burnison09

Hey ladies I have a quick question!  I am getting ready to mail out the notorized copies of mine and FI's birth certificates and passports.  My question is for the birth certificates can I just make a copy like with a copy machine and then have the notory certify them or do I need to order one from the state?  Thanks!

Originally Posted by strelkam 

 

I'm not going to write a review but if anyone has any specific questions please feel free to email me.  As for pictures, here is a link to a blog that our photographers did.  It's just a few pics that captures the day.  After our wedding day there is a trash the dress session that shows you a lot of the suites.  For those that haven't been to the suites this should give you a better idea of what the inside and outside look like.  It's beautiful!

 

http://nphocusphotography.com/blognphocus/?p=2018

 

Enjoy!

Beautiful!  Thank you so much for sharing! Your jewelry is gorgeous, especially your earrings! Where did you get your jewelry?

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected] 

It's been just a little bit over a year since I tied the knot at Iberostar Rose Hall in Montego Bay.  We had a blast.  Here's is my slide show link that Sandy May, my photographer put together.  She and her husband, Pata, were wonderful to work with! She was quick responding, very reliable, and trustworthy.  I received all of my pics on a CD just a few weeks later at home. 

 

http://www.pictage.com/photographer/slideshows/viewslideshow?autoplay=1&slideshowid=28208&slideshowkey=ooalmhqhlqbtctjb

 

Also, If there is anyone interested in touring the country, I would highly recommend booking tours with Ken Gracey who operates Doctorbird Tours!  He grew up in Jamaica as a boy and knew a lot of about the towns.  My small group of 20 booked several personal and private tours with him and felt very safe and trusted doing business with him.  He is so easy going and laid back!  He even drop me to my Trash the Dress site, which was a nice small secluded beach.  One great thing about Ken is how he takes pictures of you and your group during the entire trip and burns the photos on a CD for you to take home! You can search him on tripadvisor. 

Thanks for sharing your slide show is beautiful!  One question the hanging candles on the huppa that you had... did yo ubring them yourself or did you get them from Tai Flora?  If you got them yourself where are they from?  Thanks!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by scraver25 

Does anyone know if men are allowed to wear shorts in an ala carte restaurant if you have the entire restaurant rented for your party?

Men have to wear long pants even if you rented out the restaurant.  My sister was married at an Iberostar in Mexico and my uncle came in shorts and they actually gave him pants to wear since he was not staying at the resort so he couldn't change.  Seems silly, but they are strict about that.
 

Originally Posted by noreenp79 

 

A few of my guests are asking about excursion options.  Does anyone have any idea of the excursions offered through the resort and or prices?  I'd like to include that in a brochure, so if you have info on a catamaran cruise, shopping day trip, water fall trip, that would be awesome and helpful.  Thanks!

 

This is the link that my TA sent me when I asked about excursions... I think it is the same as through the resort, but I'm not 100% sure.

http://www.islandroutes.com/tours/jamaica.cfm?event=ehTours.dspIndex&cid=5

Hey ladies!  I don't post on here to often, but I definitely read the thread every day and love the ideas you ladies all have!  I had a question.  I am using Marcia Roberts for my photography and now I am wanting to add on videography.  Has anyone who used Marcia used her for this service or should I get it from a different place?  Any tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks!

Thank you so much for your review!!!! Everything sounds wonderful and you looked absolutely stunning!
 

Originally Posted by akamikey11 

Alright ladies

 

Here is my review: http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/products/iberostar-rose-hall-suites-all-inclusive-montego-bay-jamaica/reviews/5108

 

 

Thank you so much!  I realized that after I posted it there are no branches of Bank of America banks for me to make a deposit at so I am going to western union the funds to Marcia instead.  Did you direct deposit them into a bank account or send them to an address?  Sorry I am just confused by this whole process.

Originally Posted by futuremrstgun 

burnison09...i'm not using marcia roberts but i had to western union my photog's deposit..so i trust that that's normal...its expensive to wire or receive funds in jamaica..if she has a bank of america account, i'd highly recommend going that route. 

