Leah22

The sandals are still available!  There is one other interested person.  Send me a PM if you're interested ASAP. 
 

Items SOLD:

• ALL LED lights
• 12 White Paper Lanterns
• 22 jute bags

• There are still 28 jute bags available.

All other items are still available!

Items SOLD:

• ALL LED lights
• 12 White Paper Lanterns
• 2 jute bags

• Sale is pending for 20 of the Jute bags.  There are still 28 bags available.

All other items are still available! 
 

Bags are still available!  How many would you like?

Originally Posted by finleya 

If you don't have any bags left after the last poster, would you mind telling me where you got them from?
 

My guests loved the resort!  I also thought the resort was great!  I think the service and quality of the resort made up for many of the issues (I was having too much fun and relaxing at the resort to worry about all the little details). 

There were a few things I would have changed.  Like the Reverend who married us!  I think I had a different Reverend than the other 2 brides my weekend (because he told us that Sunday was the only day he was available to perform the wedding).  He was a little inappropriate, and kept telling jokes that were just not ok.  We met for him for 10 minutes, 5 days before our wedding and told him what we wanted.  We read his script and gave him the OK.  But the day of the wedding he went on a total tangent.  Several of my guests asked me "where did you find that guy?  Did you know he was going to say that?".  Also, there are details that I requested for the ceremony and "cocktail" party with a band that did not happen.  Janielle told me two hours before the ceremony that they couldn't be done. 

I think if you're detailed oriented and diligent, these issues can be avoided.  I don't how to prevent an odd Reverend.  I think the resort has several they rely on for the weddings.  I did not think to ask him beforehand if he was going to tell inappropriate jokes.

Originally Posted by tgreen 

I am getting married on July 15, 2012 at the Iberostar Grand Rose Hall and after reading some of your reviews I am completely nervous. We will only have 28 guests;therefore, we will not have a private reception, but I am still getting nervous. Did your wedding not turn out the way you wanted? Did you guests at least enjoy the resort?

Jasmine,

Some bags are still available!  A sale is pending for 20 bags.  How many did you want?

Originally Posted by JasmineClark 

Let me know if you have any jute bags lef!

I sent you an email!

Originally Posted by SunnyInVegas 

I am interested in the JUTE BAGS please!

[email protected]

~ Rebecca

The jute bags are 15" tall x 14" wide x 6" deep. 

Originally Posted by JasmineClark 

what size are the jute bags?

Allie,

You can find the loose lights on Ebay.

Originally Posted by AllieH 

Hi! would you be willing to share where you got the loose LED lights? I was too slow to see the post..  thanks!

I had the "free" package, which is a joke and certainly not free.  My total of approximately $10,000 only included the ceremony set-up and reception, and miscellaneous fees.  It did NOT include the DJ, photographer, flowers, decorations, etc.  And trust me I'm frugal!

I did receive a room upgrade.  We booked a garden view and at check-in I asked for the upgrade that's supposed to be included with the package and with my group booking.  The employee was uncertain and said "I don't know. I'll have to check.  Go have lunch and come back."  When we came back she said we were in an Ocean Front!  I told my travel agent and she said she already knew and it was a surprise, so I think she helped to arrange it.  The Ocean Front rooms are nice, but if you're above the 4th floor, the balconies are 1/2 the size.  Also, here's a tip: building 5 is WAY better than building 6.  I had several guests switched rooms because they hated building 6.

But as part of the package we were supposed to get a room for the groom on the wedding night and this never happened.  Susan, Shannon: did your groom get his own room?  We weren't too concerned to ask for this because I heard the Grand was completely sold out on Saturday night.  One of my guests who arrived on Saturday was put at the Suites for 1 night because there were no rooms at the Grand.

I certainly did not tip Janielle!  A few of my guests tipped the servers.  And our DJ was a family member.  Susan, sorry to hear about the Grand's response to the extra charges but I'm not surprised!  It's a typical response.  But she pretty much called you and your informant a liar, which is just rude. 

Also, I want to add that we were missing some decorations as well.  Not only did we not get things back but the day after the wedding I saw several female security guards carrying around my extra folding sandlewood fans that I asked the hotel to place on the chairs at the ceremony!  I know I brought extra (I purchased 100 and had 85+ guests).  I should have left the extras in the room, but I was in a hurry to deliver all of my decorations.  I just let it go, but I was in shock at first.

Originally Posted by kfarkas26 

Leah- what wedding package did you choose?! I am trying to do my budget and we were figuring well over 10,000 for 100 people, but I may be doing my numbers incorrectly. Also did you ladies recieve a free upgrade of your rooms at all... I am so sorry for all of your headaches with Janeille, hopefully she either shapes up or is gone by my wedding!

