Princess J

I asked about that when I was planning my wedding and I think that you can but it depends on if another wedding is happening or if there is any golf events booked (e.g. tournaments) as they would get priority. The also re-route the golf when you get married here so not sure if it would be AS private if you just went for pictures. I found the golf course staff not as helpful, they never returned my emails, so I had the wedding planner book it without a problem.

 

Originally Posted by exquisite02 

Hi Princess J,  It is so nice to see that you are still on the forum after your wedding. I think this thread is a great idea and I'm sure a lot of brides will benefit from this thread. I was just wondering if you knew if people could just get pictures done at these ruins? I would love to get some pictures there! if you could help with any information that would be awesome! Thank you!

Hi everyone, I wanted to create a section on alternatives to on-site weddings. Everyone, including me at the time, thinks that they can only get married at the hotel. But guess what! You don't have to. Now don't get me wrong, resort weddings are beautiful, but for those of us that find a DREAM destination off-site there is hope! The costs are totally comparable (even cheaper for some options) and you get to have your day your way. Which is really what we all want isn't it! 

For me I decided that I did not want a 'traditional' resort wedding and instead I wanted to hold my wedding at a nearby location the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course at the historic Aqueduct location. I had seen other brides get married here and I really wanted to have it for my special day. To do so was a bit more difficult as I had to hire an outside wedding planner and I choose Almarie from Tropical Weddings Jamaica due to good reviews online. Let me just stop for a minute to say she is nothing short of AMAZING. In the land of 'island time' she would respond to my emails within hours, answering each question well and with detail. She organized every aspect of the ceremony from transportation of the guests from the hotel to the site, to flowers, chair/ties, steel drum band, decor, officiant, everything. It was truly perfect and Almarie was such a great wedding planner! 

I really can't say enough about the company. They offer tons of other venues by waterfalls, on rolling mountains, on a private beach (with no spectators), etc. Almarie is a sweetheart too!

If you have any questions let me know. Almarie and I became quite close and we are still in touch so if you are planning to use her let me know and I will see if she will give you a discount!

Alamarie

Hi Jade, I would call or email Almarie from Tropical Weddings. She is super quick to respond and very knowledgeable. Also google Tropical Weddings Jamaica to have a better look at what they can do. They offer tons of private locations (including a private Beach) which are a lot nicer I think. It was important to me to have a location where it would just be my group and I loved my venue! Cost wise it is very similar but with Almarie you have a lot more flexibility. Let me know what you decide (PM me as I am not on here all the time). I can answer any questions you may have! Jenn
 

Originally Posted by JADE28 

Hi Princess,

 

I am considering inquiring about Tropical Weddings. I have about 100 guests booked at Iberostar Suites however I am starting to get second thoughts on having the ceremony there. I do not love the beach set up and people are just walking around and can be in your pictures. I also do not like the yellow lounge chairs on the beach near the ceremony. Iberostar has so many extra fees I wonder if it would be better to have it offsite like at the Aqueduct. Iberostar's package is $2100 plus $18 per person just for the ceremony. What are your thoughts? Maybe I should call Almerie.
 

 

DaisyMable, looks like you are married! Would love to see some pics

Ooops I guess you can't all see those pics, I'll try some others

Wedding location at the Aqueducts

Hi everyone, I was married with TWJ and everything was a bit expensive but I still think it was less than my resort was charging for a group of 50 people. What I did to save money was buy the lower package and then customize for things I wanted e.g. champagne, rose petals, etc. It worked out well. You can also negotiate a bit which helped.

I was also quoted $3/bottle so I told guests to bring there own. We provided champagne $25/bottle (for 5 people) which everyone enjoyed.

Let me know if you have questions, I though they were fab! I was really happy

 Our ceremony site at the Aqueducts

 Me with Almarie

Congrats!!! Let me know if you have questions, get excited!

 

Originally Posted by daisymable 

We finally made the decision about our ceremony.  We booked the Cinnamon Hill Aqueducts! If we may have to give up on the private dinner we wanted at the restaurant we wanted, we are going to have the private ceremony we wanted. It took us a couple of weeks to decide if we wanted to pay the extra money but I think it will be worth it. I am so excited now!

You are so welcome

Don't worry everyone!!! I sent out invites without having final prices. I directed everyone to my wedding website and even had a facebook group to notify them when final prices are out. It is worth it to wait too! Prices DROP the closer it gets so you want to offer your guests the best prices. Everyone booked the trip in Oct/Nov 2010 and our wedding was in Feb 2011

Hope this helps!

Me too and they were amazing and like 1/2 the costs of real flowers with my chosen design. You can get local flowers (real) for a good price but just not imported

Hi girls, I would like to clean out my living room so prices slashed, please let me know if you are interested! Prices negotiable and do not include shipping.

1) 48 Fuchsia Pink Linen napkins $20

2) 31 Pink Organza chair ties $25

3) The Knot's Guide to Destination Weddings - book which helped my plan my entire wedding! $5 (retails for $20)

4) 'Just Married' flip flops, brand new! $6

5) Beige decorative fish netting, looked great on my card table $3

6) Treasure Box card box $10 - for local pickup as shipping is quite expensive

Thanks!

Hi girls, I would like to clean out my living room so prices slashed, please let me know if you are interested! Prices negotiable and do not include shipping.

1) 48 Fuchsia Pink Linen napkins $20

2) 31 Pink Organza chair ties $25

3) The Knot's Guide to Destination Weddings - book which helped my plan my entire wedding! $5 (retails for $20)

4) 'Just Married' flip flops, brand new! $6

5) Beige decorative fish netting, looked great on my card table $3

6) Treasure Box card box $10 - for local pickup as shipping is quite expensive

Thanks!

