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Hey there, since I started this thread, I wanted to follow up and share what I ended up using for my OOT bags. -Tags, ribbon, and white pen from Paper Source from home -Cartoon Map ordered online weeks ahead of time -We designed and printed a welcome letter and itinerary at home and brought with us, wrapped it around the map with a bow. Everything else I bought on island when I got there: -White bags and tissue paper from Cayman party store (I blew my budget buying everything else) -Regular & light Caybrew -Tortuga Rum -Tortuga Rum Cake -Saltwater Taffy -Shot glass It was simple but very well received. Decided against the toiletries etc. because I wanted to give them a sense of local flare vs. trying to guess at what they might have forgotten to pack.

Hi Grand Cayman brides, So many people were helpful to me on this board, I wanted to give back. Here are my photos and recommendations: Wedding Day Little Details Rehearsal etc. These are the vendors I recommend (in order of favorites): -Luca -Hemingway's -Caribbean Club -Ritz Carlton -Celebrations (rentals, florals) Surprise lessons: -Some people really wanted/expected a pick up from the airport -Not all guests will be comfortable walking to get to places (even if they are as close as Luca & Hemingways) -I thought everyone would want to share suites at Caribbean Club, but most of my guests chose to get private rooms at major chain hotels instead -Plan for a lot of wind on the beach -You don't need a full hour of pre-dinner cocktails for a small wedding (we had 30 guests) -Luca's portions are large (and delicious), three courses is plenty. We had five and wasted a lot of amazing food. -Having a DJ in a Caribbean Club suite for a small wedding is awkward unless most of your guests are youthful/want to party -"Island time" is a real thing, don't expect vendors and restaurants to operate with the efficiency and standards of quality you find in big US cities (I'm from LA) -Related to the above note, the bigger and fancier your wedding, the more potential you have to be frustrated. I wore an expensive dress and the cleaners burned a hole in it when I took it in for pre-wedding steam. If I had just gotten a simple beach dress, I probably wouldn't have been so freaked out and/or could have just ironed it myself. -Also related to the above note...a lot of weddings take place all the time on the island, so keep that in mind when dealing with businesses there. It will help you keep perspective and look on the bright side. -The best surprise is how truly, magically, beautiful the island is (especially the colors of the water). Most guests are just so enchanted by the location that wedding details become insignificant. For the welcome bags, I did a local flare theme with a rum cake, saltwater taffy, caybrew, rum, shot glass, and an adorable cartoon map (pic in 'Little Details') I did makeup and hair myself and flew in my photographer and wedding coordinator. Our big day was November 4, 2011 in the evening and weather was lovely. Dinner was at Luca with a dancing following in our Caribbean Club suite. Hope you all have just as magical as a time with your wedding in Grand Cayman. Good luck and enjoy the ride!

Yes, our wedding is right around the corner -- the freaking out has officially commenced LOL. I'm flying my photographer in, her name is Julie Sterling http://www.juliesterlingphoto.com/ or http://juliesterling.wordpress.com/ She came highly recommended from a close friend and I loved her work. I will make sure to post photos and write about my lessons learned : )

Hi there, We loved the idea of a family-style vacation, so Caribbean Club was perfect (3 bedroom, 3 bath villas) for us. But there are a lot of beautiful options in the Caymans. Crystal Blue Studio blog is definitely the place to start your research. As for Caribbean Club there are no discounts for weddings, there are actually ADDITIONAL charges to have the wedding there. There is a fee to use the beach for the wedding, and if you want to use the beach for any other events (welcome reception, beach parties) you need to reserve all three oceanfront villas (first, second, third floors). These are their most expensive rooms (regularly $1100+). You should call Danielle at Caribbean Club to find out if they will have any discounted rates, I know sometimes they run specials. Luca is also beautiful and Laura is amazing to work with. The have top notch menus to work with, but will require a minimum if you want to have the whole restaurant for your wedding (the only choice if you want traditional music & dancing). The minimum is over $8000+. All in all, it is not the cheap choice. But they are amazing properties and will be forever memorable for your guests. Like Starfish0512, I paid for my guests' rooms to help them with the costs of attending. That might be something you should consider if there are certain people that you absolutely want there but that might have difficulty with the cost of the Caymans.

Thanks everyone. These posts are soooo helpful. GrandCayBride, where did you get that cute map?