 

good luck and happy planning!!!

 

R~

Hi everyone!!!  I do not post very often, but I read this board everyday!  I have introduced myself before but I will do it again!  My name is Samantha and FI and I are getting married at the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites on June 15, 2012!  I am so excited!

I have booked Marcia Roberts for my photography after reading such wonderful things from you ladies!  She is asking for me to pay the deposit by depositing it directly into a Bank of America account she has.  Has anyone else done this?  They said I could do it online because the closest branch is a good 30 minutes from me, but I can not figure it out.  Is this weird or do you guys think it is normal?  Thanks!

I love your bridesmaid's dresses where did you find them?

grace:

I posted this yesterday, but it said it was holding for approval and never showed up so I will try again.  Sorry if it some how shows up twice.

That is exciting did you talk to a TA yet?  I am using Melissa from beach bum vacations and she has been amazing so far.  I know DeAngelis2be is using them too and has Steve.  I would definitely recommend them.  I choose them because they had amazing reviews from other brides on the Knot compared to some other popular sites like destinationweddings.com.  Also, they are FREE!!! Can't beat that especially considering their great custom service and the quality of work they do!  If you decide to use them, melissa in particular, tell her Samantha E. recommended her

: )

For reserving the date there is no deposit required which really made it easy and why I jumped on it so quickly.  If you think June 14th will work I say go ahead and reserve it.  What have you got to lose!

I LOVE the message in a bottle invitation idea too!  I think they are soooo cute.  I know another bride on the destination wedding board who did them.  I could ask her how she mailed them.  Maybe you have to mail them all as little packages.....

For my OOT bags I really like the personalized sunscreen and waterbottle ideas.  I am not sure about the towel idea though because I would be worried it would get to expensive for us.  I am thinking we will have around 50 people.  Where are you getting the starfish bottle openers?  Those sound really cute and the starfish are part of my look that I want.  I am going to incorperate starfish in our wedding colors (fushia and navy blue) in a lot of my DIY projects.  I think a map of Jamaica is a good idea too!  Maybe even one of the resort and where all the restaurants are?  The CD idea is good too.  I am thinking I will make a photo share card to put in the bags.  I have seen other brides make an account on like snapfish or shutterfly and then give their guests the login information.  THat way they can just upload their pictures.  That might be something to consider then you wouldn't have to buy all the CD's, but would still get your pictures!  I definetely don't think either is a bad thing though, it seems pretty common, especially for destination weddings.  As far as who I am giving them to I was thinking one per couple (so if i had a single they would get their own) plus a special one for all the kids.  I think we will have about 6 kids.  O and I really love the postcard idea.  I saw one bride who used that as her guestbook.  She gave each guest two postcards and one had the bride and grooms address and postage on it.  They asked their guests to write well wishes and their favorite part of the trip on it and mail it back to them after they got home.  My fiancee didn't like that idea much but I think it is really cute lol : )

For the restaurants they have two options, semi-private or private.  For us having a private reception is important so we are going to rent out the restaurant which is $800 and have that after the ceremony.  For the rehersal though semi-private seems fine and it is free.  They just make a reservation for your entire group.  I don't think there is a limit on how many people can be in the reservation, I would just make sure to schedule it early.  Also, I read that they do staggered reservations so there will probably be very few people in the restaurant with you if you opt for the semi-private.  For the menus if you have more than 25 I think it was you either have to have a set menu where everyone gets the same thing or you have to give them your guests selections before hand.  So I am debating about the menu since people will have already had to make their choices it might be a bit silly but it is another way to personalize the dinner.  I am debating what I want to do...

Samantha

Originally Posted by graceandthomas 

Burnison,

 

So I'm calling a local TA tomorrow and scheduling a time to meet with them, but if you or anyone has a good recommendation of one that would be stellar!!  I know DeAngelis2be mentioned she had a good one as well.  So hopefully I'll make some progress on saving the date here soon!

