TaraBinki

I plan on booking Elisha Orin as wel! Once I get the date set and can start making deposits. She does amazinggg work- I just love it!

No problem girls! I have plenty of pictures as well and video if you wanna PM me I can send you them..im not too sure how to upload pics or video on here yet? Â We never went to Bolongo Bay but I really really wanted to go see Iggie's! Its only 2 miles from the Marriott though which is great. I was thinking of doing a little welcome cocktail reception there myself but haven't looked into it at all. A lotta people down there recommended us to go check it out but we just didnt have enough time. Â Yeah Patricia from the Marriott told me they couldn't even host our wedding from March-Oct cause they wouldnt have the space and the only rooms available now are the Morning Star beach ones which are more expensive. Â Willow and Gatorgirl- they have already started the renovations..one day there weere seriously drilling loud near the terrace..we are very laid back and could hear it on the beach but it didnt bother me a bit I could understand how people might get annoyed. Also I didn't see any weddings..its low season down there so it's not crowded at all. Magen's Bay was GORGEOUS...not crowded at all since its not tourist season really. I heard there was a small wedding at the Marriott one day in the Gazebo but didn't see it. Â Â I just really wish there were direct flights to St. Thomas from New England..I just think it would be a way better experience for my guests if we could figure that out. Â the Kmart there is pretty great..they have everything u might need from alcohol, food,water, sunscreen,snacks etc just to keep in mind!

Hi Everyone! We got back on Monday from St. Thomas. I absolutellyy loved everything about the Frenchman Reed and Mornng Star. Patricia from the Marriott was waiting for us when we checked in! She upgraded our room to the top floor with all the suites and a gorgeous view! The gazebo is very pretty but for smaller weddings. They were literally working on the seacliff terrace while we were there so that was closed off. So we couldnt see it  The Marriott is doing pretty intensive million dollar renovations next year from March - October so I would be veryyy careful when trying to book. She told us the only rooms available wold be on the morning star beach which are more expensive than the hotel. We are going to shoot for July 2012. It's when I finish grad school anyways so it will be better for me! The Group Rates at the Marriott has a ton of options for guests, all inclusive , just a room, room with a beverage plan and room with breakfast. I think this a great option.  I thought the rooms, service, food and drinks were amazing and i loved everything about the Marriott property- cannot believe they are changing it! haha it will be even more amazing then! It is a resort on an island so you have to keep that in mind that the food is more expensive ya know? $16 for sandwiches at cocoJoe's on the beach as an example. Negative about Marriott she told me we can't bring in our own vendors. I really want my photographer there obviously if I'm paying for a 8 hour day for her.  I ended up cancelling my appointment with Brian at the Wyndham cause I was so thrilled by the Marriott and loved the location so much. I knew it was the place!  Havana Blue was UNREAL! All the food was superb and I cannot even wait to book our wedding there. It has plenty of space for our 100+ wedding if it truly is that big. Kate from Havana told us we can custmoize the food, drinks everything to my taste as long as we hit their buyout minimum of $14,750. The drink prices I still think are absurd more than the food is not okay! But I lovee the modern decor so it stole my heart.  The bugs werent bad at all..they are worse on St. John in my opinion. Weather was bright sunny and 90 ish each day.  Let me know if you girls have more questions!! Tara

I Will definitely give you girls an update when I get back! Â Willow - yes i have found the same thing with Brian. I'm hoping when I meet him next week it will be different ya know ? when I look at pictures alone I tend to lean towards the St. John Terrace cause it looks more private and gorgeous than the Marriott's Terrace. Â My thoughts are I'm sure Brian gets a tonnnn of emails and requests from Brides wondering things about a destination wedding but once he realizes we are the serious ones I'm hoping he will be more helpful! He better be if we give him a deposit anyways! Â My worry is that we are now thinking of 2012 which is soooo farr awayyy haha like if I book out things now - what happens if communication stops etc? its not like I would need to really be detailed orientated till like a couple months before so I will turn into a Bridezilla ya know?

KatieMac, So funny we are leaving August 25-30th staying at Frenchmans to check it all out! Thats so funny! Â GatorGirl, I haven't gotten into too many details with the hotel just their standard pricing etc with them..I 100% want my reception at Havana Blue (hopefully its everything I pictured when I get there ) and will not be having the reception at either hotel however definately want the ceremony at either! Â I've been working with Brian from the Wyndham and only mentioned the ceremony and blocked of rooms and he didn't seem to object so that seems kinda strange ya know? I can give you an update when I get back.

Well I wonder if you just hire a DJ at Havana Blue that would solve the problem! I hope to god theres room enough for my guests to dance..I've had my heart set on it. I'm thinking if I design the tables in a way there will be enough space. I don't want a traditional sit down meal more like a lotta passed appetizers and open stations later on.

Yeah Havana has the 20% tax/gratuity too..seems a lil ridiculous to me! I really don't want to pay the site fee so we will see!

What is the minimum you hit at Herve? I know Havana Blue is $10,000 plus a site fee of $2500!

Willow, What do you mean set on dancing? Is it not big enough for a large group to dance? ahhh

We live in Southeastern, CT. Waterford area! I commute to Branford though..about 40 minutes but its not bad! Love it since we are right on the water I use to work in Boston so funny.