Shannon, did you pay to upgrade to the Presidential suite or did they just move you? This is the kind of BS I'm talking about. She quotes me and Susan $1,000 extra dollars for 1 hour PLUS they came and cut off my music at 10. Yet you got to party until 11:30. I paid for 100 people! With all their extra fees it came to over $10,000! Plus all the people i brought to the hotel who paid over $500 per night just to stay at the Grand. And I'm very bitter about how the day played out, their lack of organization, and lack of communication.

OMG you both paid extra for extra time? How nuts!! Ours went to 11ish (I ran back to my room to get my dress off since I was SUPER hot and we were moving to the presidental suite and when I walked in it was 1130) and we did not pay anything. The bonfire was suppose to an hour and it ended up being 3.5hrs. Wonder if since I only had 36 people they knew they were making $ off me considering I paid for the 30-50people buffet. Weird. Sorry ladies!!!

The 68 loose LED lights and wire are SOLD!

Sale is pending for the following:

• 12 White Paper Lanterns
• 24 LED lights in casing

All other items are still available.  Shipping is additional.

Susan, did you have to pay anything else to extend your reception besides the $250 cash for the staff's transportation?  We asked Janielle to extend our reception for an extra hour and she said it would cost us over $1000 (she was charging us an extra per person fee)!  So we passed!  Then right at 10 o'clock one of the hotel managers (a Spanish woman) comes over to my DJ and tried to pull out his speaker plugs.  He makes an announcement on the microphone threatening her not to touch his equipment until he was finished (it was funny, but very irritating).  That was the only complaint from my guests...that our reception was too short.
 

Hello Everyone!  I just posted a few items for sale on the forum.

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/80471/dress-sash-jute-bags-lanterns-led-lights-candle-holders-decorations
 

Hello Everyone!  I just posted a few items for sale on the forum.

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/80471/dress-sash-jute-bags-lanterns-led-lights-candle-holders-decorations
 

I forgot to add these!  I also have the following:

• a green orchid hair flower and matching boutonniere.  The hair flower is attached to a head band.  These look so realistic, people thought they were real!  $8 each.
• barefoot sandals (beaded foot jewelry).  $10
• 
• 
• 

Greetings!  I have a few new and used items left over from my wedding.  Please PM me if you need additional pictures or images.  I have tons of photos of my dress and of the other items.

• Allure P784 Wedding Dress ($515, original price: $1200).  Dress Size 6, Street size 2.  Height: 5'-8" with no shoes.  Color: pearl (similar to ivory).  Dress was altered in the waist, hips, and hem.  The dress can be taken back out the the original measurements.  I can send additional pictures.  Dress will be cleaned and pressed, receipt for the dry cleaning can be provided. 
• Mother of Pearl Beaded Sash.  ($60, original price $130) New, never worn.  I bought this at the last minute and decided it did not match my dress.   This was handmade.  The belt can be removed.  The belt is 1" wide in ivory.  The beading is 5.25" wide and 2.25" tall
• Beaded Broach ($20).  New, never worn
• 12 white paper lanterns, 18" wide ($2 each)
• 12 chartreuse/apple green paper lanterns, 14" wide ($2 each)
• 24 LED lights in rectangular casing with on/off switches ($1 each, these retail for $4)
• 68 NEW loose LED lights with fishing wire.  Some of the lights are tied together with the fishing wire in 10 sets of 3.  They all have on/off switches.  ($40 for the whole bunch)
• 50 NEW Jute tote bags or gift bags ($4 each).  15" tall x 14" wide x 6" deep.  I used them as my OOT/gift bags.  All of my guests used them as beach bags and they are gorgeous!  It's a natural material and they can be personalized with a screen print or paint-on or iron-on image.  I used a chalk board tag attached to the strap and wrote each guests name.  I originally bought 1 per person, but then realized it would not be feasible to transport them all, so I have 50 extra!
• 2 packs of 12 Tea light holders ($4 for each set of 12 or 50 cents each).  They are 1 inch tall.  clear glass
• 18 glass candle holders (50 cents each).  They are 2.25 inches tall.  clear glass
• 10 Green Crinkled Pin Wheels ($8 for all, original price was $34).  They can be hung from the ceiling or placed on tables.  They come in various sizes and various patterns.

