Riu negril doubts

[smashlee23]

We are booked to have our wedding on June 25, 2009 at 4:00 at Club Riu Negril. I have had no luck in reaching the WC. I also have had a hard time finding many reviews on here. Anyone have any good experiences with weddings at Club Riu Negril? We have about 50 booked there, and are now considering having the ceremony off the resort. We have looked into Ric's Cafe...any other ideas for ceremony locations in Negril that do not require you to stay there? Or any reassurances about Riu Negril? Any suggestions will help! Thank you!

[geology_rocks]

I think every destinatinon bride has doubts about her resort selection at some point! You are still 5 months away from the big day, heck, I hadn't even booked our wedding at that point! I know it's hard to do but you have to trust that everything will work out. The wedding coordinators at these resorts are very busy and to keep from getting overwhelmed, they focus on the couples with imminent weddings. Most of the "co-ordinating" will happen when you meet at the resort. Once you meet face to face, you will be more to the co-ordinator than "just another email". You can sit down and explain your vision and it will be fresh in the co-ordinators head for your big day! Tag along on some of the ROR threads. I believe the packages are similar and the florist they use is the same and no doubt, the restaurants will be similar as well. Hopefully that will put your mind at ease. On the plus side, if there are fewer Riu Negril brides here, maybe you'll have the entire day to yourselves and not have to share!

[pearlygirl]

I agree with geology rocks.... I think we all have some doubts and concerns about our DW weddings/resorts. I am getting married at Riu Negril on 2/3/09. My first contact with the WC was in November, and she has answered every email I've sent her...although, sometimes it takes up to two days for her to respond.

 

Someone was getting married there on 1/6/09, so hopefully she'll post a review when she returns. I'll definatly post a review and try to post pictures when we get back because I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be with such little information available about the hotel.

 

Also, you can check tripadvisor.com for reviews on the hotel. Most are not wedding oriented, but I think there is a search tool there and you could try searching weddings. They also post traveler photos, so you can see pics taken by actual travelers rather than the ones the hotel puts on the website.

 

I don't know what email address you're using, but this is the one I use to contact Dionne, the WC at Riu Negril. It is weddings2.jam@riu.com

 

And don't worry, if you are not happy w/ the hotel, I'm sure you'll be able to figure out somewhere to have your reception. It'll all work out in the end!

[cabartosiak]

I did get married at the RIU Negril in Nov 08. I am in the process of doing the reviews on here... The WC will not contact you until about a month before, agreeing with the above poster, she will respond to emails, she responded to everyone of mine, but sometimes 3-4 days later. She is away from her desk for hours when a wedding is going on. Final decisions are not made until 2-3 days before your wedding once you arrive, so you have plenty of time to change your mind, the emails are not set in stone. And trust me, when you're walking on the sand to meet your future husband and say I do, it's really only about you and him starting your life!

[KJT1985]

I'm glad I found this thread. Riu Negril had been recommended to me by a travel agent and we were strongly leaning toward it as our wedding resort. After some of the threads on here about the WC's poor communication, I started to panic. I found that many brides were choosing Riu Ocho Rios over Negril for numerous reasons. Partly because of the communication issue with the WC and also because ROR has more activity options and is cheaper. I started looking into the ROR but didn't really like the cramped hotel/city feel to it. My fiance and I stayed at Paradisus Playa Conchal in Costa Rica this past fall and I loved how spread out everything was. A lot of people complain about having to walk so far but I figure, you're on vacation - what's the rush?! I like having trees and the sky towering over me, not buildings. Here's a review of Riu Negril http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t35530 Best of luck with the wedding!

 

That link is to cabartosiak's wedding review.

[**TIFFANY**]

I stayed at the Riu Negril last March and it was wonderful. I didn't see any weddings while I was there but it's a nice resort. It's not huge so with 50 guests you should always be able to find people. It's at the end of a cove type area and there is plenty of beach to walk and if you keep going to can get to the 7-miles of white sandy beach. I personally didn't see the difference in the sands but hey that's what they call it:) I think your wedding here will be just fabulous. On another note you menioned Rick's Cafe, that place is super cool. The thing about there I think would be that there are always tons of people. I'm not sure where exactly they would hold it but I think it would be pretty fun. Especially if you are really adventurous and decide to jump off the cliff or something when your done getting married in your wedding dress! Imagine the amazing pictures you would get from that! I think you've chosen a great resort and will be fine either way.

[smashlee23]

Thank you all so much for all of your help, and your comforting words. You have seriously made me feel so much better. I am getting very excited. I got an email from the WC today, and ordered the bridesmaids dresses on Sat. I think we are going with Saab Photography.

 

Pearlygirl-your wedding was today, so I hope it was wonderful and congratulations!!! I can't wait to hear all about it, read your review, and see the pictures...

 

THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL!!

[~*Lisa*~]

Great thread. I am planning my wedding for next Jan at Riu Negril. I always love reading what others have to say.

[Soon2beWed09]

That's the main reason I changed my date because there wasn't that much feed back out there...Good Luck ladies..