What was her cost, if you don't mind me asking?? And what is she offering you?

Quote: Originally Posted by kingston76 Hi, Did you like the Coyaba venue?? Who did you decide to go with re: vendors? thanks! Not sure how I missed this...I loved it! I booked right away! I have pics if you want to PM me your email addy and I'll send you a link. I went with them b/c we have too many locals, therefore the resorts weren't an option. Still working on the vendor thing -- I know I'll need some assistance with that part b/c Coyaba doesn't provide anything.

Hey ladies, I've been thinking of a way to incorporate our youngest girl(expecting her in July) in the wedding ceremony. Our toddler will be a flower girl, for sure, but I want my littlest one involved too. I ran across a site for flower girl wagons...boy is it expensive! Does anyone know if there are wagon rentals in Jamaica? I know it's kinda of off the wall, but you never know...maybe someone sees the market for it and actually rents them! Here's a link to what I fell in love with! Flower Girl Wedding Carriage

Quote: Originally Posted by USVIdesibride I am considering Heather Parker after seeing her name pop up as the photographer for so many brides. I saw this thread after searching posts from twinklelittlestar on the USVI board. Does anyone know if she does wedding photography in the US Virgin Islands? We are thinking of getting married on Saint Thomas but wanted to find someone closer to home to deal with reproducing the memories of our wedding. As far as I know...she works just about everywhere.

My apologies, I just googled it...looks nice!!

Quote: Originally Posted by hwannamaker Hi Everyone, Just wondering if there are any other brides out there that are getting married or were married at Llantrissant? Forgive me for ignorance, but what's that?

I am leaning towards 4 pm...we are going off-site to a church, possibly in runaway bay, then headed to coyaba gardens- Ochi for our reception. It's gonna be a celebration!

