MaureenM618

I plan on using Almarie from Tropical weddings Jamaica!! She's been awesome so far. I can't officially book with her until December because my wedding is not until 2009. We are thinking of staying at the Riu Ocho Rios and having our ceremony and wedding dinner at The Ruins at the Falls Ruins Jamaica . I'm so excited!! I can't wait. I keep trying to convince my fiance to runaway with me and elope, lol.

Congrats SpringBride! Keep us updated on your wedding and I would love to hear how Almarie works out for you. Thanks!!!

Hi Amy84Lynn. I did consider the resort for our wedding but decided against it. I wanted a more exotic location. FH and I didn't want to get married on the beach. Also we wanted something a bit more private. I don't want resort guests gathering to watch and getting in our pictures. Also I didn't want to be rushed or known as the 2pm bride... I guess I just want a more personal experience. Also Almarie of Tropical Weddings helped win me over to have my wedding offsite. She is awesome. She answers all her emails quickly and with tons of information. I would feel so much more comfortable with her planning my wedding. The package that I am booking with Tropical weddings will include transportation roundtrip for my guests, FH and I to the ceremony location. I don't think it's too far from the resort. I'm not sure as to the exact distance from the resort. I also chose to go off the resort because I feel like I'm getting more for my money with Tropical Weddings. The package we are choosing will include more than what the Riu offers us for about the same price. I also think it will be nice to get our guests off the resort for a little while. Although if plans happen to change for some reason I wouldn't mind getting married at the resort. I've spoken to several people who have had their wedding there and were very pleased.

Thanks!! Well I still have plenty of time Akh. I'm not getting married until May 2nd 2009...I know it's early to plan everything but I like to have things planned in advance. I think I still have about a year until I can officially book the locations :0(

Thanks girls! I feel so much better now that we have picked a date and location. Now I just have to sit back and save up the money and wait. The hardest prt of the planning is over!

We have decided on our hotel and ceremony location!! We will be staying at the Riu Ocho Rios and having our ceremony and reception at The Ruins at the Falls Restaurant (www.ruinsjamaica.com)! What a relief to have finally picked a place! I think we'll be using Tropical Weddings Jamaica -Ocho Rios ~Montego Bay~ Private Villa & Cruiseship Weddings for our wedding planning services. We will probably do the Rendevous Deluxe Package for $2,750US which includes; Marriage Officiate to perform ceremony All Marriage License Fees All Legal Processing of Documents Prior to Wedding Two Certified Marriage Certificate Bridal Bouquet (Fresh Tropical Arrangement) Bouquet for Maid of Honor Boutonniere for Groom Boutonnière for Bestman Two Tier Wedding Cake Two Bottles Champagne for Ceremony Toast Mini Reception after ceremony (cake & champagne) Elaborate Hot & Cold Cocktail Horsd’ouvres for Mini Reception (10ppl) Tropical Decorated Area for Ceremony Tropical Wedding Location of your choice Location Set-up for up to 10 Wedding Guest Decorated Table for Signing of Wedding Documents Roundtrip Transportation from Resort/Cruise Port to Wedding Site for Couple & Bridal Pty 48 Professional Developed Photographs incl negatives 1 8X10 Wedding Portrait Photograph Wedding Album Videotape DVD of wedding Tropical Weddings Souvenir Memento Massage for Bride & Groom Sunset Dinner Cruise for Bride & Groom Complimentary Music Accompaniment Personalized On Site Wedding Coordinator All Taxes and service charges

Thanks! I have no idea what the table arrangement will be....I'm not even sure on my resort yet.... I just loved them and didn't want to risk not being able to find them at a later date, so I just guessed that 4 would work. I hope I'm right...

Can you buy a glass hurricane lamp that's open on the bottom and slip it over the centerpiece?

Thanks girls!! I'm not sure about how I'm going to pack them yet. I hope they come in individual boxes with padding that I can use for transporting them. The price was definately right! Yeah, whoever wants them can take them home. I love the color too. I was going for an aqua blue theme. So you really think 4 sets is enough?? That's what I'm worried about.

