Moon Dance Cliffs

[mzthan6]

My fiancé and I took a trip to Jamaica in the beginning of this month to scout some places for our upcoming wedding and also to meet with the wedding planner. My heart was really set on MDC. Just by looking at their website and posts from other brides on this site, I told my fiancé that this is the place!  It’s a beautiful place.  With that said, we made sure that in this trip we have to stay at MDC to try it, see how it is.  I made sure when I book our stay that there is a wedding going on so we can check it out. We booked our stay at MDC for 3 nights and 2 nights at another hotel on the cliffs.   While staying at the other hotel I met up with the wedding planner and she showed us places (but at that time my heart was set on MDC) to have our wedding, she then took us to MDC to have a look. As soon as we stepped in to the lobby my jaw dropped instantly! My reaction OH MY GOD! MDC is absolutely GORGEOUS! Yes MDC has that WOW factor you and your guests would be amazed! Since my fiancé and I will be meeting with Kerri the next day, the wedding planner and I just took a quick tour of the place.

The next day my fiancé and I (along with two of our friends) went back to MDC for our meeting with Kerri. I’m not sure whether Kerri was notified with our meeting but she wasn’t there when we got there.   We were told she will be back soon.  We then asked the concierge if we can meet with Kerri at Annie’s restaurant so we can grab a drink or two.  20 minutes later Kerry showed up.  My first impression of Kerry- she is very pleasant and friendly individual.  Below is the quote of what Kerry gave us:

 

Tent $500- A MUST!! If you’re having more than 20 people! Understandable, just in case it rains.  Annie’s Restaurant and the sports bar can only hold no more than 20 people including the bride &groom.

Tables and Chairs Rental- $3 each plus transportation costs. (J$700)

Table & Chairs Cover - $3 each plus transportation costs.

 

But you can bring your own vendor for these items except for the food. The food that they need to serve has to be from their restaurant.  Kerry also quoted us $150pp day of the wedding, if we decided to do their EP plan.  This include - for the people that are staying in the hotel- b’fast, lunch and dinner and unlimited drinks until 11pm.  For the people who are not staying in the hotel it’s also $150pp includes lunch, dinner and unlimited drinks until 11pm.

 

Fast Forward to being the guests of MDC (our last 3 days in Jamaica) — upon check in Richard greeted us (with rum punch) and helped us check in.  Unfortunately we missed the wedding ceremony. We still got to see how they set up the gazebo for the ceremony.  It was a small wedding approximately 25 people.  They had the cocktail hours by the cabana near the pool area which was set up nicely.  I didn’t get a chance to see how the reception was set up, I feel kind of funny going in there to take a peek.  Also, MDC let our two other friends who are staying in another resort use their facilities, i.e. swimming pool and the pool at the sports bar. 

 

ROOM— We stayed in the Caribbean view room.  Very clean, bed is comfortable. The room itself is very comfortable it is huge!! I love the fact that our room is over-looking the pool and the ocean. 

 

FOOD- I’m not too crazy about their food. Our first meal my fiancé ordered filet mignon and I ordered the fettuccini alfredo with chicken.  The food that I ordered was good however the steak was dry and stringy.  For $24 for a steak we thought it’s going to be decent size.  The steak must have been a 3 oz.  The fiancé wasn’t too happy with his food.  I would not pay the all-inclusive price, as the selection of their food was very few.  All in all the food was alright, nothing to write home about. 

 

The swim-up bar we didn’t get a chance to enjoy it because the entire wedding party  took the entire pool area.  Maybe next visit.

 

Spa Service- Get LANCE! He’s the best and highly recommended by the wedding planner that we are working with. The fiance and I got the no worries massage, it was the most relaxing massage i've ever had.

 

Did I decide to have my wedding at MDC? The answer is No.  The place is beautiful, but not the place that I would have my wedding.  It’s too resorty for me and my fiancé.  We both want somewhere that is really intimate.  We're having our wedding in a private villa  

[arnriv0070612]

Hello All - I'm considering having my wedding at MDC in July of next year and really enjoyed reading all your posts.  I'm torn between MDC and Beaches - I know, very different resorts.  I'm considering Beaches because alot of my guests include small children and teenagers, however, I personally love the idea of a one of a kind wedding that is focused just on my FI and me.  I've been told that this is my day and to do what will make me happy but I'm the type of person that think about others before myself.  I'm concern about the cliffs and the small children (between the age of 5 and 8).  Do any of you have small children at your wedding or plan to have small children at your wedding?  Do you have any concerns about safety and the cliffs?  

 

Another hesitation is that the resort is not on the beach.  For those of you who have been to the resort, did you miss not being on the beach?  I know there's a shuttle to the beach, but does the shuttle take you to MDV, the sister location?  Is there a cost for that?  It just doesn't seem right not to be on the beach in beautiful Negril.

 

Thanks much. 

[arnriv0070612]

Are no more posting being made to this thread?