Quote: Originally Posted by scrouse Riu Ocho Rios A+ There was a slight mishap when we first arrived because my FI and I were given a regular room even though we (and ALL 34 of our guests) reserved junior suites. For some reason, everyone else got a junior suite except us. They were a bit rude at first, but my FI went to the front desk and sorted it out. In the end, they actually upgraded us to a suite, which was way bigger than a junior suite and had an amazing view! We would have been happy with a junior suite, but the upgrade was really cool. This resort was perfect for our group of guests. There were 36 of us in total. We had a 13yr old, several people in their late 20’s/early 30’s, and many in their 50’s/60’s. There was always something to do for everyone. The resort is nice and big, so you can walk around without being stuck in each other’s space all the time. The beach is amazing (and close to the rooms), the pools are great, and the entertainment was really good. My only complaint is that there really isn’t much to eat after 11pm, when the main dining areas close. Normally, this wouldn’t be an issue, but some nights, we stayed up late chatting and drinking and wanted a snack. The only food available was popcorn and not-so-great nachos at the sports bar. Otherwise, I thought that the food was really good. I’m not too picky, but everyone else in our group also commented that the food was good. Drinks were plentiful, and staff was very pleasant. Of course the rooms had a bit of a wet, musty smell, but from my experience, all resorts in the Caribbean are like this. I honestly don’t have any real complaints about this resort. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you are going with a large, diverse group because it caters to all age groups. Renova Spa A I had a hair trial done at home and took a TON of pictures from every angle because I have super-thin hair and it’s really hard to style. I printed the pics out in colour and brought them with me. The lady at the salon did an awesome job replicating it! It wasn’t totally perfect, but looked good enough for me!! Everyone complimented me on my hair because it was very simple and elegant. Definitely take pictures with you because the salon has a very rough looking catalogue of cut-out pictures from OLD magazines. They do not have a good book of styles to choose from, so make sure you know what you want before you go. The salon itself is VERY small. They had 3 ladies working, but it was soooo cramped. And no curlers or hair dryer (the one that goes over your head). To add volume, they just backcomb your hair, and to get curls, they use a curling iron. This worked well for me and my bridesmaids, but if you’re expecting a modern salon and spa, you might be disappointed. I had a French manicure done before I left which was kind of silly because of course it was completely destroyed when I arrived in Jamaica. But I went to the spa and just got a “Colour Changeâ€. It was only $14 USD and she did a great job applying French tips. I actually liked it a lot better than the French tips I had done at home. Tropial Weddings Jamaica A++++ OMG!!! I cannot say enough about this company! We decided to get married off the resort and really didn’t know how to go about planning an off-site wedding. I found Almarie (wedding coordinator) from Tropical Weddings Jamaica early in our planning process, and she was nothing short of amazing from day one! She responded within 24hrs to ALL of my questions and always provided me with extensive details. She helped me remain calm and paid really close attention to my wishes. My suggestion to you is that if you have questions or concerns for her, list them out and number them (literally…#1, #2, #3, etc.). She will respond to each and every question and concern. Our wedding day was PERFECT!! I couldn’t have asked for anything more! Almarie did everything exactly how I asked. We met with her the day before the wedding (she came to the resort to meet us). Even though everything was already settled before we arrived, we provided her with last minute details and gave her our programs, bubbles, favours, etc. It was nice to finally meet her. Then on our wedding day, we were all picked up by two modern, air-conditioned buses and taken to our ceremony/reception location. The ride to the location was a bit rough and a bit scary, but once we arrived at the top of the mountain, everyone’s breath was taken away! It was even more beautiful than the pictures on the internet. We were married at the Oceanfront Grande location. It is also known as Firefly. It was like a fairytale! When we arrived, things were all set up, I changed into my gown, people got seated and the ceremony began. I can honestly say that I remember every detail as I was not distracted by any stresses. It was the most amazing wedding ceremony!! A steel drum band played the music as we walked down the aisle. We had so many positive comments about the steel drum band. I was hesitant at first because it’s obviously not the most traditional form of music at a wedding, but it was a great decision. Not only does it provide a tropical feel, but it was really romantic. The only thing that was annoying during the ceremony was my veil. It is windy in Jamaica, and my veil was blowing around. The photographer had to stop at one point and tuck my veil in so that he could get good pictures without my veil covering up my face. Unfortunately, in some pics, my veil looks kind of funny because it is tucked in, but for the most part, it still looks really good. My FI and I created our ceremony from start to finish. This was such a great idea because it was really personal and we made sure every word of the ceremony applied to us as a couple. The minister was extremely accommodating and used our ceremony instead of his own, standard ceremony. Immediately after the ceremony, we did pictures and had cocktail hour. The steel drum band stayed and played during this time. Guests mingled and had drinks and appetizers. I was worried that it might be awkward and boring for the guests, but they enjoyed this time to relax, take in the scenery and chat with each other. After pictures were finished, we started our reception. Our reception was only 2hrs long, but it was a perfect amount of time. We had a great Jamaican dinner (the guests loved the food), and we had speeches, a game, and some music. It was short and sweet. I was definitely worried about our reception being so short and being finished so early in the day (from 4pm-6pm), but it worked out really well for us. Everything went as planned, and again, I have no complaints. It was super-intimate, and Almarie took care of each and every detail. Our photographer was part of the package with Tropical Weddings Jamaica. He was excellent. He didn’t rush us and he made sure that guests hid their sunglasses, purses and cameras for the