 

Your postcard/engagement photo idea is awesome!  I'm not that far in my thinking about STD (since I don't have one ha ha) or official invites, but I think the message in a bottle idea is really cute.  However I'm not sure how I'd send them...

 

For my OOT bags I want to get beach bags in our colors and throwing in beach related stuff.  I've seen personalized sunscreen and bottled water that I think is cute, also I'll probably do beach towels, starfish bottle openers (really cute!), and I'll probably thrown in a few postcards, perhaps a map of Jamaica, and of course a welcome letter.... and anything else I think of/find along the way!  Most of the things I've found online I think I can make myself one way or another.  I also like the idea of putting in a blank CD with a postmarked envelope and asking computer-savvy guests to send me pictures they take of the wedding... is that a bad thing to ask?!  I just want all the pictures I can get!  I love your idea of beach toys for the kids, brilliant!  I really have no idea about how many kids we will have coming but I just might steal the idea if we have a few.  Maybe I just don't know OOT bag etiquette but are you making a bag for each guest or each family/couple?

 

I'm not sure about making menus... I should email the WC at Suites and see what the options are as far as receptions go.  Honestly, my FI and I are so laid back that we really wouldn't mind just making reservations in one of the restaurants and have the receptions there.  I know it won't be as private but it seems so much more economical!  Also I've heard resort guests often don't eat until later and if my reservation is say 6:30, we may be just about the only ones in the place anyway.  But I wouldn't mind if we were able to choose a few items off the main menu and make our own menus to make it a little more personal.  Do you know what the options for receptions are?  In terms of private or in a restaurant and if there is a guest limit in making reservations for the restaurant? 

 

Also to hold your date you just had to send scanned copies of your ID and card... no deposit required??  That would make choosing a date realllly easy if I knew I wouldn't loose a deposit if I did have to move it!

grace,

No there is no deposit and that was another reason I jumped on it!  As far as a TA I am using Melissa from Beach Bum Vacations and DeAngelis2be is also using them but has Steve.  I have only read positive reviews about them all on the knot so that is why I went with them instead another popular site, destinationweddings.com.  Also, Beach Bum Vacations is FREE!!!! Can't beat that especially since they do an amazing job! I would highly recommend them specifically Melissa.  If you do go with her tell her Samantha E recommended her : )

For my OOT bags I am doing the welcome letter too and then I was thinking about the sunscreen and maybe some little medicine things like advil or bug spray.... Where are you getting the starfish bottle openers? Those sound so cute and that is part of my look!  I am doing fushia and navy blue with starfish incorperated through out like on the paper stuff, escort cards, and possibly palm fans for the ceremony chairs.  I really like the beach towel idea too but I am worried that will get too pricey.  I think we will have around 50 people.  I am doing one per couple then one for the kids.  I think we will have about 6 kids.

I really like the message in a bottle idea for invites too but I wonder if you would have to send them as little packages?  I also talk on a destination wedding board on the knot and a girl on there did them.  I can ask how she mailed hers.  For the CD that would work if they are computer savy.  I was also thinking I would make a photo share card and put that in the OOT bags.  I would set up an account on shutterfly or snapfish or something and give all my guests the log in information.  That way they could all just go home and upload them there.  That might be a good option because again you can get the cards for free from vistaprint or make them yourself instead of investing in all the cd's.  It would be less to transport down there too....  But either way it is definetly not bad to ask because it seems to be a pretty common thing and I am going to do it too!

I am not sure either because I dont know how that all works. I read somewhere that if you have over a certain amount of people you have to have a set menu or have your guests pick what they want before hand.  The choices they have are semi private (just all have a reservation) versus private where you will rent out the whole restaurant for $800.  Since the semi private is an option I really dont' think there is a limit for how many people can  be on a reservation.  ALso, I read that IRHS stagers their reservations which make it less likely there will be other people there or if there are it will only be a few.  We are going to do a private reception after our ceremony because that is important to us but for our rehersal dinner we are just going to do semi private because that really isn't that important to us.