[lisa203]

Hey ladies! I hope everyone’s planning is going well!

 

My time is finally here. I leave a week from today! We’ll be at MDC June 17^th-23^rd and in JA a few days after that. Any BDW brides getting married then?

 

I won’t do a planning thread until I get back. Some of our guests know about this site and I want to keep things a surprise. Catch you when I get back!! J

[Jacki7896]

LISA!  Congratulations and best wishes and HAVE FUN!  Cannot wait to hear your review and see some pictures when you return.  ENJOY!

[lodis22]

Congrats Lisa203. I can't wait to hear all the details when you return.

[lodis22]

 

 

Originally Posted by arnriv0070612 

 

Hello All - I'm considering having my wedding at MDC in July of next year and really enjoyed reading all your posts.  I'm torn between MDC and Beaches - I know, very different resorts.  I'm considering Beaches because alot of my guests include small children and teenagers, however, I personally love the idea of a one of a kind wedding that is focused just on my FI and me.  I've been told that this is my day and to do what will make me happy but I'm the type of person that think about others before myself.  I'm concern about the cliffs and the small children (between the age of 5 and 8).  Do any of you have small children at your wedding or plan to have small children at your wedding?  Do you have any concerns about safety and the cliffs?  

 

Another hesitation is that the resort is not on the beach.  For those of you who have been to the resort, did you miss not being on the beach?  I know there's a shuttle to the beach, but does the shuttle take you to MDV, the sister location?  Is there a cost for that?  It just doesn't seem right not to be on the beach in beautiful Negril.

 

Thanks much. 

 

 

I have the same concerns about the smaller quests who will be joining us. We plan to do a resort takeover MDV but i need to find a nearby kid friendly resort for roughly 30 guests who wont stay at MDV with us. Have you had any luck in this area?

 

Im still trying to figure out if there is a shutlle cost as well.

[HMM 01282012]

arnriv--I will be having children at my wedding at MDC.  The parents will have to sign a waiver regarding the cliffs.  Because I haven't been there in person, I can't really tell you how safe it is...but I'm not worried about it.  If it's really all that dangerous, we'll just have the kids stay away from it.  In terms of not being on the beach, it is kind of a downside.  But the way I look at it is...anytime I go to the Caribbean, I'm on the beach. The cliffs make it a unique and beautiful setting that is a little unexpected, and I like that.  That said, I am planning to have a group beach trip the day after, where we will all go to 7-mile beach and then to Rick's Cafe.

 

Lisa--How exciting!  I am so happy for you!!  Have a great trip and savor every moment!  We'll be anxiously waiting to hear about your trip!!!

[Jacki7896]

Arnriv-

 

I have been to MDC for the site visit.  Hopefully I can shed some light for you.

 

The cliffs are not barricaded off, and there is a nice little pathway to them.  So long as parents are watching their children, everything should be fine.  HOWEVER, if a parent's eyes wander, then there is no barricade to stop a child from venturing down the path. 

 

I absolutely LOVE MDC and every single thing about it, and from my site visit alone everyone treated me like a princess and the staff was anxious to hear about our wedding-- it is definitely not a cattle call wedding type of place.  HOWEVER, it is quiet and relaxed and peaceful-- there does not seem to be child-focused activities pre-planned.  They do have pool basketball and a WII game center, however, and for entertainment, the resort has told me they would do anything we wanted, so you could just plan your wedding weekend to include some child games.

 

The shuttle to the beach was free when we took it, but I am not sure if it is free for all guests all the time.  We were with our wedding coordinator at the time, which is why I think it was free.  I think it is $7 normally, but I could be totally wrong.  The shuttle takes you anywhere you want, but they recommend the Margaritaville beach (immediately next door to the Moon Dance Villas).  The private beach for the villas is just for the villa guests-- we asked about that.  But all the fun is at the Margaritaville beach anyway. 

 

I thought it was fine having the beach shuttle option-- that way you can go to the beach whenever you wanted, but you still had the privacy of the Cliffs to stay away from the masses and the touristy vendors on the beach. 

 

Hope this helps, and sorry it was not more timely. 

 

But overall, I can tell you that MDC goes above and beyond to make it YOUR wedding, however you imagine it, and you can have whatever you want there.  We asked for a table for flip cup, they said yes.  We asked for additional lighting on the pathways of the resort, they said yes.  I think if you said you wanted some childrens games, they woudl say yes.  It is YOUR wedding WEEKEND (not just day!) and they will plan whatever events you like each day that your wedding guests are there.  So it is definitely very differant than Beaches, where you will just be one of 100 weddings they see that month. 

[Jacki7896]

Also, HMM, Rick's Cafe is right near MDC.... you can even walk there if you like! 

 

I think you are right on with the beach setting.... I can tell you that the beach was beautiful, but not as impressive as I thought or any differant from anywhere else.  But the Cliffs... breathtaking.  You can NOT beat that sunset!