pictures. He did a great job ensuring that pictures turned out and that eyes were open! The package didn’t include many printed pictures and didn’t include all pics on a CD, so unfortunately, we had to bargain with the photographer and gave him some extra money to just give us ALL the pics. There were ~600 in total, and we wanted all of them. So for some extra cash, he burned all the pics onto a CD for us. He also came to the resort to meet with us 2 days after the wedding so that we could pick which pictures to have printed. He then met us again to deliver us the final products. He really went out of his way to meet with us and make sure we were happy. The photographer also put together a video for us. It’s kind of cheesy, but it captures all the important parts of the day. And the sound is awesome! You can see and hear our entire ceremony and most of the speeches from our reception. Even though it’s not the most high-tech video, we love it! It’s an awesome keepsake. We arrived back at the resort just after 7pm. We requested that our guests freshen up and gather again in the entertainment area to continue the celebrations. A few of our friends arrived early and reserved a bunch of tables and chairs off to the side. Our group met up again at about 8pm. We watched the pre-show, had some drinks, and continued chatting and mingling. The “older†folks went to bed after the show, while the rest of us stayed up and partied. We went to the disco, which under normal circumstances wouldn’t have been my top choice to celebrate my wedding night. But it was soooo much fun! They actually played the best music that night (all old school R & B, hip hop, and rock). We drank and danced until 2am!! It was a blast. I kept my wedding gown on, and I felt like a celebrity for the day/night. People are so nice when they see a bride!! Overall, our wedding day/night was amazing. I honestly would not change a thing! I think as destination brides, we are so lucky!! I think it is rare to find a bride who can look back at her wedding day and say that she didn’t get caught up in the whirlwind of stress! And I think that most of us who have a destination wedding, really have a unique experience of enjoying every moment of our special day! And I know that our guests also enjoyed everything as well! Lees Tours A We planned a day trip for all of our guests a few days after our wedding. We contacted Lees Tours a couple of months before our arrival and arranged a trip for everyone to Dunn’s River Falls and then to the town of Ocho Rios for some shopping. I believe the total cost per guest was $27 USD (including all transportation, entrance into the Falls, and bottled water). Norma from Lees Tours was such a pleasure to work with! She was quick to answer our questions and put our minds at ease! She made sure we were the first group to arrive to Dunn’s River so that we avoided the rush of the crowd. It was perfect. As we were leaving, there was a HUGE line-up, so we were grateful for our 8:30am arrival. We then went to do some shopping. The shopping was okay…but be prepared to be harassed by the vendors! The Lees Tours drivers were very professional and very nice. They waited for us for a couple of hours while we shopped, and then took us back to the resort. It was a great day, and Lees Tours definitely made it fun! Couples Negril B+ I think, hands down, the best decision we made was to stay an extra week by ourselves and truly enjoy our “honeymoonâ€. Even though we only had 34 guests, we felt the pressure to constantly be mingling, and making sure everyone was okay for the first week. We literally didn’t have a moment to ourselves (other than sleeping). Every meal and every other spare minute was spent with other people. So we decided to extend our vacation and spend another week at a different resort. When we arrived at Couples Negril, we were a bit surprised. It is MUCH smaller and quieter than any other resort I have ever been to. It was a HUGE change from the Riu Ocho Rios. It is 100% couples. There are no large groups of people partying. Even though it was a bit of a shock at first, once we adjusted, we both agreed that it was the perfect place for our honeymoon. This resort “forced†us to relax! Because there aren’t a lot of planned activities, and the entertainment is over by 10pm, we had nothing else to do other than go back to our rooms. At first, we were kind of weirded-out at the fact that our nights were ending so early, but trust me, by day 3, we were loving it!! It was so nice to go back to our room at 9pm-10pm and truly relax! We watched some TV, and really took advantage of our alone time!! The room was great! It was huge and very bright. It actually smelled more like bamboo than of mustiness. Housekeeping cleaned the room every morning, and also provided turn down service every evening. It was really nice. We had a garden view, which was super-pretty. The grounds are extremely lush with tons of huge trees and greenery. It felt like you were in the middle of the jungle!! Again, this was totally different than any other resort I have stayed at, as other resorts tend to have perfectly manicured lawns and shrubbery. Once we got used to it, I fell in love with the jungle-atmosphere!! The food was really good! As I stated earlier, I’m not super-picky, but I would say that the food was actually better than the ROR. There were not as many restaurants, and maybe not as much variety, but I feel like the quality was better. And the presentation was really classy. The service was outstanding! And no tips were permitted, which took some pressure off us to always be thinking about tipping. We tried to tip on our first day, and were told that they are not allowed to accept money. We felt bad because the staff honestly work so hard, but we watched others and I guess it’s common knowledge that you don’t tip because nobody else was tipping. This resort has some amazing perks included in your stay. As part of our stay, we went on a sunset catamaran cruise, a glass-bottom boat ride, snorkeling off site, kayaking, wind surfing, water skiing, and best of all—scuba diving!! It included a free scuba diving lesson and a free dive with the instructor. Normally, I would have NEVER tried scuba diving…after this experience, my husband and I are seriously considering getting certified so that we can continue diving on future vacations. It was amazing! Overall, our entire 2-weeks in Jamaica were better than we could have ever imagined! Of course there were minor glitches, but nothing worthy of complaining. Every decision we made, turned out to be great, and I would highly recommend the Riu Ocho Rios, Tropical Weddings Jamaica, Couples Negril, and Lees Tours!!! Good luck to everyone!! When I went to Coyaba Gardens in Ochi a couple weeks ago, the owners told me that Almarie was very good...I've heard nothing but positive things about her! Congrats!

