Finishing Touches is now available

Maureen and Jennifer,

I completely agree with what you both have said. My naivety has caused me a lot of problems. I can only speak for myself, that I didn't research things as thoroughly as I should have. I'm sure in the end that I will be so happy and blessed with the wedding, but right now I feel like pulling my hair out! I really wish I would have found this forum, or another resource BEFORE making any definite decision, but what's done is done.

 

However, in my defense, I used the Live CSR chat before booking anything. I'm posting a copy of the log (that was emailed to me at the completion of the conversation) so that others can see how it can be misleading. I believe I asked the right questions, and "half-truths" were told to me.

 

you: Ok, great. We were hoping to use the free wedding package that is included with a 6 night stay. However, from the documentation I've read online, that only includes a reception for 2 people, other than the bride and groom. Can we expand that without having to pay for a larger weddingp ackage?

CSRGuy: Yes. All wedding packages include the Standard Cocktail Reception for the Bride, Groom, and two guests. Additional guests can be added at $15 per person with no other charges for dining or entertainment, unless you would like a live band.

 

you: What is the cost for video and web-streaming of the wedding in St. Lucia for our friends and family that won't be in attendance?

CSRGuy: The cost is $50 for 100 streams and $70 for 200 streams.

CSRguy: 1 Stream = 1 Viewing Session

you: I see that on the website. Does the $50/100 streams include just the streaming, or does that also cover the cost of the videography?

CSRGuy: No the video package is at additional cost

you: Can you tell me what the cost is?

CSRGuy: Click here to view the packages

you: That doesn't list the pricing for JUST the videography. I'm not interested in photography pkgs at this time.

CSRGuy: That is all of the information we have.

 

I just feel like I was intentionally mislead. Maybe I'm just a bit bitter. Once the dust settles, I'm sure it will be great. Can anyone make it settle faster?

I can see where that is misleading -unfortuantely I think the CSRguy was thinking about the overall resort experience and not the wedding experence. They are not wedding consultants or specialists- I will forward this on to Sandals though as they really should have the CSR refer you over to the wedding department.

 

Unfortuantely- as maureen stated- they are pushing for the sale as it is commissioned-so there are a few that will tell you whatever and then there are those that just do not know-they are not WC's!

 

 

That is why we recommend using an experienced destination wedding consultant- we are not perfect but we certainly want your experience to be as close to perfect as possible!

I agree and understand what you guys are staying... I understand that there are some things that you might want upgraded. I'm just annoyed with the microphone thing and charging us to deliver packages/set up our decorations. What if I have someone who is hard of hearing in my family? I have to pay $150 for them to set us up with microphones so my family can hear our vows What if we didn't like the wedding decorations (especially now that they changed the packages). When I booked they were doing the preston bailey stuff- it was so much nicer than the martha stewart crap. I don't like their sand ceremony vases. I just assumed I could bring my own, are they going to charge me for that too? It's things like this that annoy me. They aren't anywhere in writing. If you didn't ask, you wouldnt' know that it would cost you to do this stuff.

 

And getting stuff in writing is a pain in the butt too- it takes over a week for our WC in Miami to get back to us and she doesn't even answer your questions fully.

 

This is giving me gray hair.

Ha, I hear you Kelly! Monica finally set up a phone call with us but told us we "HAD" to make our decisions & pay for things that day. Well, here is the thing...keep adding costs & ultimately I am not going to add anything. So, since we only have about 12 people, including us, in our group we decided to have our rehersal dinner @ one of the restaurants as well as the wedding dinner. This will also give everyone the opportunity to eat what they want. The only thing, at this point, I am paying extra for is the 1 hour cocktail hour so we can eat our cake & toast but I think that's even a little pricey. I really would have liked the sand ceremony but decided against it, I figured $100 can go torwards something else. My TA has been ok in letting me know it's alright not to do the private dinner, etc which has been really helpful. So, right now I am looking @ about $300 in additional costs which to me is ok, $4,000 was a little much. Has anyone seen the flower options yet?

 

Chrissy

Hey Ladies,

 

I heard back from the WC on the OOT bags. Here is what she said:

 

The cost to deliver these bags to the guests rooms will be approximately $3 per room.

 

This will be determined once the onsite consultant view the actual bags/gifts.

 

Sooo, it sounds like they can and will prob charge more than that

Mama Mia - just reading all of this is making me stressed out. I can completely sympathize with the ladies that every little move is going cost something extra. I guess I should be almost glad that I haven't been dealing with the WC since it sounds like they are pushy. I've recently been told that I need to pre-book things 30 days prior to the wedding, but then I've also read on-line that you can pretty much book most things when you get there. Such as deciding about getting my hair and make up completed....I wonder if they have a book of prior work they have completed to decide if I want to go that route. I also don't think I would want to pre-book my photography since I've also read on line here about how once you pre-pay for it, you can't change it.

 

I've also wondered about how in the free wedding package, you get your free cake but that the cocktail reception is only for you, your spouse and 2 guests. So does this mean that if I have more than 2 guests that I pretty much have to pay $15 per person so that everyone can have cake?

 

Despite this part of the process being stressful since things are not so clearcut, I think the CSRs are right in that, in the end, I think we are all going to be happy with our Sandals weddings since they really are experienced in destination weddings at Sandals. I'm just going to go in with the least amount of expectations as possible so that I won't be disappointed with anything. I wanted a low key wedding (no fuss) anyway hence going for a destination wedding. Just watch - after having said all this, I will have a Bridezilla moment in the near future.

Forgive me, but I am new here. Just booked Sandals Negril for this December. How do I get the Finishing Touches book? So far, all I have is the MS wedding info, but I am only doing the basic free wedding. I would like to upgrade some things, perhaps my flowers, but I didn't receive that book. I have a planning session booked in 2 weeks with my WC, so I would like to go over more info before speaking with her.

 

Also, I agree that maybe I should hold off on booking my photography - I might want to change it when I get there, but could that mean that I wouldn't have a photographer, if I wait until I am there? My main concern is that the packages only give a small amount of digital negatives. I would rather pay for a CD, and develop at home. Any ideas?

So I just had my first contact with my Miami WC and I am doing the Beautiful Beginnings package. I want to add-on cupcakes, and she told me that they are not available as an add-on to that package?!? Anyone else getting cupcakes in this package? I figure in the end if she tells me no I'll just try again once I get there!

 

I've also wondered about how in the free wedding package, you get your free cake but that the cocktail reception is only for you, your spouse and 2 guests. So does this mean that if I have more than 2 guests that I pretty much have to pay $15 per person so that everyone can have cake?

 

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If you do the free wedding package, it is free for you, your husband and 2 guests. If you have more guests, it's $15 extra (adults) and $7.50 (kids) I think. So we're having 17 of us- we'd have to pay for 2 kids ($15 total) and 12 adults ($180). So $195 for the "free" reception.

You could try when you get down there. The WC in Miami seem very by the book and no room for exceptions. I've heard a lot of good stuff about the WC on the resort. They seem very very flexible and want you to be happy.

Example: I was wondering if I could do the first dance and father daughter dance at the 30 minute reception. The WC in Miami said if I wanted to do that, I'd have to go with the 1 hr reception and pay for a DJ. I talked to another bride who got married in January at Beaches Turks and Caicos and she did exactly what I want to do. I want a 30 minute reception and to give them the CD of songs I wanted played for the dances. She didn't hire a DJ and she said she wasn't rushed. They let her stay over 30 mintes.

WC in Miami says one thing but the WC in Turks lets you do another...