justine416

We got married Jan 4th in Jamaica and aren't having our AHR until June 1st. We booked an old barn and we want to take advantage of the outside. I was happy that we didn't do it right away because only now am I starting to get back into planning...I was planned out after Jamaica!! My issue is day or night time? Night would be more of a party but the day time would be easier...

$200 for the AV equipment which does not include a projector if you wanted a slide show. I do believe all the restaurants close at 10:30 besides the Cajun at the beach which is open 24 hrs

We were going to do a beach open bar for our guest on a Saturday night but since we were just after NYE they switched the beach party to the Saturday as the suites hosts the NYE party. We opted to take part in the beach party and than around 10 pm our guests went down the beach and lit off wish laterns. It was a fun night, party starts around 8pm with dancing on the beach and than the fire dancer. They have the pool bar open. I think the bar shut down around 11pm so I'd save your money and join in the fun for free!!

Congrats! Jan 5th was one of our choices also. I will attempt to answer all your questions... We flew with Sunwing , if you can DO NOT book with them. I was not happy with there services. We brought 4 suitcases and got charged $120 over weight. Alot of it being the weight of candles. The look I wanted was soft lighting but candles everywhere so I brought alot unfortuntely they didn't use all of them. I left more than half with the WC's. I bought lattice laterns and smaller laterns to place ontables, paper laterns, blue & off white candles. 60 starfish and 24 glass globes. We used Roan Robinson as we only wanted a small package and I was very happy with the pictures he has put up on facebook. He told me he sent off my pictures in the mail already this week. Which is nice since I've heard other brides have had to wait much longer from other photographers. The resort photographers will stop you around the resort to take pics. You can than go view them and purchase some. I liked a bunch that they took but they are just riduclous with the pricing. One 4x6 $15!!! We did not go with any other flowers except with what canme with the package. I loved my tropical bouquet. I bought my bridesmaids real touch flowers for $18 a bouquet, which looked beautiful. We had a private dinner and rented out Uncle Tony's for $800 which I was fully prepared to to have it private. We brought the projector for the slide show as it would of had to be rented from an outside vendor. I have one so it worked out well. They played it on the pull down blinds. We danced the mother/son, father/daughter dance during appitizers with the steel band playing. I loved that as we didn't know what song to play. The buffet of apps was soooooo YUMMY I barely touched my dinner, I think alot of guests filled up on the buffet. Chic Weddings is an outside WC that we hired day of. I decided to hire her as I did not want to be stressed or getting my friends/family to keep in contact with the beach WC's. They are understaffed so although they do amazing & their best they can't give you 100%. To me I'm happy we spent the money. They charged us an extra 33 people at $18 plus 5 outside guests at $75 each! Ouch! We tipped our servers, outside WC and photographer. The way we tipped was if they did an outstanding job they got it. They present you with an itemized invoice day before which must be paid by noon day of wedding. There was nothing hidden and like I said the WC are amazing and lovely to deal with...I loved them all! We put it all on visa. Oh we had them lower the lighter so it was just the side lighting scones and candles which I'm glad I asked as I had seen a wedding the night before and hated how bright the reception was. If I had to do it again I would change my wedding time to 3:30 , it allows for some room to not stress over photos. At that time of the year sunsets at 5:30. Also I'd try to get my guests to stay at just one resort. We have a 50/50 split between beach & suites which makes it tougher on us. I will try to do my review this weekend but if you have more questions please ask

No it ended at 10:30 but we started dinner later. We danced a few songs while the steel pan played between courses but I didn't keep track of time but it flew. Cake was caught few songs on the iPod and then they were packing up everything...FAST! Lol

We went with a private dinner but I saw another wedding cocktail reception at the pool...it looked nice as there's a raised area behind the bar and it's well lite. I would go with that option as it's also more private. I'll see if I have pics. We went with the steel band over dinner and I absolutely loved it!!