Quote: Originally Posted by cristinimartini Thought a "carry on" fee was bad? Check this out! Flights: Airfare, flight tracker, delays, miles tracker & airport news - Today in the Sky - USATODAY.com Thought this article was funny for poking fun of Spirit...JetBlue pokes fun at Spirit's carry-on fee by touting luggage 'outerwear' - Flights: Airfare, flight tracker, delays, miles tracker & airport news - Today in the Sky - USATODAY.com Hahahaha, that is too funny!

Updated: Tuesday, 06 Apr 2010, 7:22 PM MDT Published : Tuesday, 06 Apr 2010, 10:19 AM MDT BY LUKE FUNK MYFOXNY.COM You might not be able to avoid baggage fees much longer by simply carrying your bag onto the plane. Discount airline Spirit Airlines has unveiled new baggage rules that include steep fees for carry-on bags. Any ticket purchased, starting today, for travel in August and beyond, requires that you pay $45 for a carry-on item if you wait to pay at the gate. The fee is as low as $20 if you pay on-line for the carry-on bag. The dimensions quoted on the carrier's Web site for a carry-on bag are 22x18x10". Spirit has several flights between New York's LaGuardia Airport and cities in Florida. The rules still allow one personal item to be carried on the plane free-of-charge. That item much fit under the seat and be no larger than 16x14x12". Items like cameras, diaper bags, coats and strollers will not be counted as personal items and can be brought onto the plane for free. On the Net: spiritair.com Spirit Airlines' $45 Baggage Fee Might as well buy a seat for luggage with these folks. I had a bad experience with them and they lost my daughters car seat on the way to Jamaica...and it was checked at the gate!! I have no love for this no frills air line.

Great post! I need a photog for everything! We're expecting our 2nd child, and I want to do BD shots, as well as engagement! We'll be busy!

We hired her as well for our Jamaica wedding next year...loved her work!

Quote: Originally Posted by hiccups I'm also curious to know what her price is and the packages she offers. I really like a photographer in my city but to fly him down to shoot my wedding will cost me over $7000 including airfare and accommodation!!! Geez! That's my wedding bugdet!!

Quote: Originally Posted by donutdjn I would be interested to see some of her pictures of Jamaica weddings - her website doesnt let you choose by resort and some rough prices would be good. Thanks. As far as I know, Moon Dance is her only JA wedding...she did a great job and it's been featured on Soulful Engagements - Home tips for hiring a destination wedding photographer Destination Weddings Weddings Heather Parker Photography Blog

Quote: Originally Posted by sorord1 Hello guys, I have been dealing with this coordinator that is located in Jamaiaca. I gave her my budge of 5,000 and she submitted a wedding quote back to me for 9,800. Here is the confusion she added 20% ,which is her fee, to every item I requested even the food which the location is providing. Then she added a miscellanous which included accomm, labor and etc.. I have never heard of charging a fee like that plus 20% is extremely high in my opinoin. But I have been in touch with Jamaica elegant weddings and Jai, she is in Negril, from exclusive weddings who both can accomodate my budget. This other lady is a total rip off. 20%...wow! If the location is providing food, what's the reason for the mark-up

Thanks!! Gonna check it out

Received this in an email from Air J this evening! AIR JAMAICA FLIGHTS CONTINUE UNDER CARIBBEAN AIRLINES Preliminary Targeted Transaction Date of April 12, 2010 MIAMI, FL – March 5, 2010 – A preliminary targeted transaction date of April 12, 2010 has been set by which the operations of Air Jamaica will begin the transition to Caribbean Airlines. This transaction date dovetails with the airline’s major schedule change that was previously announced. However, the transaction date could change as the details of the transition are finalized. Seamless Operations The following are important points to note as the changeover is made: The transition to Caribbean Airlines will be phased over a period of up to one year, in order to ensure that customers will continue to be provided with the best possible travel experience. Air Jamaica aircraft will continue to be utilized during the transition period. Current Air Jamaica pilots, flight crews and ground staff will operate the aircraft for the schedule already published. All customer services, including reservations, website and sales, will continue to operate in much the same way as today, for a period of time. “We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with our loyal customers in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, as well as throughout the Diaspora, and we are pleased to advise that our company is also committed to continuing these relationships, doing everything possible to earn your loyalty and trust,†stated Bruce Nobles, Air Jamaica’s President and CEO. Schedule Advantages As of April 12, the airline offers a superior schedule between Jamaica and its core destinations – namely four daily flights from Fort Lauderdale, three daily flights from New York (JFK) and daily flights from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Toronto. To book future flights, continue to call your travel agent or Air Jamaica Reservations at 1-800-523-5585 or visit the website at Air Jamaica - Discounted Flights to Jamaica, Caribbean, USA, Canada and London. Best deals for vacation and business travel. About Air Jamaica Celebrating its 40th year as Jamaica’s national carrier, Air Jamaica offers the most nonstop flights between the U.S. and Jamaica. The airline serves 12 destinations with more than 160 weekly flights, including service between Jamaica and Toronto, New York (JFK), Chicago (O’Hare), Baltimore, Philadelphia, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Curacao and Nassau, as well as nonstop service between New York and Grenada. Voted “The Caribbean’s Leading Airline†for 12 consecutive years, Air Jamaica offers one of the industry’s most generous rewards programs, 7th Heaven Rewards, along with award-winning, free in-flight entertainment, the Island Stylee video and SkyWritings, the in-flight magazine. On Air Jamaica passengers experience the legendary Lovebird Hospitality and warm Caribbean smiles on every flight. For more information or to book travel, visit Air Jamaica - Discounted Flights to Jamaica, Caribbean, USA, Canada and London. Best deals for vacation and business travel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To receive updates from Air Jamaica, sign up athttp://www.airjamaica.com/specials/sign_up.aspx.