I'm so excited!! I just made my first wedding related purchase!! I bought these centerpieces for my Jamaica wedding. Please check them out and tell me what you think. I bought 4 sets. I plan to have about 20 people. Do you think that will be enough? 6-Pc. Mosaic Seashell Vase & Votive Set - LTD Commodities LLC

What do you guys think about this I plan to have about 20 guests. We are thinking of staying at Riu Ocho Rios so far. I was thinking about having my ceremony and reception offsite at this beautiful place called The Ruins at the Falls. Ruins Jamaica. We could have our ceremony on a deck right in front of the falls and then have a small reception there on one of the decks. Then back to the resort for a quick change and partying in the nightclub. What do you girls think

Thanks for your opinions. My guests have decided they want to do an AI resort in Jamaica or Mexico for 4 nights. They're looking to spend ~$1,500 with airfare per couple from JFK. I think I'm leaning more towards Jamaica because off the legal requirements.

Riu, Iberostar and Gran Bahia also have AI resorts in Jamaica.

I will probably have about 20 guests. You're right laying out on the rocks is not as much fun, but I loove how you can jump off the cliffs into the water. It would be a great honeymoon spot. If we decide not to have our wedding there maybe we'll keep it in mind for our honeymoon. How far is it to the airport?

We most likely will not be having any children, just my fiance's brother and sister who will be 18 & 17 years old. I won't be having any older adults either. Our oldest guest will be about 40 years old. I'm not sure about all inclusive. I want my wedding to be a little more personal and I feel that some of the AI's have too many weddings a day. Also there seems to be a greater cost for an AI. I figured out that an AI will cost ~$2,000 per couple where Rockhouse would cost ~$1,200. I don't think my guests will spend $800 in food and drinks in 4 days. Correct me if I'm wrong. I'm trying to learn too. I also don't want my guests to have sticker shock when they first see the price of an all inclusive. Thanks! I seen those profiles OneLove. Those profiles on The Knot helped me find The Rockhouse. Thanks!

Hey girls! I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile. I've been so busy with school and work. We're still trying to find our dream destination. We were thinking of an AI resort in Mexico but I found the Rockhouse in Jamaica and I really like it. What do you girls think?? The website is The Rockhouse Hotel - a small, secluded hotel in Negril, Jamaica. Give me your opinions. Thanks!!

I've decided that the Adventura Spa Palace is my #1 choice for my DW. I really like the wedding package and the resort seems really nice. They even offer free tours. What do you girls think?? Will it be too expensive for my guests? I'm pretty sure I won't be having any children coming but if I do I can switch it to the Moon Palace. I get a 30% discount for being an airline employee which is an added bonus. Has anyone had their wedding there? Is anyone planning one there? Any feedback greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I just wanted to share this wedding invitation website. I saved it to my favorites so I can order from them when I'm ready. They have a great selection of colors and designs for beach themed weddings. They also do message in a bottle STD's or invitations. Beach

Can anyone give me a breakdown or budget checklist for the expenses of a DW? All of the budget checklists I've found are for traditional weddings. I want to be able to do a estimate of my budget and I want to make sure I don't forget anything. Thanks!

Thanks. So 4-5 nights can be done. Good because I really want to spend a few nights in costa rica!

How long would we need to stay in Mexico for our wedding? I'd like to spend about 4-5 nights and then go to Costa Rica on my honeymoon. Is that possible or do you have to stay for 7 nights?

Thanks RyJax! So far I really like Dreams Cancun, Adventura Spa Palace or Riu Palace Las Americanas or Riviera Maya. I'm happy I have plenty of time to research things! It's so hard to compare them all. Are some type of wedding dinner included in most wedding packages? or only if it specifically says wedding dinner? What does it mean when it says reservations at one of our a la carte restaurants, is it just a regular dinner or do they do anything special? Thanks a lot KayKay!! That was really helpful! I was trying to find wedding info on them for a while. Are all weddings in Mexico done in Spanish and translated to English? