Erin1980

Or you could pluck one from the garden when nobody's looking...

Beware to the Vegas bride, our invites specifically had the names of invited guests ONLY, and when we called FH's brother to confirm the no kid thing, he said "Oh well we're already starting on baby's paperwork for her passport." Like excuse me? Was her name on the invite? Did you now see the "adults only" details on the info insert of our invite? How many other ways are there to say it? If you really want adults only, then you might need to open your mouth and say the words "adults only", or else don't be mad when ppl just ASSUME their kids are invited. On one hand, ppl should be sensitive to ppl with children because it's not easy to leave them behind and not easy to bring them. On the other hand, ppl with children should not assume that their kids are invited to everything and should not force their children on other ppl, especially at a wedding when it's the bride and groom's decision on all details relating to their special day. Contrary to popular belief, most resorts/hotels at sun&sand destinations are child friendly BUT NOT BABY FRIENDLY. There's a difference. No easy access to baby supplies or food, no changing areas, maybe no easily accessible umbrellas to keep the sun from burning a baby, no easy elevators to haul your stroller around, etc. I still can't understand why anyone would bring a young child/baby on vacation like that. I just can't picture it being very feasible/fun. But that is just IMHO.

Hey Flasong, thanks for the info! At first I was crusty about the cost of the day passes, but technically that fee means my off-resort guests are Sandals guests from 10am-2am. They can use all the amenities, eat the food, drink the booze, so I guess it makes sense. Now I want everyone to come early so they make the most of their guest passes! It's just an annoying $1500 to tack onto the final cost... We intend to book the pier but the resort is undergoing some changes at the moment and they told me I had to wait until 60 days before departure to book the pier because it might not BE THERE IN MAY. Wah! Fingers crossed. My guests are pretty much divvied up between Sandals, the Riu on Paradise Island and the Sheraton/Wyndham/Casino complex.

I found some pics of a wedding that recently took place at SRB. They're good but they're not the same pics you'd take at a local wedding. Obviously...but I mean they won't look *as* polished as they would if you had a super staged photo shoot at all the nice buildings in your home town, type of thing. Since you chose a beach wedding, you're most likely look for laid back, low key, relaxed, not stuffy, not fussy, etc. That's what the pics are. P.S. My Sandals does not allow 3rd party vendors as per the website info. Are you allowed to bring a private guy to yours

I can't comment on the SGOR specifically, but I *can* comment on the free wedding package. When I started researching a Sandals wedding, I met someone on TripAdvisor that had the free wedding. They DID decorate for her. She got married on this pier thing at the SRB and they strung tulle and some flowery things on both sides of the pier. I've also see pics of the ocean-front gazebo decorated for a free wedding. It's very simple which is good because less is more! If SRB is any indication, SGOR might do a little somethin'. Unless of course you're getting married at a random spot on the beach, in which case there won't be an arch or anything (because I saw one of those, too).

Quote: Originally Posted by jweldon Oh, and can you tell me how the resort photog is too!!! I can't find any pics that have been taken by a resort photog and it scares me.... Frig, you and me both sister. Did you knwo that the ONLY thing that really bothers me in the whole Sandals process is this f'ing PHOTOGRAPHER THING!!!!!!!!! I didn't realize in the beginning how much of a factor the perfect photog is and now I'm freaking out because I don't get to a)choose, or b)see any of this guy's work in advance I keep asking my coordinator for samples and she always answers all of my questions except that one. They can't send me photos of other ppls' weddings due to copyright issues. Like JEEZ...that's why I'm hoping someone on here posts a pic of some Sandals photography...ASAP!

Quote: Originally Posted by fudgie I was thinking the same as you. People would ask how many we have coming to our wedding and I always feel bad saying "about 17 so far". I have since realized though that regardless of the amount of people coming that FI and I are getting married on a beautiful beach and having those closest to me there! I actually think that if there were more than I would be overwhelmed and concerned about everyone else. Thank youuuuuuuu, my thoughts exactly. Plus isn't one of the main bonuses of a DW that it's SMALL? And doesn't everyone who plans to have a DW do so accepting the fact that not everyone invited may be able to attend, INCLUDING close friends and/or family? My brother most likely won't be able to come to mine, due to where he'll be in the world, where our wedding is, and his job. Do I want my brother there on my big day? Absolutely. Am I completely destroyed over this? No. Any wedding-obsessed girls, don't read any further. A wedding is a big deal, I don't deny it. But it's not the single, most IMPORTANT day of your WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE. That's a pretty big label that maybe NO day will ever merit. There are lots of important events in life, and if your friends/family miss one, they'll make it for it by attending another. That's the way the cookie crumbles. You gotta go into this level-headed and put things into perspective. In the end, the only non-negotiables for me were me and my man and our parents. I was prepared to go thru with it if those were the ONLY ppl who were coming with us. We're having an AHR to make up for friends and family that couldn't come. That's always an option, as is just a dinner party, or garden party, or whatever. It doesn't have to be a $20,000 affair at a ritzy hotel with catering and a DJ if you don't want it to be.

Damn the post above me made me a little veclempt!! Adorable. I will be hopping over to my best friend's hotel to stay with her and talk trash and chain smoke on her balcony, even though I don't smoke. FI doesn't know this yet, but I'm sending him to his best friends to have man-talk and smoke cigars or something. I think our room will be empty the night before, which is a nice waste of $800 but oh well, whatev!! Then the day of, my girls and I will hit the gym in the morning, then mosey on back to my resort where we'll take our time getting ready and avoid the men until 5pm.

