NEED HELP PICKING VENUE PLEASE!! - End of Nov 2013 Bride

[BermudaTammy]

Thank you so much for posting this! I feel exactly the same way as you do about trying to find a venue. We've been engaged since New Year's, but only looking at wedding stuff since March. And I have no idea where to book anything. I wanted to do Bermuda, and got really close to signing something, but in the end it was going to cost us $30,000 to have a wedding with 80 guests there (including everthing--dress, flowers, etc.). Since I can pay the same for twice the number of people at home, I couldn't justify it. To help narrow down our search, we've made a list of things that are a priority to us. For example, we definitely want to do an AI to make it cheaper on our guests and ourselves. We also have some relatives in remote places, like Colombia, who can't fly to any of the US islands easily so we knocked out PR, the US Virgin islands, etc. It hasn't gotten me very far, but it might make it easier for you. The only other thing that I can suggest is to just pick an island and go see it. That's what I did for Bermuda and it made it a lot easier for me to decide. Although the money won in the end. Bleh. I hope that helps. Or if you come up with a solution to decide, let me know. I am so stressed about trying to find something. It's nice to know that someone else is in the same boat!

[shaeshae18]

have you considered an AI in the DR?  we were looking at majestic elegance in punta cana and it was super affordable.  right now we've put planning on a pause. 
 

[BermudaTammy]

I haven't looked at that one yet, but I'll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion!

[Martoca]

Have you considered Puerto Vallarta? Super romantic! You can stay in an AI and have the reception in a private venue next to the hotel and it actually serves as a "tour" as well. A party for 80 guests should cost between 12,000 to 25,000 or more if you add many features. For 15,000 you could have a nice party with all major items considered. A "Fully loaded" party for 80 would be about 25,000 dollars. 

Just throwing it out there. I would be glad to help if you have any questions.

www.martoca.com

Jimmy

[BermudaTammy]

Thanks for the suggestion. We have decided to go with Melia Caribe Tropical near Punta Cana. The last few weeks have been easier with deciding since I told everyone to leave me alone about making plans. The pressure came off and I was able to enjoy planning again.

[alpwedding2013]

Have you decided on a location yet?  Puerto Rico could be a cheaper option, especially for flights out of NYC. 

[shaeshae18]

Hey ladies, I'm back and putting planning on full force. I'm not considering Dec 28 or 29, 2014.  I know it's high season, between Xmas and NYE, but I think the weather would be better and a lot of my friends would have an easier time getting off from work or going on a vacation. 

 

I'm looking at Punta Cana in DR.  Puerto Rico - we have a few friends and family members who went to PR and did not like their time there, said that the beaches weren't great. :/

 

I feel like I'm still at square 1 - I hope the rest of the stuff is a lot easier from here!!  Picking the right venue is so stressful! 

[CaribbeanBelle]

@shaeshae18, it gets far easier after picking a venue. it was really stressful for us too (during our search i even seriously considered abandoning a destination wedding and just having a court house one) but when you find the right place you'll know! good luck!

[pzl101]

Originally Posted by shaeshae18 

 

Hey ladies, I'm back and putting planning on full force. I'm not considering Dec 28 or 29, 2014.  I know it's high season, between Xmas and NYE, but I think the weather would be better and a lot of my friends would have an easier time getting off from work or going on a vacation. 

 

I'm looking at Punta Cana in DR.  Puerto Rico - we have a few friends and family members who went to PR and did not like their time there, said that the beaches weren't great. :/

 

I feel like I'm still at square 1 - I hope the rest of the stuff is a lot easier from here!!  Picking the right venue is so stressful! 

Hi shaeshae - picking a place is definitely stressful. I am totally in the same boat you were last year - glad to see you're back.  My Fi and I were also in between Jamaica and T&C but in the end, T&C was just too much. It's such a small island, they have to import everything.

 

He preferred AI just to make it easier for the guests and out of the places with the most AI, we weren't crazy about Mexico, DR or the Bahamas and I was just in Jamaica in May and loved it. I'm trying to steer away from the big AIs too so no Sandals, Beaches, RIU. I'm in contact with Secrets and Jewel so far. There's not much info on Jewel here on BDW but I vacationed at their Runaway Bay location and had a great time. It's an AI but not huge and the people were so friendly and the beach was gorgeous!

 

I hear Negril is amazing but I don't want the cliffs resort and it seems the only AI on the actual 7-mile beach are the big chains.

 

I was in Puerto Rico a few years ago and loved it! I guess it depends on where you are on the island because it varies. The ones in San Juan were just OK but if you head further east toward Fajardo and Vieques, they are gorgeous! But you can't go wrong with Punta Cana either. My sisters stayed at the Majestic and really really liked it.

 

Hope this helps!

[pzl101]

Originally Posted by CaribbeanBelle 

 

@shaeshae18, it gets far easier after picking a venue. it was really stressful for us too (during our search i even seriously considered abandoning a destination wedding and just having a court house one) but when you find the right place you'll know! good luck!

haha, I also considered just doing city hall during the search. 

 

Now that we actually narrowed it down to a place or two, I'm still stressed because of the prices! All the add-ons and upcharges, they really get you - like WHY do I have to rent chairs??  I'm kind of pushing for an elopement on the beach just the two of us!