Quote: Originally Posted by BeachBride83 Hey ladies! I haven't seen a thread on this so I apologize if there is one already. What is everyone paying or planning on paying for their flights to Jamaica (MBJ)? We are flying out of Chicago and I have been told to plan on spending $300-$400. Is that accurate? Also, for those of you that were able to negotiate a group rate, what airline was/is that with and what was/is the discount? Thanks for the info!! I've meaning to ask as well what are the flight/airline options from the Chicago area? I need to fly my photographer(Heather Parker) out from there and I'm not sure what's available, since I've read on here that Air J shut down the Chicago hub! Thanks in advance! CHAKLIT

Congrats!! Super nice venue!!

Update! I decided to do everything myself...I plan to head to JA at the end of the month and have a few venues and a few vendors to meet with(thanks to the referrals found on board!) I think we'll be okay b/c once we secure our venue -- Coyaba Gardens is top choice-- hopefully everything else will fall into place. My biggest concern is the cost for party rentals like tables, chair, silverware etc. We have plenty of family in the hospitality business so I'm hoping that can assist with our efforts! Thanks for reading! I'll keep you ladies updated!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Tlseege Jewelers Mutual. Your basic homeowners coverage doesn't have near the peril coverage as JM does. So you have to be very careful with that. peril coverage?? What exactly is that? Sorry for my ignorance!

Quote: Originally Posted by TA Jennifer Quite honestly gals I'd be leery of booking AJ right now no matter how good the prices are! They are systematically cancelling their hubs (just last week cancelled Chicago) -and looking for a buyer as things aren't going so great. They are definitely having some MAJOR issues right now! I wouldn't book them for anything passed next month. I got a budddy pass I'm using in a couple weeks and I'm leary about that!!

She's our photographer...and I'm so glad we booked her. She's really nice and down to earth...she's super responsive to emails and she's an all around nice woman. We're gonna do a skype chat in the near future so we can "meet" b4 the wedding next year.

Quote: Originally Posted by landwlkr I am currently looking into 3 wedding insurance providers: Wedsafe, Travellers and Fireman's Fund. I am still trying to research the pros and cons of each, since they are not all exactly the same coverage. Before you send in any money, make sure you READ THE POLICY. This, I am finding, is not as easy as it sounds since you have to really dig into each website to see the policy. Here are a few links for you: Fireman's Fund Sample Policy: http://www.rvnuccio.com/pdfs/rvnucci...licy022409.pdf Wedsafe Sample Policy: http://www.wedsafe.com/pdfs/wedding-...ple-policy.pdf These policies protect you in a different way than travelers insurance. For example, if your photographer goes out of business after the wedding and never sends you your photos, travelers insurance will not likely cover that loss. If a vendor bails on you on the morning of the wedding, travelers insurance may not cover that type of loss. But, like I said, not all policies and coverages are created equal, or are exactly what they seem. Firemans "cold feet" coverage (where the cost of the wedding is recovered if YOU or your FI cancel the wedding for change of heart reasons) is only redeemable if someone other than you or your FI are funding the wedding and buying the policy. Travellers only calls "immediate family" your children and parents, wedsafe and firemans also incorporate siblings and grandparents into that definition. My good friend just had her entire wedding blown to bits by one of the recent blizzards-- thankfully she was covered and got almost all her costs back. But again, read the policies so you know exactly what you are buying. Good Luck! Terra Thanks for the observation...I can only do WedSafe & Travellers b/c Fireman's don't cover caribbeans destinations. I need to keep on reading!