Yes, my wedding was gorgeous and fun.  But I chose a destination wedding because I did not want to obsess over all the details.  And I didn't.  I went with the flow.  If Janielle told me I couldn't have something (like during my rehearsal ceremony she told me I couldn't have my cocktail party on the lobby terrace and 4 hours before my ceremony she told me I couldn't have the wicker chairs for my ceremony), then fine I accepted that and moved on.  My reception decorations turned out beautifully and exactly like I anticipated (keep in mind that I brought ALL my decorations and gave Janielle a color plan of how I wanted the reception set up...I ordered a few centerpieces from Tai Floral, but I didn't trust them since I could never get a response).  But the day of the wedding, several issues with our ceremony arose and the planning process was a nightmare from the beginning.  I actually arrived at the hotel pissed off because of emails that I received from Janielle at midnight the night before I arrived.  I enjoyed the Grand.  I enjoyed my wedding because it was my wedding!  My guests enjoyed the Grand and the Suites and they enjoyed the wedding.  But the process was unpleasant and tarnished. And, like I said, I would have chosen a different hotel with a more experienced wedding planning process.  Especially for the price you're paying at the Grand you can hire a private Jamaican wedding coordinator to organize something off property for cheaper.

If you have the time to plan out and coordinate every detail, and then provide full detail instructions to the hotel wedding coordinator that you explain 20 times before you arrive and 20 times after you arrive, then you have nothing to worry about.  But the hotel's wedding fees will probably go up and their policies will inevitably change at the last minute.  From what I've read on this forum, the fees and policies have already changed for upcoming weddings.

Originally Posted by sunshine2413 

No I did not have any issues with Janielle! Sorry for your bad experience Leah... I am sure your wedding was gorgeous and fun though!

 

I had printed instructions (with pictures) on how I wanted everything prepared for her (so it left nothing in question). I met with her 2hrs after I arrived, as I asked for her at check in. Every time I needed something or had a question, I could find her on property or call her and it was handled. Janielle in my opinion excuted my wishes above a beyond. I have to admit I was alittle leary before arriving, given the delay in responding to emails and price changes. But since I had those feelings, I was super worried, so I OD'ed on providing information, and organized requests. I will provide more extensive review soon (when I get my pro pictures to include). 

 

Also, all of my guests but two stayed at the Grand so really had no issue with group dinners and all that. Janielle informed me, if I could try to have all guest at the Grand it would be so much easier on us and her. Like Leah, the two guests that stayed at the Grand, we did not see much but for the rehearsal dinner and wedding day! FUTURE BRIDES: I would highly recommend having everyone stay at the Grand if you are having your wedding there. They are strict and it's not worth the headache!

As an alternative option, Janielle let me use the wicker chairs chairs that are available throughout the property (but they're mainly at Port Maria).  I hated the look of the covered chairs, but I didn't want to pay $8 to rent a chair.  It looked lovely at the reception, but at the last minute she said I couldn't use them for the beach ceremony (so I had to use the covered chairs).  But if you rent the chairs, you only pay for 1 set and then they relocate them for your reception.

Originally Posted by kfarkas26 

I agree I really like the chivalri chairs too and I think I am going to go that route depending on the amount of people going... I can not justify paying 800 for chairs if we do get 100 people going... I am still waiting to hear back from tai flora about the cost of the nice set up outside port maria.. But I am pretty sure you can use the chivalri chars for the reception and ceremony, because you are still paying for them to set up both places (if you had the chair covers/sashes you would have them at both for no extra cost was my understanding (i think they just move everything over)

Allie,

I almost booked the Half Moon.  I worked with a wedding coordinator for about a month.  She sent me several itemized bills and we went back and forth editing, changing, deleting until it was a price I was comfortable with.  They will work with you if you give them a budget to stick to.  We were planning on renting the villas (which come with a private pool and personal chef).  It did get a little tricky deciding between the all-inclusive versus non (since all guests should be on the same plan).  But when we were working with the wedding coordinator there was no additional fee if the guests were on the AI plan.  So I'm not sure about the extra $180pp.  In the end we decided against it because we were worried the room prices were too high and we weren't sure what our final numbers would be (I originally planned for 30, that jumped to 60, we ended up with 87).  But at the time we were assuming all of our guests would stay at the Suites or even the Beach resort.  In the end the majority of our guests chose to stay at the Grand, which is comparable in price to renting a villa at the Half Moon.

Originally Posted by allieplask 

kfarkas26, have you decided what you are doing about your wedding? have you sent out std's or anything or are you still trying to finalize the hotel?

 

leah22 mentioned half moon bring cheaper and i can tell you that half moon was our first choice - the property is beautiful and i have ALL the wedding information BUT i received itemized bills, invoices for what we were going to pay for the wedding and it was ALOT.  the rooms/villas (which were what we really wanted) were much more expensive per person, also we were going to have our guests on the all-inclusive plan and they wanted us to pay $180 per person for our wedding reception dinner/open bar!  and that was a discount that was applied if you have over 30 guests at the wedding.  the normal price was like $230 per person which i found to be INSANE! just saying... but the property is beautiful

Hello Everyone!  I was just married on June 10th at the Grand (I also got to see the other two brides married on the Friday and Saturday before me).  We had just under 90 guests!  Maybe 2/3 stayed at the Grand, around 30 were at the Suites (we had a few people with kids),  3 guests stayed at the Beach resort, and the rest were staying off property.  All in all everything worked out.  But I think it was truly a nightmare dealing with the hotel and the wedding coordinator before arrival and once I got there.  Besides the fact that their prices increased a few months before the wedding, and they changed their policies so that I couldn't choose my own outside vendors, Janielle was still difficult to talk to once I was on property. 

