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Hi justchrissy - sorry to be late in replying. We went through a travel agent, and she sent out a packet to all of our guests directly. Our guests just called her up to book their own rooms and airfare. No pressure, no worries for us - totally easy!

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

Hi Sandals GR ladies! Oh my gosh, now that my wedding date (March 2, 2013) is getting closer, we are getting a lot more of the details in place. We are taking the $500 credit and customizing our own package. We are paying $50/person for a "reception dinner" which includes plated dinner, open bar, cake (I think??), champagne toast, and venue for 2 hours. Then we are spending the $500 credit on flowers for my guy and me, rose petals for the aisle (a splurge at $250 but I think it will be beautiful), and table linens. Going with the Seaside Serenade linens, cake, and red roses for bouquet. Since we have a group of 22 people (including us) staying at Sandals, we get a free rehearsal dinner, free hot/cold apps cocktail hour, free room upgrade, a mani/pedi for me and 35-min massage for him, and some other random goodies (this is all for groups of 10 couples or more). Also I think all brides/grooms get the free white-glove celebration dinner in one of the restaurants with champagne, honeymoon breakfast, decorated room, etc. We just had our phone call with Deidra. She is very nice, but yes, definitely a sales person! We had already decided we were going to say "no" to a lot of the extras - we are not doing any table centerpieces, reception music, or photography. We don't have bridesmaids or groomsmen, we're not doing a twilight ceremony, we don't need any "reception touches" or "ceremony touches" or anything like that! I'm sure it was a disappointing phone call for Deidra, but hey, we are blowing our budget on staying there for as long as we can afford! Once I told her that, she pretty much backed off. However, there are TONS of "add-ons" that you can choose to really balloon the overall budget if you so please! For our wedding DIY, we're bringing some shell candles to put on the reception tables (we'll set that up ourselves and skip the $250 "setup" fee), some welcome bags (they are just nice bags from LL Bean with nothing in them so that people can use them for dirty laundry, whatever), and we're going to organize either golf outing for guys and spa for girls or else some other Island Routes adventure for the guests. We are bringing a photo mat/frame guest book with a great personalized map of Jamaica from Etsy, and our TY cards will be from Etsy as well, with personalized starfish word art. Our STD postcards were from Etsy as well - apparently I am addicted, lots of good stuff to find on there! Hope this info-sharing helps - any other 3/2/13 brides out there? I'll be at the resort from 2/27/13 - 3/8/13. Any tips or anything I'm missing? Anything you're doing or bringing with you that Sandals doesn't offer?

We're booked for March 2. I hope the weather will be good! We only have about 10 people booked so far but hoping for 20-30. Invited 80! Sandals does give discounts based on number of guests booking under your code. Check out their wedding section. I think you get a free room if you book 10 rooms though that might not be exactly what it is... There are lots of bonus things for booking groups though!

We've just begun planning a wedding at Grand Riviera for March 2013. Just ordered the Save the Dates from Etsy! I haven't even officially booked the room and wedding date but completing that on Monday. So excited! I'm still debating whether the extra $600 for a "twilight" wedding will be worth it. I'm hoping to avoid that payment with a 4pm ceremony. What did you do?