Damn the post above me made me a little veclempt!! Adorable. I will be hopping over to my best friend's hotel to stay with her and talk trash and chain smoke on her balcony, even though I don't smoke. FI doesn't know this yet, but I'm sending him to his best friends to have man-talk and smoke cigars or something. I think our room will be empty the night before, which is a nice waste of $800 but oh well, whatev!! Then the day of, my girls and I will hit the gym in the morning, then mosey on back to my resort where we'll take our time getting ready and avoid the men until 5pm.

100 ppl? Holy cripes. We invited I think um...20? Less than 20 will come. I'm estimating at around 15ish at the moment. And that sounds FABULOUS to me. Think of it this way...you're having a DW because you want something small and intimate, special and frozen in time. Your wedding will be so special that only the fewest and the closest get to be there to witness YOUR private moment. And by the way, the smaller the group, the easier it is to plan a private excursion or a sunset cruise or some other "thank you" gift for your guests (if you were thinking of doing that).

Quote: Originally Posted by KathleenandDan QUESTIONS to all those Sandals/Beaches brides. I am trying to decide on what type of reception to have. Please let me know what everyone else is doing and maybe why you chose it. Thanks for helping me in my decision. We are planning to have around 15 guests and the two of us. We're at the Sandals Royal Bahamian and also opted for the 3-hour reception dinner at $75 pp. We also have about 15 guests plus the 2 of us. We hired a steel drum band to play during the cocktail hour and champagne toast before the reception but no music while we're actually eating the dinner. I can't remember which restaurant patio they said we'd use, but they close off one of the patios for your group. We have the menu choices and plan to finalize the all the details this wknd in terms of apps, main course, dessert, etc.

So, I see the forum is full of questions, tips and tricks on contacting florists, chefs, catering companies, packing your own starfish in a box to pin to the back of the chair covers, etc. I was under the impression this stuff doesn't apply to me, since I chose Sandals. Is that a mistake? We booked a Preston Baily décor package and will be deciding on our actual ceremony location 60 days before we leave. Photography is provided by Sandals, you just choose your package. Cocktail hour, champagne is provided by Sandals, we just booked a steel drum band to play during that hour. We opted for the $75 pp 2-hour reception dinner and the let us choose our menu. They close the patio of one of the restaurants for our group. I am quite possibly doing my own hair and makeup because I don't trust the Red Lane Spa employees! But here's the thing... Where do I get ready without seeing my man? Where does my man get ready? Does a Sandals employee escort my offsite guests to the wedding location when they arrive at the resort? Will someone come and get me when it's time to walk the aisle? Will someone seat my guests? I don't "approve" the décor, it just gets delivered and set up on that day, so I just assume it'll look the way I want it to look? The photos are taken after the ceremony, while guests have cocktails and listen to the steel drum band. Will the photographer rush us through the session to stay on schedule for the reception dinner? I think I'll blow my lid if they try to cut corners on my wedding day!! I keep hearing about the Sandals staff being *super* nice and *super accommodating* during your wedding day and sometimes ppl get upgrades on their wedding nights, etc. It's not like I've had bad service so far or anything, but I'm just terrified I'll be one bride in an assembly line of brides and they won't give a sh!t about my special day!!! Anyone? Panicking at 4 months out...in case you couldn't tell.

Funny this thread was created. We booked at Sandals, aka Adults-Only, aka NO KIDS ALLOWED. My man's brother has a baby and a 4 year-old. My MIL said it probably wasn't an option for them to leave the kids with the other grandparents. She said she was going to call Sandals to see if they'd "make an exception". Thankfully it didn't come to that because my man stepped in to say that *WE* didn't want to make an exception, hence the ADULTS-ONLY RESORT! I was going to the wall for the no-kids thing. Both of us envision the big day just WITHOUT screaming kids or breast-feeding and we weren't willing to waiver on it. P.S. MIL is now paying for my bro-in-law, his random gf and BOTH of their kids to stay at a nearby 5-star all-ages resort, and only my BIL will come to the wedding while his gf babysits. Enjoy your week in the Bahamas while your baby gets sand down her diaper. How fair is that? My wedding turned out to be a giant $7,000 hand out for my BIL. But no, I'm not bitter.

Quote: Originally Posted by T.Thompson Congrats!!Alec and I are shooting a Wedding at Sandals on April 17th,We are doing a photo session with the Bride at Closiers its an amazing Garden,you should look into it and the reception is at Luciano's another great location to check out Enjoy your planning have fun! dont hesitate to ask me any question regarding Photography or our upcoming Bahamas wedding!! best wishes T.Thompson ALEC & T: PHOTOGRAPHY [/url][/b] Oh god, please don't get me started on the photography thing. Sandals doesn't allow 3rd party vendors, which means you HAVE to hire the Sandals person if you want any professional shots of the big day. It's the only thing that keeps me awake at night out of the whole process. Nothing makes a wedding more incredible than AMAZING photography, and nothing ruins it more than sh!tty PICTURES!!!!!!!

I'm a Bahamas bride!! May 27, 09 at the Sandals. We're also taking our guests on a post-wedding gift - catamaran for the ladies, and deepsea fishing for the men, both of which were arranged by Seahorse Sailing stationed at Atlantis.