I'm not really sure how the buyout option works! So far all I have is the PDF that you can download off their website..we are going to talk to Kate when we go down there in 2 weeks!! SO I will hopefully have way more information to share

Omg I love Nantucket! I am from the Boston area so I know the Cape pretty well! Yeah Our wedding should be pretty big for St Thomas..I'm hoping to only have 100! hahaha We have really large families. So the hotel needs to accommodate us and be really nice. I'm thinking the Wyndham might be a better option since its all inclusive that way once the guests get there they don't worried about spending $ too much. Where are you looking to get married? We are looking into the ocean cliff terrace at the Marriott and Wyndham. I'm thinking for convenience I would like the ceremony at the same hotel we are all staying at.

Hi! I am running into the same exactttt problem! We are planning on getting married down there August 2011. The reviews on the Marriott are freaking me out as well! I started talking to the Wyndham because they also seem like a great resort as well. They are now only All Inclusive now though. Which obviously is good and bad for pricing options for your guests. The Wyndham is also located near Red Hook which I've heard is a neat lil place for nightlife restaurants etc. and the Marriott seems to be in a remote area. So its really a tough choice! How many guests are you having? We are going down there August 25-30th to check it all out. We are staying at the Marriott but have appointments with the Marriott, Wyndham and Havana Blue!!My heart is set on Havana Blue! Are you working with Kate from Havana Blue? The open bar pricing seems ridiculousss...are u finding that too? I can definately share all my photos and videos with you when I get back! Reviews of the places as well. Feel free to PM now too since we have so much in common ! Tara

Congrats Vanessa!! I will be staying at the Frenchman's this August..for about 5 days. We are thinking of getting married there next August so I have some information! haha I have some of the Marriott reception prices and packages if you want to see. Also contact information for the Marriott as well as Havana Blue! Have u gone to their website yet? The food and drinks look amazinggg! They have some good options for cocktails and dinner service. I have the wedding coordinator there Kate Atwell her information so just PM me & lemme know! There are other threads on here for welcome dinner suggestions too.

Thanks Willow! Yeah I'm thinking we are going to have to check out the Wyndham when we are there! the All Inclusive is truly what I want for guests ya know? I've heard all great reviews...Havana Blue is the true reason I want to get married on St Thomas! It looks so modern and open the exact type of reception place I want so it seems perfect. I could also just transport everyone the day of! What are the costs like for the terrace to get married at the Wyndham? That looks GORGEOUS!

How big is the group? Toni - how many people can each place accommodate? I am planning on getting married there next year with a big group of maybe like 100 or more...do either of those places work for me too? haha Thanks!

Thanks Beth! Yeah we are going at the end of August to stay at the Marriott haha so hopefully I will be able to decide right then...we were hoping for a relaxing 5 day getaway I don't want to be completely like wedding overload going to different hotels and such the whole time! Are u getting married at the Wyndham too? Thats what I liked about the Marriott cause I really want the reception at Havana Blue so I figured that will be so so convenient for all my guests ya know? Plus we dont have to worry about transportation the day of!

Does anyone have reviews of the actual hotel as far as cleaniness, food and all inclusive? I was pretty set on the Marriott but the reviews are freaking me out and the Wyndham seems way more reasonable for all inclusive! any info id appreciate! Thanks!!

Is that true for Havana Blue though? They are privately owned but just are on the Marriott property. I hope not cause I want to research my own vendors and really dont want to be held to their prices and vendor list.

OMG I love love them!! I was just looking up Passport STD's last night and really think that's what I wanna do but I was looking to have someone design and print them for me but I'm definately a DIY kinda girl so you inspired me! Funny cause that shade of fun tropical orange is what I want too! Thanks for posting and seriously GOOD JOB! I may be pm you later with questions!! haha

If you don't get ahold of Elizabeth...I have Kate Atwell's contact information as well..another coordinator for Havana Blue. She has been very responsive so far I'm thinking of the buyout option which allows you to basically do whateva you want within your budget...I heard they customize the menu and specialty cocktail menus for you as well! Lemme know how it goes!

Wow I absolutely LOVE these!! Cannot beleive how reasonable they are! Seems crazy...Thanks for sharing! Love your wedding website too

TheFuture Mrs. Brown, Have you talked to Havana Blue yet or been there? Just wondering how the experience was so far? How many people do you think you are having? Thanks!!

WOW! I am sooo happy I found this thread! I want to have like a bright tropical orange with chocolate brown with a slight touch of pink... Has anyone seen really bright orange BM dresses? I'm thinking they could hold white and pink flowers. Then I could be holding a bouquet of either just orange flowers or an array of orange, white and pink!! perfect. Does anyone of pictures of Orange and Brown?? Thanks!!

Hey Ladies!! We are just starting to plan a DW in St Thomas!! We are going there this August to check it out. I was thinking of having it August 2011!! When do you think the earliest I could send out the save the dates?? I want to give everyone ample time to plan ya know? Is October appropriate? Does anyone know when the flights would be released? Thanks so much!! Happy Planning Yayy 2011!