April 2013, Sandals Grande Riviera Ocho Rios, Jamaica

[Marymack]

3 days minimum....go to Leslie's Vacations,Honeymoons,and DestinationWeddings on Facebook.She has tons of photos of the resorts and the Martha theme layouts as well. She has them labled so you should be able to find them....

[Marymack]

Chrissy the pictures are on the fan page. The name changed from grande ocho rios to grande riveira when they remodeled in 2012. Sorry forgot to mention that tidbit!!

[justchrissy]

3 days minimum....go to Leslie's Vacations,Honeymoons,and DestinationWeddings on Facebook.She has tons of photos of the resorts and the Martha theme layouts as well. She has them labled so you should be able to find them....

Thx Mary! So the 3 day stay I assume the bride & groom pay. Do the photographers actually stay at the resort?

[Marymack]

They stay at the resort as a guest.If you were doing a city that has more than one Sandals like Negril or Montego Bay you could pick whichever was cheaper place to stay.The cheapest Sandals photo package is 1800.. That is the cost of a stay,so you pay that for your photographer and then they get a nice trip and you get nice pictures.I hope I'm explaining this good.

[sherrie23]

We are getting married on April 22, 2013 in the twilight ceremony. I have yet to see any twilight photos yet though. It seems like there is a lot of talk about photo options. Did anyone/ does anyone plan to do to a trash the dress shoot with a local photographer? It's just my fiancé & I attending so photos are going to be pretty important to capture the moments for everyone back home.

[sherrie23]

I think my first reply gor eaten. We are getting married 4/22/13 at the twilight ceremony. It will be just fiancé & I so we are interested in getting some great photos. I am not all that impressed with the wedding photos I have seen so far. I read a thread where a bride said she and another girl spilt the cost of the photographer's stay and each got their ceremony & TTD photos. That sounds like a great idea to me. Are you gals brining in photographers or using the Sandals photographers?

[Marymack]

Hi sherrie!!! I am bringing my own photographer but I have seen Sandals pix that were ok not great though.

[Katie McLean]

Wow! It's been too long since I looked at this post and my wedding date is coming up FAST!

 

Our wedding date is 4/12/13 and I still feel like we haven't gotten much done but i"m trying to go with what everyone says..."just trust that the resort knows what they are doing." Is it just me or is easier said than done? 

 

Deidra still has yet to be the most helpful...we need to go through her to book all spa appointments etc and she's TERRIBLE at responding. I'm hoping others have had a better experience with her. 

 

We have decided to go with the 3 hour reception so that we can have some of the formalities that we want to do. We'll be doing cake and our first dance during cocktail hour...yup dessert first, it's how we roll I'm still blurry on what to do for center pieces/decor...they want an arm and a leg for flowers there and charge you like crazy for some of their other decoration options. So my question is, do we bring our own stuff and set it up ourselves? The other thing i'm a little stressed out about is having a DJ or bringing our own music and renting the speakers etc. Does anyone have any ideas of how it works to bring your own music?

 

Also, I'm a little concerned about coordination...is it going to be my job to make sure our guests know where to go and when? 

 

Soooo i'm probably way over stressing but I just haven't been given much info from Deidra and with 35 people coming I'd rather it not be a total disaster... any comforting words are welcome!

[valaug]

Hi Katie-

 

Don't worry - I felt the same way you did, a month ago. Once Sandals (and Deidra) start focusing on your date (about 60 days in advance), you will get a lot accomplished in a short amount of time.

 

For some of your specific concerns:

1. Email responses - I've had two phone conversations (appointments were made in advance for timing) and I've written three emails. All were responded to within 24 hours. Like I said, that started 60 days in advance of the wedding.

2. Centerpieces - I am bringing my own (just candles) and I am setting them up myself. Sandals will charge you $250 to set up your own centerpieces if you let yourself get ripped off. Push this on the Maid of Honor or a helpful relative. I have actually attended a wedding at Sandals Negril, and I don't remember anything about the centerpieces. It is not what your guests will focus on or remember, so my opinion is don't waste money, time, or effort on this. You are in the most beautiful setting already - no need to compete!

3. Music - we are bringing our iPhone and our iHome. It was an investment ($150) but will work without needing electricity and will provide background music or dancing music if anyone wants to dance. I don't think the DJ is very expensive though, so if music and dancing is important to you, you should just spring for it! Then you don't have to worry about a thing.

4. The last point - I agree with you about confusion of where things will take place. Apparently we will not be able to confirm the location of our Rehearsal Dinner OR our Ceremony & Reception until we are AT the resort. I am wondering how my guests will find out where to go?? BUT, I always keep in mind, these people do weddings ALL the time, so I am going to relax and assume they know what they're doing. Worst comes to worst - I will hire someone to go around to everyone's room with a note of where the locations are. I am sure they will have that option to pay for!!

 

As a former wedding planner myself, I can completely understand that they can only focus on so many brides at once, so I'm sure you'll come to forefront soon. Just stay patient and trust that it will be an amazing day!!

 

-Valerie

[sherrie23]

Thanks, MaryMac. We moved our ceremony to earlier in the day and contracted with a local photographer who will meet us and then go off campus for photos. I'm hoping to get some good ones!