We had 49 people so we did a private restaurant at Uncle Tony's. We had our first dance on the beach and had our mother/son, father/ daughter dance during dinner. We rented the steel band that played during dinner. By the time dinner and speeches were done there wasn't a lot of time fir dancing....about a half an hour

Yes the Rockhouse is but totally worth the indulgence,however it is not AI. I would totally recommend going to Negril, it's more Jamaica...local food, outdoor nights!! Food at both resorts were great. I enjoyed the buffet more than the ala cartes but I like to eat small portions of everything! Weather was great, cloudy around 4:30 but always warm. I was going to buy pashmina's for the ladies but I'm glad I didn't because you don't need it at night

Hi Brides, We just got back yesterday and wanted to share a few highlights. We got married at uncle Tony's at the beach but stay at the suites. I'm happy we chose the beach for the wedding as it's off to the side so more intimate. We loved the WC's Santena and Kymoya. What we also realized they also are guest services as well as WC and are short staffed right now. wedding was at 4:15 around, we should of done 3:30 with us being late, our fault not theirs. That's the only thing that stressed me getting enough pics before dark. We hired Chic Weddings for wedding day....love her also. She allowed me to not worry at all. We had them turn the lights off only using side lighting and candles for a more intimate feel. We hired steel pan for an hour at dinner. We did our mother/son, father/daughter dance at this time. We played a slideshow and was surprised from my sister and husband with a taped speech from my brother that couldn't make it. By the time dinner, speeches and cake cutting we barley had time for dances. We danced a few songs than went to the lobby bar. We honeymooned at Rockhouse in Negril......Amazing!!! With only 35 rooms and views of the ocean while seeing dolphins play it was the perfect spot after our wedding week. I will give a full review but please ask away. Oh and we brought 2 suitcases of decorations

I don't believe the WC will accept a package being held as they don't want to be responsible. I have also heard it is very expensive to send parcels over there. For me I decided what was important to me and what I'm ok without ie not ordering extra flowers just what comes with package but really wanted a steel band. Hope that helps a bit as it does easily add up.

Great list as there's a few I didn't even think of. THANKS!

We put a deposit of $600 to reserve 30 rooms so for once something in Canada is cheaper!! haha But like the other brides said it will sell out in December.

We are covering their wedding day pass but the other days they are on their own.

The beach offers a kids meal....4 choices so I'm sure the suites does also

We started with a personal trainer in Sept, once a week.Which is a nice way to spend time together. He makes us do cardio 3x a week and weights 2x. I'm also a yoga teacher so that helps and I've been doing pilates since November...loving that part. Since the start of december I've been making a smoothie everyday for breakfast....I've noticed a significant difference over the last month especially with my arms Although I HATE cardio I keep picturing myself in my dress as I cannot gain ANY weight and with the holidays approaching it's gotta be done. Definately is alllll worth it!

It will be their loss if they back out. I'd defintely tell her to visit her dad.

I wonder about the beach if they have also changed their minimum? We are having a private reception at Uncle Tony's Jan. 4th 2013 with 45 ppl and have had no problems with that number so something to consider if you really want a private reception.

For any brides past or present did you try to negotiate any freebees? I don't need the details if you aren't comfortable in sharing. What I'm looking for is when did you discuss your wants? In person or email? And just to the WC?

Hi, I am staying at the suites and having my wedding at the beach. We actually have more people at the suites but when making the decision I thought more would book the beach. I am getting married in 25 days eeeeeee!!! So let me know how I can help you out The WC's from the beach have all been very plesant, even though I'm on my 4th one!!

Thanks for the tips, those are my colors also! I'm a month out so it's great to read from past brides Cheers to your 1 yr!

Thanks so much!

I know this has been posted here a few times but of course I cannot find it. I'm looking for the spa's email address to book the bridal party's hair. Thanks

I can defintely share in your disappointment. My brother had a surprise pregnancy with his girlfriend. My wedding is jan. 4, the baby is due jan.13th so even though he is in the wedding party he will no longer coming. I had a REALLY hard time with this. I still haven't fully been able to think of him not being there. We are very close. Thru the planning I have alot of friends back out due to mainly financial but at no point have I regreted the decision to get married away. That's great that you have a great guy friend for you to stand beside you. There have been some great suggestions by other brides

For our wedding in Jamaica we only sent out Save The Date postcards, which stated our website & our AHR date. At the point I sent them I knew who had no chance of coming so I only sent it out to family and then friends who were thinking about it or wanted the invite. I feel the same way. I order 100 off of Vistaprint for $14.99. I am sending formal for AHR. I so feel your pain I didn't want to send invites either so it was a painless as I could make it now for the AHR....

Great wording Jenna! Ours was even more casual because we got engaged in Feb 2012 and we knew we needed to have it around xmas break due to family. Once we decided on Iberostar we had until March 28th before the taxes increased so I sent an email out to everyone. I had explained sorry for the informal message. We ended up only sending Save The Date postcards as I agree I find certain traditions waste of money. We sent it in August and by that time EVERYONE knew about Jamaica so it was a nice reminder of the actual date and to tell them info was on our website. We are going with formal invites for our AHR, which is also June 1, 2013!