About 2 weeks before arrival I started receiving several emails from Janielle attempting to finalize details.  Which is great, but it was a lot at the last minute considering both me and my travel agent have been emailing her since September.  I met with her the day after my arrival.  but only because I checked my email from my room and she had sent me a request for a full guest list with entree choices for each guest for my pre-wedding/rehearsal group dinner that had been planned and organized for 4 months (for 80 people split with 1 dinner at the Suites and 1 dinner at the Grand -- this was a perk through my travel agent, normally they don't allow groups of this size unless you pay to rent the restaurant).  She said it was a new policy and they need to know what each guest will eat.  Considering I was already on the property, there was no way I could track down my 90 guests at home and ask them to pick a menu.  I told her "no way" in an email and left my hotel room number.  she called my hotel room within 10 minutes and we organized a meeting.

I met with Janielle and Angellie (the PR manager).  It was quick.  We discussed my detail sheet and filled out a new/different detail sheet and we took a look at Port Maria to discuss how I wanted my tables set up.  She insisted on charging us an extra $200 vendor fee because we wanted to use one of our guests as the DJ.  The Grand wouldn't allow him to rent or use their DJ equipment, so we had to rent equipment from a private company.  Then the day of the wedding they started to set up the wedding ceremony in the wrong location, they used the wrong chairs (I requested wicker chairs for the ceremony and reception, which she told me would be fine), and they didn't put up an arch at first because they said they had no record of my requesting one (even though they had sent me an itemized bill 5 days before the wedding and the arch was on the bill -- by the way, this is when I learned that an arch is NOT included in the free wedding package.  all along Janielle had told me that an arch is included in my package).  My mom fought with them while I was getting ready, so I didn't know any of this happened until later.  My flowers turned out really well (even though I was reluctant to use Tai Floral because I could never get a response from them). 

All my guests had fun.  The food was great.  The hotel is stunning.  There is a HUGE difference between the Grand, the Suites, and the Beach.  The Grand is just so much better.  I never saw the guests staying at the Beach until the wedding.  but we wandered over to the Suites a few times to visit those guests (but only because my fiance's brother and baby nephew were there).  The Grand is VERY strict about not allowing other guests on the property.  We even had guests try to visit us from off property and security wouldn't let them in without a fight.  A few times the beach guests came over to the Suites and didn't have any issues (they're not as strict at the Suites).  I enjoyed the hotel, but if I could re-do it I would NOT choose to get married at the Grand.  I would rent a villa or I would go to Half Moon (which would have actually been cheaper than the Grand).  Or I would choose a resort that had better, more organized wedding packages so I wouldn't have to deal with price adjustments and policy changes at the last minute.

I will write a full review this weekend and I'll post some pics when I get them back.

Good luck!  I don't want to discourage everyone planning their Iberostar weddings.  I just want to share my experience, which was less than ideal. 
 

since you've actually been there, one last question about the food!  how was the italian, asian, etc. in comparison to the jamaican cuisine.  i love jamaican food,and i'm sure the hotel's jamaican food is great.  but i want to know if they produce other cuisines just as well.  was their take on italian or asian food any good?

thanks!

Originally Posted by kfarkas26 

While I haven't gotten married there yet I can tell you from just getting back that the buffet has Jamaican nights 4 day a week (other days are italian and asian) and when we were there 5/12-5/19 lobster was not available (this was all at the suites) also there was alot of Jamaican food being served at the lunch buffets too! hopefully that was a little helpful at least!

 

PS do you mind posting the menu options on here? I'm curious even though i have 13 months to go!

kfarkas26, did you get to try any of the sushi while you were there?  They have it listed on one of the buffet menus and I know it's available at the Grand at the Japanese restaurant and through room service.  I'm not sure if they have it at the Suites, but the Japanese restaurant at the Beach resort must have sushi as well.  Just curious if it's actually good or really crappy!

The hotel confirmed that no lobster will be served.  It will substituted with shrimp until the end of June.  I wish I had known that before I chose a June wedding date!

Thanks.

Originally Posted by kfarkas26 

While I haven't gotten married there yet I can tell you from just getting back that the buffet has Jamaican nights 4 day a week (other days are italian and asian) and when we were there 5/12-5/19 lobster was not available (this was all at the suites) also there was alot of Jamaican food being served at the lunch buffets too! hopefully that was a little helpful at least!

 

PS do you mind posting the menu options on here? I'm curious even though i have 13 months to go!