robinh

Hi ladies!!!! After an entire month, I finally have a few pics to share from my wedding. (https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=107236892337554959929&target= ALBUM&id=5604719771129814817&authkey=Gv1sRgCNWj5JSUsdG_qAE&invite= CLjvou0K&feat=email) My flowers were done by Floral Fantasies. I gave her my budget and colors; she did the rest. Cake by Noida. My friend is a cake designer, so she did the flowers and we brought them with us. I hired a photographer from VA and paid for his trip. Let me know if you have any questions or if I can help with anything. I promise you that your wedding will be the best experience ever!!!! Robin

Hi ladies!!!! This post is long overdue. I was married at Moon Dance Cliffs on April 8th and it was AMAZING!!!!!!! I'm a hotel snob and I have to say that my wedding was PERFECT and I wouldn't change anything. HOTEL TRANSFERS ---- We arrived a day before most of the guests. When we got to the airport, they sent two vans (one for the guys and one for me an my mom to shop in Montego Bay for the guests' welcome bags). The transportation is a little shabby (no escalades or limos), but it's Jamaica. The drivers are nice, they have cold drinks, just sit back and enjoy the ride. I booked in October 2010 and got married April 2011. I never knew that transportation was once included, but I had Miriam/Kim add $50 to everyone's bill and covered the rest. The guests had their shuttles waiting and did not have to worry about anything when they got off the plane. It worked out just fine. HOTEL ARRIVAL --- We were greated with rum punch. Richard (concierge) is at the front desk to accomodate all of your guests' needs. As the bride, everybody knew my name and treated me as if I were a princess. My butlers (Kerry and Lashorn) were there to greet me and escorted me to the room. They ordered my meals, kept the refrigerator stocked, and there to do any and everything (my own personal assistant is the best way to describe it). When my guests arrived, they were all hungry and exhausted from the trip. We sat out at Annie's, ordered lunch, and drank plenty of "Dirty Bananas". It was truly a welcome to Jamaica experience!!!! WELCOME BARBECUE/REHEARSAL DINNER --- We had a "traditional" Jamaican barbecue (curried goat, jerk chicken, snapper escovitch, plantain, bammies, festivals, etc.) and everything that I tasted was AWESOME!!!!!! We hired the steel band (soooooooo animated) and sooooooo GREAT!!!! They played the iPod during intermission, so I'd suggest you guys have a few playlist on hand. CEREMONY --- The ceremony was on the wedding lawn, which was much smaller than I imagined. We hired the guitarist and he was AMAZING!!!! I asked Kerry (wedding coordinator) to select my songs and she chose Amazing by Bruno Mars....I love that song. We stayed at the Poinciana and everyone watched as I walked from the villa to the gazebo (just a few steps away). I feel like it was a dream and can't remember much. It was just perfect. RECEPTION --- We had appetizers and cocktails on the lawn while they setup for dinner. The guitarist continued to play while we took photos. We used the iPod during dinner and played all of my favorites. The food was MAGNIFICENT, Nordia did my cake and everybody LOVED it, and the DJ was AWESOME...I danced the entire night!!!! Oh and we surprised our guests with the firedancer which was totally the WOW factor. Ladies, I read all of the older posts several times before my wedding. We can't help but to let the unknown get the best of us. One thing you will notice is that after all of the worries and complaints EVERY bride comes back to the site and says how FANTASTIC their weddings turned out to be. So if you choose another resort for your event, I'm sure that it will be nice and you will never know what you're missing. But if you choose Moon Dance Cliffs, your wedding will be all yours....your special day......a wedding bigger than you could ever imagine. Kerry (coordinator) is a ROCK STAR.....she will not let you down. No other resort will give you this type of attention and the staff won't know your name. Most AI meals taste like AI meals, but the food at MDC is the best!!!!! You have a personal housekeeper (mine was Marline), who brings in fresh flowers and is also there for your every need. And the service was so great that we tipped the staff every night (and believe me, I had not planned for it). For this time of attention, service, and quality.....you won't have any regrets. Overall, my wedding was AWESOME, WONDERFUL, AMAZING, FANTSTIC, and PERFECT!!!! Any guestions?

I'm not sure that MDC is up on the latest technology (airbrushing), but the makeup artist there is FABULOUS. His name is Ross and his work is AWESOME!!!! I spent over $300 on makeup and brought it with me, but I wish I had just used the staff at MDC.