Sam

Originally Posted by graceandthomas 

Burnison,

 

So I'm calling a local TA tomorrow and scheduling a time to meet with them, but if you or anyone has a good recommendation of one that would be stellar!!  I know DeAngelis2be mentioned she had a good one as well.  So hopefully I'll make some progress on saving the date here soon!

 

Your postcard/engagement photo idea is awesome!  I'm not that far in my thinking about STD (since I don't have one ha ha) or official invites, but I think the message in a bottle idea is really cute.  However I'm not sure how I'd send them...

 

For my OOT bags I want to get beach bags in our colors and throwing in beach related stuff.  I've seen personalized sunscreen and bottled water that I think is cute, also I'll probably do beach towels, starfish bottle openers (really cute!), and I'll probably thrown in a few postcards, perhaps a map of Jamaica, and of course a welcome letter.... and anything else I think of/find along the way!  Most of the things I've found online I think I can make myself one way or another.  I also like the idea of putting in a blank CD with a postmarked envelope and asking computer-savvy guests to send me pictures they take of the wedding... is that a bad thing to ask?!  I just want all the pictures I can get!  I love your idea of beach toys for the kids, brilliant!  I really have no idea about how many kids we will have coming but I just might steal the idea if we have a few.  Maybe I just don't know OOT bag etiquette but are you making a bag for each guest or each family/couple?

 

I'm not sure about making menus... I should email the WC at Suites and see what the options are as far as receptions go.  Honestly, my FI and I are so laid back that we really wouldn't mind just making reservations in one of the restaurants and have the receptions there.  I know it won't be as private but it seems so much more economical!  Also I've heard resort guests often don't eat until later and if my reservation is say 6:30, we may be just about the only ones in the place anyway.  But I wouldn't mind if we were able to choose a few items off the main menu and make our own menus to make it a little more personal.  Do you know what the options for receptions are?  In terms of private or in a restaurant and if there is a guest limit in making reservations for the restaurant? 

 

Also to hold your date you just had to send scanned copies of your ID and card... no deposit required??  That would make choosing a date realllly easy if I knew I wouldn't loose a deposit if I did have to move it!

graceandthomas:  Here's a long one for you too : )

That would be so cool if you had your wedding on Thursday!  I totally understand why you want to do that week. It will make yours and your future employers life easier if you can just delay your start date.

O my god I am jealous!  I would absolutely love to go to on a cruise to Europe that sounds AMAZING!  I have been on a couple Caribbean cruises and if I am remembering correctly both departed on Sundays so I think your plan sounds like a good one.  I would for sure get with a travel agent they might be able to give you some stats on how many leave on Sunday versus any other day. 

As for us we are going to stay at the resort (possibly upgrade to the grand at the end) for 10 nights.  Most of our guests are staying for 5 nights so that would give us some nice alone time.   

No, when we reserved our date we just filled out a form that Melissa (my TA) sent to us and scanned copies of my id and credit card to hold the date.  I plan on sending out save the dates in june with an informational packet so I will probably book our stay somewhere around that time.  So I say you should go for it if that day will work just so you don't have to worry about it getting snatched up and figure out the rest of your stay later when cruises post their stuff.  Hopefully they will get it up in the next few months... march maybe?

I also plan on DIY'ing as much as I can!  I am going to use our engagement photos that we are taking in April to make postcards on vistaprint.  If you sign up for their emails you get amazing offers including 100 FREE postcards.  I am totally just going to do that and save the money!  Others have used them and they look really nice.  I also want to make our invitations and plan to do the boarding pass idea.  I found a template and some starfish clipart in my wedding colors that I will use so hopefully they will look good!  I also want to do OOT bags but I am not sure what I am going to put in them.  I want to do special ones for the kids that are coming with beach toys maybe.... What are you thinking about putting in them?  O I am also making our table numbers using our engagement photos and want to do escort cards/table assignments out of starfish or sanddollors. Also, I think and probably programs with our monogram at the top.....  Wow that seems like a lot right now lol  good thing we have a year and 5 months : )  Do you think you are going to do programs or menus or anything like that?

