Your thoughts?

HI EVERYONE

 

I'm going thru a bit of information overload with all the reading i've done. I would like a some ideas or recommodations from those that have been to the ROR. Here is what i'm working with.

 

1.Free wedding package April

2. about 30 guest that include three 3yr olds and one 8mth old

3. Beach wedding

4. Mammee bay for dinner(due to amount of guest)

5. Photo-Micheal

6. Video...undecided

7. After dinner--

 

I want to be able to sit back and enjoy my time at the resort with my new wife and not feel like i need a vacation from my vacation when i get back to Toronto. So pls feel free to give advice on how to keep it simple and relaxing.

This site can be overwhelming at first, but it can be very informative too. It sounds like you already have it under control and your decisions are already made! My wedding is on Tuesday and I leave tomorrow, I have 8 guests already at the resort and they had Mammee Bay for dinner last night and thoroughly enjoyed it (AND we are comparing Alberta Beef!!!)

As for the video, are any of those kids in the wedding party? Or are any of them yours? When there is kids involved I would do the video, just of the ceremony though. If there is any specifics you want me to check when I'm there let me know!

Thanks for responding. Two of the kids our mine (3yr & 8mth) so i know i want to do the video for sure so i can show them later when they are grown. One of my biggest concerns is the menu at the mammee bay,its not what i expected. I want jamaican food so i hope they can make some changes. So that would be the one thing i would ask you to check for me please and thank you.

It really seems like you have everything worked out already. What you have is pretty much what I had except for using Michael & Photoshop for our photos, but we did use them for the video.
I was married in April, had about 30 guests, which included a 5 year old & a 1 year old. Our wedding was on the beach, we had our reception at Mammee Bay & we then rented the disco.

We had a welcome dinner on the day that all of our guests arrived and we also offered a group tour on the morning after the wedding.
Other than going on a tour for 1 day, we all spent our time on the beach during the day and then at dinner & being entertained by the staff in the evenings.

You want to keep it simple, then do just that. Go there looking forward to having a great DW and enjoying the time you'll be spending with your guests. There are lots of tour providers there who will be able to suggest tours to you if you want to go offsite so thats what you can offer your guests who may want to venture out.

Everything was wonderful. My DH & I had the best time, and our guests can't wait to go back to ROR.
You will not feel like you need a vacation when you get back, but you will miss Jamaica & ROR.

I have absolutely no complaints! Hope that helps you.

What about after the dinner? Is the disco my best option?

We are doing a poolside reception, thats an idea....or you can also have a beach reception at the Seagrape bar..

 

We dont have a lot of people that are huge dancers...and we have a lot of elder people going and I heard that there really isnt proper seating in the disco, so for us the disco wasnt the best option...

 

Also, remember once 11pm comes along, anyone at the resort is welcome to come on into the disco!

 

When are you getting married in April? So are we! We will be there April 18-25th..

I would suggest Seagrape after dinner. You do have to pay $10USpp for this option but I've heard that it's well worth it. You can either hire a DJ or bring your ipod and some speakers. They will only allow you there until 10:30 so if you have late night partiers you would take it to the disco from there. Otherwise, go to the disco right afterwards and that saves having to move from Mammee Bay to Seagrape and again to Disco.

Our reception is poolside but that's dinner and music/dancing afterwards...we do have late nighters and plan on going to the disco when they shut us down. You do have this option but to have a private dinner is 55US per person - however we are having the Jamaican menu with that option.

Few other costs to consider:

Free wedding package: 350US

Photographer package: ? (we are bringing ours so I haven't researched this)

Videographer: 300US

Cake: We did rum cake, 3 tier and its 510US

Flowers needed (mammee bay doesn't need much for centerpieces which would save you some money) Bouquets run an average of 100 Boutenniers are 15-25

Music for the ceremony? We are doing the steel band - 1hr 350US

Tips - We are tipping Chandlyn, steel band, minister and bartenders 150US

Are you tipping them all $150 each or total of $150 split between then all?

You might want to do a welcome dinner the night before the wedding. I have about 30 people booked as well and Chandlyn reserved a dinner at St. Ann's for my entire group the night before at 6:30. I believe this is another buffet restaurant, but at least we would all be together. There was no additional cost to do this. I also agree that I don't want things to be too crazy and having this welcome dinner would be a nice way to make sure you talk to everyone at least another time besides the wedding.

 

I booked Michael for photos and DVD. Although I posted a question about having an outside company from Ocho Rios take pictures to see if we could have them longer and for less money possibly. He is charging me $870 for pics (2 hours 45 min) and $435 for the DVD (2 hours).

 

I did book Mammee for dinner at 6:30. Heard it was great and more private with a larger group. Also booked Seagrape on the beach for 8:00 p.m. It is $10 per person to have a private open bar and $150 per hour for a DJ. I also booked a bonfire for an additional $150. I heard this was nice touch.

 

It sounds like you have a good plan so far!

Heck NO!! I'm not rich!
I got Chandlyn a bottle of perfume and 75US
Minister 20US
Steel Band 20US
Bartender 20US
Service people 5US each

Plus I have 150 in $1 bills to tip for the 2 weeks we are there.