beachbride2013

Hi Anikah! We are arriving on Wed the 23rd. We are getting married at 3:00 pm and are doing the beach bonfire on Saturday night. I really wanted to do it Friday, but we have some guests who will not arrive until Saturday. Oh well. Saturday will have to work. I am also going to do my own chair bows. I will probably do my own centerpieces as well. I have already purchased a bunch of stuff and put a few ideas together. I am just going to ship it all down before I go. For my colors I am doing a turqouise/aqua blue, silver and white.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I spoke to my fiance and he said he is going to address the issue and finalize it. There is no reason for someone to add this extra stress to our big day. I'm really glad. He said, he is just going to have a serious conversation about it. @Annieweds: We really didn't know who would come and who wouldn't. We originally thought we would for sure have less than 10 people including ourselves. So, we asked our mothers and my fiance's brothers/sis-in-laws about a destination wedding. I knew I wanted Secrets because I had already done a ton of research and I just knew what I wanted! But, we basically told them we had a few places in mind, but one was a little pricey and didn't allow children. They all said it was fine so we just booked before anyone could change their mind. So, I guess people were okay with staying at Secrets. We have offered to pay for half of two of our guests trips(just our moms). One mom declined the offer and the other one is taking us up on it. Other than that, we just can't afford to pay for anyone else and are not offering. We just made it clear to everyone that we understand if they do not come. We gave a pretty short notice about our wedding plans. But in the beginning, I thought that 80% of guests had to stay at the resort, so we pretty much relayed that info to our guests, so they all pretty much booked. There are six guests that are not staying at the resort and we are not paying their day passes. I understand your frustration though. We were really frustrated that those 6 people weren't going to be there to hang out with us while they are there. We have even had some guilt because we chose a place that a lot of people probably can't afford or simply don't want to pay even if they can afford it. It's a lot of money to dish out, that's for sure.

Hi! Thank you for your response. Cecilia told me that nobody under the age of 18 was permitted at the resort, even for a wedding. I am worried that these specific wedding guests will not respect our wishes, or the rules of the hotel. Just to be clear, I don't want the children to show up. I am worried that some particular guests will just do it anyway (an make me a very sad bride for being so disrespectful). EEeek! I'm a wreck about it. We keep telling them that it is not okay, but they act like they do not care. I will probably wait until next month and just bring it up again. I would imagine that the hotel would be more worried about upsetting the guests that they have who are actually staying at the resort rather than some who are only there for the day.Not to mention that it is a very nice resort and a people are paying big bucks to stay there. It's a very awkward situation and a long story. I'm having trouble with how to handle it. The simplest and clearest thing that I can think of is to just tell our particular guests straight out that they can't bring the children. But, we have done that so many times and it's just so odd that they will act the way they are about it. Ohhhh, this is the weirdest thing that could happen I think. Who would insist on bringing their children to a resort that is only for adults?! Thank you for your response!

I read those. But I also read a review written by someone who used him and said they were not able to choose their photos. To correct myself, I believe it was the additional photos that they wanted (that weren't included on the CD) that were $15 each. The reviewer said something like they felt that the photographer left the best pictures off of the CD so they had to purchase the ones that they really wanted. It may or may not be accurate. I'm just saying that it will be worth looking into for whoever is worried about something like that. It does make sense that the photo release would be given if the photos are given on a CD. We are probably going to use Juan and just upgrade the photo package to one with more pictures. I think we will still only keep him for 3 hours though to keep the cost down.

Does anyone have any thought on what might happen if someone *tried* to bring a child or possibly 2 children to a wedding at the resort? The children are 2 yrs old and an infant. We have a married couple (very close family member of my fiance....like really close) coming to the wedding and reception, but they are staying in a villa with some other guests. I am sooooo worried that they will show up at the resort with their kids. They DO know that absolutely no children are allowed at the resort (and that we didn't want children at the wedding which is why we chose this place). We keep telling them, but they are sort of playing dumb about it every time it comes up. It's also on our wedding website. And literally we have told them probably 8 times or more. Every time we tell them, they act like they have never heard this before! This probably sounds really crazy but I just have a feeling that they are going to try to bring the kids to the wedding (which we don't want to attend, obviously lol). We love the little ones, but they just aren't invited to this! Does anyone have any thoughts on what would happen if they showed up at the resort with a child? This situation is so awkward and I am just at a loss.