Hi Everybody!!!! I just got back from the wedding and honeymoon. I have sooooooooo much to share, but no time right now. Just want you all to know that everybody says how "perfect" everything turned out. And I'm here to tell you that my wedding was AMAZING!!!!!!! I just wanted to chime in on the conversation about airport shuttles. The cost is $80 (1 - 4) people and $20 each for 4+. The vans are large and they will fit as many people on the vans as possible. We had them add $50 ($25 each way) to our guests' bill and we covered the rest. We had people coming in alone and some shuttles full, but it worked out for everyone. I'll give you guys all the details....I can't wait to share!!!! Robin

Hi Jacki, I am having a welcome dinner onsite. I wanted the "wow" factor and a true welcome to Jamaica vibe, so I'm having the steel band play for two hours that night. Kerri suggested that I not get the lighting package for that night (too over the top), so we won't be doing that. After the band and food, it's just the iPod and fun. I plan to have some type of "get to know you" ice breakers. Does anyone have any suggestions? Another possibility is having a splash party and you and your guests can hang out at the pool. They also have the sports bar with Wii and karaoke. Are you looking to do something more formal? Do you have any themes in mind? For the actual wedding....I will have the guitarist for the ceremony and cocktails, light music (iPod) during dinner, and the fire dancer and DJ to end the night. (Let's not forget the basic lighting package.) I considered the band that night, but I really just want to DANCE!!!!!! Just do whatever feels right for YOU!!! Your style, your day, your way (and your sexy soccer player can have a little say). I think the wedding will stand out on it's own no matter what you decide. Robin

Thanks, LaraJo. That is exactly what I needed to know. I will start looking for flowers online. I picked out an arrangement from her selection and the price was $85....a little more than I planned to spend. So now I'm on a mission. Thanks so much for the info. --- Robin

Hi All, It's been kinda quiet on the forum lately. It's almost time for my big day (April 8, 2011) and I'm sooooo not ready!!!! Is there anyone else on the forum that I may have the opportunity to bump into? DMob - Thanks for sharing the cake pics. Miss Myrie did a GREAT job!!!!! I've seen other pics of her work and this is the best yet!!!! LaraJo - When you went to Floral Fantasies, was it setup like a florist in the U.S.? Could you go in, make a selection, and walk out with a bunch of flowers they have in stock? Thanks again, ladies. Robin

Hi Carrierae, I spoke to Kerry about the same thing.....the CAKE!!!!! She does not have an issue with you finding another cake vendor and bringing in the cake/desserts. One of my girlfriends is a cake decorator and I even spoke to Kerry about using their kitchen for her to decorate my cake; and she didn't have a problem with that. We decided against that, but I'm going to checkout bake-a-wish and see what types of cakes they have. Thank you for sharing!!! Robin

By "old brides", I mean seasoned MDC vets....sorry ladies!!!!!

OMG LaraJo.....I love this Jamali Garden site!!!!! I will more than likely be taking my candles/holders too. So this is a really great place to find great stuff. Are any of you doing welcome bags? Any ideas? I'm bringing drink mixes and CDs from home, and plan to buy everything else when I get to Jamaica (snacks, water, postcards, rum, etc.). Bags are cheaper in bulk. So if any of you are doing welcome bags, I'm looking at jute bags on various sites and would love to split a bulk. If there are any old brides still on the site, please share any welcome bag tips/ideas you may have. Thanks, Robin

Hi ladies, Did someone say photography? I wasn't even thinking much about getting married until I saw Ayesha's photos on Elton Anderson's blog (http://www.eltonandersonblog.com/2010/08/10/destination-weddings-negril-jamaica/). That was the moment that I fell in love with MDC and booked within the next two weeks. Sarah ---- Tell Ayesha that I owe her. There's this AWESOME photographer Nicole Koester (http://blog.nkoesterphotography.com/) that I wanted to tell y'all about. My friend won her 2010 destination wedding contest and she only had to pay for Nicole's transportation and accomodations. Nicole recently posted that the 2011 contest is coming up. If you haven't gotten your photographer (unfortunately I already did), you may want to enter her contest. Check out Misty's wedding in Punta Cana (http://blog.nkoesterphotography.com/2010/08/trash-dress-punta-cana-style.html)...the shots are unbelievable. Robin

Hi Lisa, I've been such a slacker!!!!! I kept pushing everything off until "after the holidays" and now I realize that it's "after the holidays".....time is really flying. Kerry emailed me today, so I'm getting on the ball with the planning now. I've been online all night trying to get this stuff together. I do have a dress appointment on Saturday (still debating on the Running of the Brides in NYC). Have you gotten your dress? So much to do, so little time....but it's EXCITING!!!!! Robin

Hi Ladies! I just found this site and spent my night reading the entire thread. GREAT INSIGHT!!!! I will be getting married at MDC on April 8. I booked it at the last minute (that's really the only date they had left in the spring) and I am sooooooooo happy with my decision. I sent out boarding pass invitations (http://sparklingeventdesigns.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-11-18T07%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=5).....LOVE THEM!!!!! Now trying to debate on sending reminder postcards???? For those of you who have already visited, I heard that Jamaica Customs is the WORST!!!!!! Did anyone have trouble bringing in their dress and pre-purchased wedding items? I just need to be prepared and interested in knowing if you have any stories/advice to share. Look forward to chatting with you all!!!! Robin