Hi girls, I would like to clean out my living room so prices slashed, please let me know if you are interested! Prices negotiable and do not include shipping.

1) 48 Fuchsia Pink Linen napkins $20

2) 31 Pink Organza chair ties $25

3) The Knot's Guide to Destination Weddings - book which helped my plan my entire wedding! $5 (retails for $20)

4) 'Just Married' flip flops, brand new! $6

5) Beige decorative fish netting, looked great on my card table $3

6) Treasure Box card box $10 - for local pickup as shipping is quite expensive

Thanks!

CONGRATS! That is so amazing, I know you will be happy that you did!

 

Originally Posted by Lizk23 

Just booked out date on a private beach in Montego Bay, January 18, 2012. I'm so excited, and so glad I decided to go with TWJ!!!

There is an option for 'open bar' to be added to the private reception. I didn't bother with it as it was $7/person. My guests had an open bar all week at the resort and no one complained that it was only beer/wine served at the reception. All the restaurants serve beer/wine regardless of private function or not.

 

Originally Posted by starrysim 

Quote:

 

Can you elaborate on this?  You didn't book the open bar - who served drink, and what did they serve?  Or did your guests go to a nearby bar?  

Honestly don't stress!!!!  We are all here to help answer questions! If you really need answers CALL the resort and talk to the WC. The Suites is a beautiful and amazing hote. In all my research every resort I looked into charged for 'private dinners' and some charged huge per person fees (e.g extra $50/person) in addition to rental fees. I originally booked the hotel as I like that there was only a flat rate for rentals. Don't worry about booking a private bartender for the extra fee for the open bar, we didn't and beer/wine was served with no problem. You did the right thing booking this hotel trust me. It is really awesome!

In regards to your questions, based on my experience at the Beach hotel, if the restaurant in not booked for a private function there is no microphone or dancing in the restaurant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chan_porty 

Hi ladies,

I have contacted Tropical Weddings Jamaica as I am so frustrated with IRHS. I have so many unanswered questions and feel as though the resort is not very accommodating (ie: charging per person for dinner and drinks although it is all inclusive, having to pay $800 to rent restaurant etc..). Unfortunately, my wedding is May 9th 2011 so I'm not sure that Tropical Weddings Jamaica can help me with only 8 weeks left until we get married.

Maybe some of you can help answer my questions?.... If I do not rent out Calabresh, can I still have a microphone for speeches and such? Can I still have my first dance in the restaurant or do you need to rent it out to have control of the music being played and to have  a space made for first dance? 

I am just so frustrated with all of this. Other destination wedding couples that I have spoken to say that they never had to pay extra for food or to rent out restaurant. I really wish that I would have chosen a different resort  

Hi, I wore kitten heels and it was no problem. I changed into flip flops later in the day, PM me with how the booking is going with TWJ.
 

Originally Posted by daisymable 

Princess J- What type of shoes did you wear? Were you able to wear heels on the grass at the ceremony?
 

 

Sabrina (Breeze) had her hair done there, check out her review under 'Iberostar Rose Hall Beach '
 

Originally Posted by Kimberli1211 

I was just wondering if any of the past brides have any pictures or insight to share as far as how the resort spa does with hair?? Or if anything like this was posted previously and someone can direct me to it, that would be great! I haven't made it through the whole thread yet!

Hi everyone, I thought I would update everyone with how my wedding went. We were married Feb 2, 2011 in Montego Bay and used Almarie of Tropical Wedding Jamaica. I was a bit nervous at first as your basically pay in full before the wedding and it was a lot of money! But I have always had such a good feeling about Almarie and Tropical Weddings Jamaica (TWJ) that we just went for it!

We met Almarie a few days before the wedding and she took us down to the wedding venue which was the at the Aqueducts on the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course nearby, and we went through my vision of the wedding day and last minute details. She is so organized though that I felt I was in good hands. She definitely didn't disappoint! Our wedding day was the best day of my life and it was all thanks to TWJ.

She planned everything for the ceremony from flowers, decor, transportation of guests, champagne, band, etc. She truly made my vision come to life and the result was amazing. The best part was that I had no stress about it! She really took care of everything and I was so thankful.

I have a lot of photos posted of my wedding at the Aqueduct under 'Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Hotel' as we had our reception there. I am still in contact with Almarie so if you are thinking of booking please feel free to ask me questions and I will also let her know you are my 'friend' to try and get you good rates!

Hi, I got my real touch bouquet from Angel's Accents, it was super fab!

Hi girls, I have been in contact with Almarie as well. I want to make sure she gives all the BDW brides the VIP service she gave me so please let me know if you are booking your wedding with her after reading my review. Thanks!

Glad you like her! She was really amazing to work with and I was so happy with how everything turned out. Looks like she is getting a lot of buisness now from us!

 

Originally Posted by Lizk23 

Almarie is fantastic! We have switched our wedding from Iberostar to a private beach through Tropical Weddings Jamaica and I couldn't be happier. You get more for your money from Almarie for sure --- instead of paying for food and drinks at an all inclusive. Thanks for letting everyone know about her Princess J, she is a saint and will literally answer a list of 50 questions for you within a few hours.

I ordered them from 'Asian Ideas' they had them on sale so watch out for the colours you like!

 

Originally Posted by Islandgirl910 

Princess can you tell me a website where I can order lanterns and LED lights from? Appreciate it!

 

Thanks

 

Originally Posted by Lizk23 

That picture is INCREDIBLE! You guys look so in love and you look beautiful, I adore your dress.

Congrats, after seeing that I bet you can't wait to see the rest of them!