Does anyone have any thought on what might happen if someone *tried* to bring a child or possibly 2 children to a wedding at the resort? The children are 2 yrs old and an infant. We have a married couple (very close family member of my fiance....like really close) coming to the wedding and reception, but they are staying in a villa with some other guests. I am sooooo worried that they will show up at the resort with their kids. They DO know that absolutely no children are allowed at the resort (and that we didn't want children at the wedding which is why we chose this place). We keep telling them, but they are sort of playing dumb about it every time it comes up. It's also on our wedding website. And literally we have told them probably 8 times or more. Every time we tell them, they act like they have never heard this before! This probably sounds really crazy but I just have a feeling that they are going to try to bring the kids to the wedding (which we don't want to attend, obviously lol). We love the little ones, but they just aren't invited to this! Does anyone have any thoughts on what would happen if they showed up at the resort with a child? This situation is so awkward and I am just at a loss.

I think you will have to purchase the negatives to have the printing rights. I believe i read on this forum that they are $15 per photo and they are photos that he chooses, not you. So it may be better to upgrade your pic package so that you can be sure to get the printing release and negatives included, plus you will be sure to get some of the better photographs.

We are doing ceremony and cocktail hour on the beach, and reception at the gazebo.

Ok thanks! I was pretty sure that I did receive that info from Cecilia, but wasn't certain. I have found that a lot of hotels have that policy. I am also really worried about the salon for my hair. I'm not too worried about my make-up. I am planning on having a make-over done at home and purchasing the specific shadows and what not. I was going to have them to a profile or whatever it is, and take it to the resort with me. As far as the hair...I'm worried I am going to look cheesy. I am going to spend some time later looking through and seeing if I can find any pics. They do so many weddings there, I would have to think there has to be some photos somewhere!!

Thanks for posting that link! The pics look amazing!! I am so excited to get married there.

So, what kind of extras are all of you adding to your wedding? I am going to purchase my own chair bows and centerpieces and ship them down there. I may send the stuff for my OOT bags as well. Also, have any of you looked through the reviews of the hotel on this site? There are lots of photos of ceremony and reception set ups.

Annie-I was clearly wrong, as Cecilia has confirmed that all guests not staying at resort need to purchase a day pass and 80% of guests do NOT have to be guests of the resort. I read this information somewhere, and do not remember where. That is why I said in the other post to contact Cecilia to find out for sure. The internet is (obviously!) full of all sorts of info that is incorrect, which is probably where I got that information. Not sure what you are thinking, but to be clear I was not giving out false information on purpose. I thought it was correct information when I posted it. I apologize if I gave anyone a heart attack or freaked them out! I was seriously ill-informed and have been planning my wedding this entire time thinking that 80% HAD to be guests at the resort!!! We have actually been trying to convince my fiances brother to stay at the resort when he has been wanting to rent a villa for him and some of his wife's family. I am so relieved because now we don't have to worry!

I really don't remember.

That is sooo good to hear that 80% of guests do not have to be at the resort!! Even though most of my guests say they are staying at the hotel, I wonder if they all actually will. We still have plenty who need to book. BrideRN-I am starting to worry about my hair. I really wanted to wear my hair down. I went to have my hair done yesterday (just a trim and hilight), and talked to my hair stylist about my wedding hair. Well, he is a wedding hair and make-up expert! He said because my hair is so incredibly thin and I have a ton of it, he really recommends that I do an updo. Really not what I want to hear! He said I could have my make-up done here, pick out some cream eye shadows (He told me a brand and color that would go with me really well), and to ask for a color chart to take with me. Then I can give it to the ladies at the spa and hopefully they can do it. As for hair, he really suggested that I do a trial run. He said on the beach, you just don't know how windy it will be, or how your hair will react. AAAhhhhhhh!!! I just don't know what to do! I guess it really just comes down to your hair and how you think it will do. I really wish we had some photos of hair that has been done in the spa at the hotel!