Hi fellow Cayman brides ~ I'm entering freak out stage since the wedding is only a few months away : ) We still need to book the rehearsal dinner and are considering Hemingways or Ragazzi's....any feedback or thoughts on those? Also, I started a new thread under "The Island Weddings" regarding Cayman OOT bags if you have any good ideas to share. Thanks! Laura Nov 4, 2011 Caribbean Club & Luca

Calling all Grand Cayman brides, any tips for Out-of-Town bags? I'm thinking basics like a map, travel/party survival things like advil, alka seltzer, dramamine...but what are some cool things from Cayman that I can include? Thanks for any help...

Oh sorry -- I hadn't updated my browser to see you have sent recommendations -- thanks!

CONGRATULATIONS!!! It looks like it was magical. What were your favorite choices in terms of planning -- vendors, venues, decorations, entertainment etc. Recommendations are so helpful. Was that steel drum player good? It is so hard to find vendors like that online, and unfortunately I've had to pass on having a local coordinator due to budget restraints. Thanks for any tips. AND CONGRATS AGAIN xo

Hi GrandCayBride, could you let me know who your Steel Drum player is? Hope all is well for you, your big day is getting close!!

Thanks Stefanie-- you have me so pumped!! I am sooooo glad to hear that you checked out Caribbean Club and Luca and you loved them -- that makes me feel so much better about our choice (sight unseen). We are planning a visit in late July to see it ourselves too... we decided that we needed to ease our anxiety (ok, MY anxiety) before the big day in November. I'll check out the other place you mention for rehearsal dinner. And I wonder why you chose Creativent for wedding coordination instead of Celebrations? I was thinking of doing something similar, and I wonder if it is for the same reason. I'd also love advice on officiants if you find a great one. That is such an intimate role to play at the wedding, it is weird for me to pick someone I don't know. I'm going to interview people when I go there for our visit. As for your photos, I saw them on Crystal Blue and thought "Hey that is the girl from the forums!" It was so cool to see the pictures after you mentioned you won the contest. They are beautiful, congratulations. Thanks again for the update.

Hi there, I'm looking into the same thing, but haven't started yet. Have you had any success with the real touch flowers? I live in LA and there is a huge floral district downtown that I plan to investigate...

That is amazing! Congratulations ~ I wish I would've known about the giveaway, I'm jealous! Rebecca Davidson is a great photographer. Your entry was lovely too, you totally deserved to win!

Nice to meet you GrandCayBride... all the best to you for your wedding. I'd love to hear reviews on vendors if you don't mind sharing! I don't have much lined up other than Caribbean Club Nov 4 2011, dinner at Luca, and Celebrations

Hey GC brides, I've started our wedding site and wanted to share it in case it is helpful to you (or any other potential Grand Cayman brides) www.SeguraMueller.com It is a work in progress...but some basics are there all ready. I don't have many vendors lined up yet; I would love to hear your thoughts on who you choose & if you love them...

Thanks Starfish. I'd love to see pics and any other intel you dig up Everyone I've worked with so far at Caribbean Club, Luca, and Celebrations has been lovely. Good luck with whatever you choose!

Just wanting to keep this thread alive -- because I'm a Cayman bride-to-be but now it's 2011 : ) Anyone else active on this site who is planning a Cayman wedding? We will be at the Caribbean Club & Luca on Nov. 4, 2011

When are you taking your meetings at the Caribbean Club and Luca? We are booked there (site unseen!) for November 4, 2011. I've read a lot online and have been researching places for what feels like forever. I'm thrilled with our choice, but would love to hear your first hand thoughts... Thanks, Laura

I love this thread...I am just starting my planning and think it would be amazing to make a private villa work -- but I think we will have at least 30 guests (maybe even 50!?). Are there any private homes in this gated community that would house that many people?

Hello, I'm so happy I found this forum, because it is so hard to plan a wedding via the computer without seeing these venues and destinations first hand! We just got engaged (our 4th anniversary, last weekend July 4, 2010) and are really wanting a destination wedding...but very intimidated at this point. I love the idea of Hawaii, but am very surprised by the cost. He loves the idea of Jamaica. I am pretty sure we can get at least 50 friends and family to Hawaii, Mexico, or the Caribbean...but I can't seem to find a lot of info on reception packages. Does anyone have pricing and pictures for the Royal Plantation in Jamaica, that place seems lovely. Thanks for any/all of the advice! Laura

I'm curious to know if anyone has planned a reception following a Royal Plantation Ocho Rios wedding? I think we will have about 50 people attend, and I'm not sure about menus, venues, and costs. I will contact RP directly on Monday, but would love t0 hear first hand stories...Thanks, Laura