Originally Posted by graceandthomas 

Burnison09:

 

Get ready for a longish one, girl!

 

Date:  As of today, I'm thinking maybe the Thursday the 14th?  Here's our date dilemma: Our graduation from THE Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes! is on Sunday the 10th.  We both really would love to make it happen the following week... mainly so our employers can just push our official start date as "full-timers" back a couple of weeks and not deal with taking vacation time when we have none!  Also, for our honeymoon we are looking to take a European cruise.  Unfortunately, many cruise lines haven't posted their June 2012 sailings yet, which makes things difficult in terms of choosing a date that gives us plenty of time in Jamaica but allows us to leave a day or two after the ceremony to catch a plane to Europe.  All of this is why we don't have a date booked!  I'm fairly certain a Thursday wedding would work out well because based on this year's cruise itineraries, most embark on a Saturday or Sunday, so I would have a day to recover and relax (maybe? depending on flight times...) and then head for the cruise on Saturday.  I REALLY just need the cruise lines to get it together and inform me of their sailing dates and my life would be much easier!  Also, I should probably hurry up and get with a TA, they may know more than me...

 

As for DIY stuff, yes!! I hope to make STDs and any other "paper" items I want to use.  Also, I want to make some crafty OOT bags.  What are you planning on making?! I'd love to hear your ideas.

 

When you booked your date, did you also have to book your entire stay?  If not, maybe I can get my date settled and figure out the coming and going later?!

 

I'm so nervous about getting a date worked out!  I've poured through so many reviews and done entirely too much research, so I know Iberostar is the only place I want this wedding to be held!  I'm just concerned all the dates that work are going to be gone!  Ahhhh!!!

 

And I agree, I'd love to be able to plan with you... It would be so fun and encouraging to have someone to go through this with!!  Happy planning and thanks for your help!!

 

Grace

beetee33:

I hope that is the case!  That would be really crummy if you had to pay the $18 twice and it wouldn't make sense!  The suites people are welcome to use the beaches facilities during their stay and the grand can use all three so I don't see why they would have to charge you more.  Keep us posted!  I hope it works out!

Originally Posted by beetee33 

burnison,

 

The contract says $18/person over 8 but also $18/person for those who opt to stay at the Suites or Grand. My understanding was what you said so hopefully that is the case. My TA sent an email so we'll see what Tameica says.

beetee33,

I am doing the suites so I am not exactly sure if it is the same but I was told that for every person over 8 (including you and your groom) will cost $18 dollars extra on top of the wedding package.  That will include the extra chairs, set-up, cake and champagne.  Maybe that is what she means?  Also I know that if I had guests staying at the beach hotel I would have to pay a $30 wedding day pass for them, but any guests I have at the grand are free to come over to the suites.  I hope that helps.
 

Samantha

Originally Posted by beetee33 

Hi ladies! Quick question. Tameica (from the Beach hotel) just sent me the contract to confirm our date, I guess she forgot to send it earlier! On the contract it says that they will charge us $18 a person for guests who stay at the Grand or Suites. Did any former brides get charged that? I'm a little upset because when my TA originally contacted her, she said it was fine to hold the wedding at the Beach property but stay at the Suites and didn't mention anything about the extra fee. TIA

graceandthomas:

Thanks I am so happy to have a set date!  That is crazy that you were thinking of that day too!  Maybe we will be there the same week.... I think we are probably going to fly in on Wednesday the 13th but I'm not 100% sure yet.  I am working with Melissa from Beach Bum Vacations and she was so helpful in picking the resort and she actually visited IRHS last month and loved it.  I am planning on sending save the dates out in June to give everyone a solid years notice and she is putting together an informational packet about pricing, the resort, etc to send out to my guests.  I think that will be really helpful for them to get with the save the dates and she is even incorperating our favorite engagement pictures (that we are taking in april) into the packet.  So excited, I would definitly recommend her.  She even had her own destination wedding so she understands a brides stresses.