I'm not really sure. I just read in some of the things that Cecilia sent me that 80% of wedding guests should be guests of the hotel. I think it's pretty standard for resorts. I would send her an email to ask her if that is something that they enforce, and what your options are. I do think it will have an effect on what wedding package you choose. Like the free package is for 10 guests staying at the resort (I believe, maybe wrong). I think we only have a couple of people not staying at the resort. I put on my wedding website that there is a $100 fee to enter the resort if you are not staying there. If it were our moms or someone like that, we would pay. It's not though, so we aren't paying their fee. I think there are 2 people who aren't staying, and it is my fiance's brother. His brother actually invited like 3 or 4 people (without asking us first, yikes!) so we are not paying any of their fees. lol Sillygirl, I really don't think it's rude or anything that you should be worried about. I think others may think it's rude, but I personally wouldn't.

Also keep in mind, 80% of your wedding guests have to be staying at the resort. So if you have 20 guests, 16 have to stay at the resort.

My FI and I are almost officially booked! I just need to send Cecelia the cc info for deposit tomorrow. We have our flights and rooms booked now though! I really would like to do the airbrush. I haven't looked into the cost of that, or where to do it at. Hmmmm...I just don't know. I went and looked at ideas for centerpieces tonight. I am pretty sure I am going to do my own. Does anyone know if there are any centerpieces for the tables at the cocktail hour that are included? Or do they need to be purchased from the hotel. I was a little confused by that. @brideRN- We are looking at using Juan also. I emailed him yesterday. We def need to upgrade our package from what is included though. I looked at his site, and I love his photos. we are trying to figure out which package we would upgrade to. We aren't using a DJ though, just the sound equipment.

I am going to have my hair and make up done at the hotel in the spa. I have also read mixed reviews, but I don't think I will be able to fit anymore extras into our wedding.

My fiance and I have just decided to get married at SMB on Sunday 5/27/12! We were originally planning to do a wedding in Jamaica and then scratched that due to not a lot of people wanting to pay to go and other family members not being able to attend. So we started planning a wedding locally and had a venue picked out. Earlier this week we called the venue and they agreed to refund our deposit, we cancelled our apt with our minister and I am just going to trash the STD's that I ordered. We really want to do a beach wedding, and so we are. When it comes down to it, we just have to do what we want! And I am shocked that with only 5 months notice, we have about 15-16 peeps who are saying they will come. 2 are going to book their trips this weekend, and the others I'm not sure. I'm just filling out the Q&A for Cecilia. I'm just so excited right now. I can't wait. We are planning the free wedding package, but I am almost positive that we will upgrade to the next one up. I just want to wait and see how many people are REALLY going to make reservations. If we have more than 10, we will upgrade and if not we will keep it. We are also doing the ceremony that is not legal to cut costs and hassle. My honey really wanted the legal, but I talked him out of it after the estimates of the wedding kept going up and reading some of the horror stories about it. I wanted to say hi to all of the brides and I have just finished reading about 50 pages of the thread. Lots of good info, but I am sure to have a lot of questions! Congrats to all of you! What an exciting time!!

Thank you so much! I just emailed you!

Can anyone tell me where they found the wedding package prices? I looked on their website and it just tells what the package includes, but not the price. Am I missing something or did you have to email the hotel to find out? Thanks!

Lani-When are you thinking about in January> My fiance and I are also considering this hotel for January 2013 wedding. Most likely the first weekend on the 5th.

Hi all!! I am also a 2013 bride!! We are planning for January 5, 2013. We have mainly been looking at Negril, but am now looking at Iberostar Grand Bavaro in Punta Cana.