9 replies to this topic

[ErinB]

I just found a web-site for a Jamaican event planner/florist based in OR. I know most of us have on-site planners, but they have a great photo gallery! If you're anything like me I worry about what the standard is for a tropical wedding!

Tropical Weddings Jamaica -Ocho Rios ~Montego Bay~ Cruiseship Weddings in Private Locations

[AlmostMrsForbes]

Hi, there!

I just contacted them the other day. I am supposed to get married at the Riu Ocho Rios, but was having brief thoughts about taking the location off-site. We're having our reception at Evita's, and I was thinking about having the tropical palm house/gazebo as a ceremony location.

They have packages, but they are pretty inclusive - I wouldn't be looking for all of those services.

My concern is that I don't know whether they are reputable or not, and what their service is like. The Riu is a known quantity - there have been tons of girls who've gotten married there. I'm just not sure what to expect from the Tropical Weddings.

[driftaway]

That is who is planning my wedding!! Her name is Almarie and she is amazing and so helpful!! I was going to get married at Sandals Ocho Rios, but ran into some problems. So I looked off site and found Almarie.
They are bussing all of us(50 people) to the Grande Oceanfront Location. I am getting the bamboo arch with all the flowers shown in the Beachfront photos for less then the cost of the Sandals Package for 50 people. Doves release, 1 hour mini bar, bouquets for 4 brides maid, boutoniere for groomsmen and parents,(lots of choices on flowers and cakes) Wedding cake, great photo package that I can add to. The list goes on and on..

The package and price she developed was great. Plus not everyone in the hotel is walking by during our pictures.

I found I was paying for a lot of things I did not want in the resort packages!! I told Almarie what I wanted and our general budget and that is what I'm getting and paying!!

[IrieBride08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftaway That is who is planning my wedding!! Her name is Almarie and she is amazing and so helpful!! I was going to get married at Sandals Ocho Rios, but ran into some problems. So I looked off site and found Almarie. They are bussing all of us(50 people) to the Grande Oceanfront Location. I am getting the bamboo arch with all the flowers shown in the Beachfront photos for less then the cost of the Sandals Package for 50 people. Doves release, 1 hour mini bar, bouquets for 4 brides maid, boutoniere for groomsmen and parents,(lots of choices on flowers and cakes) Wedding cake, great photo package that I can add to. The list goes on and on.. The package and price she developed was great. Plus not everyone in the hotel is walking by during our pictures. I found I was paying for a lot of things I did not want in the resort packages!! I told Almarie what I wanted and our general budget and that is what I'm getting and paying!!

Does that mean that you are still entitled to the other perks of having a large number stay at the resort? Like the free welcome reception and free rehearsal dinner? Just curious.

I did decide to move my reception offsite to Evitas as well. I'm currently working on getting my photographer because I don't want to use the resort photogs.

[driftaway]

Honestly, I didn't know about the free welcome reception or rehearsal dinner.(news to me!!!) I had my Sandals date set, but started having problems with my coordinator. I don't mean Sandals when I say that either!! The coordinator was in Florida, not Jamaica and was telling me things that did not make sense. When I phoned the hotel they even confirmed my feelings.

Therefore, instead of stressing out over the issue I moved the wedding(off-site) Probably, the best decision I've made so far!!

**Our Travel Agent told us because we were purchasing the "promotional rate" no group concessions will be recognized by Sandals. Therefore, we would have to pay for any optional extras outside the basic wedding package. My wedding coordinator told us that although it is all-inclusive, we would have to pay for any private function that we wished to have in one of their restaurants

[IrieBride08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftaway **Our Travel Agent told us because we were purchasing the "promotional rate" no group concessions will be recognized by Sandals. Therefore, we would have to pay for any optional extras outside the basic wedding package. My wedding coordinator told us that although it is all-inclusive, we would have to pay for any private function that we wished to have in one of their restaurants

Honestly, that's the case anyway--any private functions have to be paid for outside of the all-inclusive rate. The free welcome reception and rehearsal dinner are two of the perks of the "group concessions" normally offered when you have 10 or more rooms reserved at Sandals. (How interesting that your stay was negotiated without those "perks".)

Glad you found a way around all the drama! Good luck with your wedding plans!

[karamell]

ummm....thinking of moving my wedding from beaches boscobel now because i'm having so much trouble getting information about the ceromony/reception.

[allaboutodd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by driftaway Honestly, I didn't know about the free welcome reception or rehearsal dinner.(news to me!!!) I had my Sandals date set, but started having problems with my coordinator. I don't mean Sandals when I say that either!! The coordinator was in Florida, not Jamaica and was telling me things that did not make sense. When I phoned the hotel they even confirmed my feelings. Therefore, instead of stressing out over the issue I moved the wedding(off-site) Probably, the best decision I've made so far!! **Our Travel Agent told us because we were purchasing the "promotional rate" no group concessions will be recognized by Sandals. Therefore, we would have to pay for any optional extras outside the basic wedding package. My wedding coordinator told us that although it is all-inclusive, we would have to pay for any private function that we wished to have in one of their restaurants

That's something new that I haven't seen before and now I am interested in inquiring more about it!! How do you get quotes about the prices for their packages and about how much did you end up paying for everything?

I love the tropical garden location and I want to see more of what they offer. Please provide me information!

[driftaway]

It was really easy to get pricing. You can e-mail Almarie or use the contact from her web site
Tropical Weddings Jamaica - Exclusive Wedding Packages & Planning Service

I used the free price quote on her web site, but even with that we altered the package and I told her what my buget was. She worked with that and made everything happen. I phoned a few times before settling on a package! I'll p.m. you any information I have that I think will be helpful. It is quite a lot so I do not want to write too much in this thread.

Truthfully it saved me money and my wedding was a lot more private then at the hotel. We busses my 50 guests to a private location(Firefly, Ocho Rios) (Tropical Grande' Oceanfront)
Tropical Weddings Jamaica - Private, Romantic, Beach, Garden, waterfall Wedding Locations
If you scroll to the Tropical Grande Oceanfront that is my wedding in the picture before you go into the album. The pink with the bamboo arch. I think her testimonials speak for themselves. My testimonial is on her web page as well. She worked so hard for me and made my wedding exactly how I pictured.

I could not imagine the price if we went through our resort.

[IrieBride08]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoWife I didn't realize you decided on Evita's. You are going to love it there and Eva is the best to work with! I also thought about using Almarie and having my ceremony offsite since my reception was off property at Evita's. I didn't end up using her and I just had the ceremony at the Riu but Almarie was quick to respond and eager to build an individual package to fit our needs.

Yes, Eva has been a sweetheart and very accommodating to my needs! I'm really looking forward to it!