I wish I could go visit before the wedding, but it just isn't possible for me to do that.  Are you going to do a site visit?  What date are you thinking of now for your ceremony?  I'm excited that our dates might be so close.  We will be able to bounce ideas off each other and be running on similiar timelines for all our projects    Are you planning on doing any diy projects?  Sorry I am rambling so I will stop, I am just so excited about the wedding!

Quote:

Originally Posted by graceandthomas 

Burnison09-

 

Congrats on booking your date!! The 15th was actually one of the dates we were considering, but no worries, we don't have our heart set on any one in particular... mainly just some day during the week of the 11th through the 16th.  Now I am incredibly nervous since 2012 dates are already flying off the shelf!  I'm going to have to have a serious chat with the TA and figure things out.  Do you plan on visiting before your date?

 

DeAngelis2be-

 

Is Beach Bums primarily a DW agent?  Do you know if the Grand has any ceremony locations not directly on the beach?

 

 

 

 

Also does anyone have a pictures or know where I can find pictures of a terrace ceremony?  I really don't want to be ON the beach, but would love a beach view from the ceremony location.

 

Thanks!!

Grace

delgadot:

I'm glad to see another 2012 bride too! And our dates are pretty close.... about a month apart! How exciting!  Have you planned much else or just picked IRHS?

Originally Posted by delgadot 

Yay I am so happy to finally see 2012 brides on here!! I agree with burnison09 if you know your date book it ASAP because of the resort's policy of one wedding per day you don't want to risk loosing the date you want:) I look forward to sharing ideas and planning together!!

Graceandthomas:

I am a June 2012 bride as well!  I contacted a travel agent right away to help narrow down locations and to make sure Jamaica was the place we really wanted.  Well after talking with her for a bit my fiancee and I decided on the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites.  My travel agent through beach bum vacations suggested we contact the resort now to request our date.  She said that since they only do one wedding a day it is good to get your date early.  We also had our heart set on June 15, 2012 so if you have a specific date and are sure Iberostar Rose Hall Suites is what you want then I say go ahead and contact them.  They confirmed my wedding date in about a week.  If you are more flexible about a date you could wait but if you know why not do it now

Originally Posted by graceandthomas 

Hi girls!!  I'm brand new this website and to planning as I just got engaged on December 14th!  My FI and I are planning a DW and after my somewhat obsessive (okay, very obsessive) searching I think Iberostar Rose Hall Suites is at the top of our list.  I have a few questions and any input you all can give would be great!  First of all, how far in advance did you begin contact with the planner?  I'm looking at a June 2012 date so I realize I'm probably a little premature in my efforts but I really have no idea of DW time lines.  Did any of you go visit the resort before booking your wedding?  I'm VERY nervous about booking sight unseen.  If you did, is it worth doing?  Also, I've read that some resorts offer some sort of reimbursement if you visit and tour the resort for your wedding and choose to book there.  Anyone know if that is the case with Iberostar?  I'm sure I will have many more questions for you ladies but I won't overload you tonight! 

 

Thanks in advance for any info you can provide and I'm so excited to get planning!

 

Grace

Hello everyone I just wanted to introduce myself!  My name is Samantha and my fiancee's name is Adam.  After 5 years of dating Adam finally proposed on Christmas Day!  I am so excited!!!  Since I had been waiting for awhile for the proposal I have been researching resorts for months now.  I feel in love with the Iberostar Rose Hall Suites and we are officially getting married there on June 15, 2012!!!! We are so excited and I am really glad to find this forum with other Iberostar Rose Hall brides.  There don't seem to be as many out there as some other resorts.  I am really excited to hear all your wedding ideas and reviews and share mine!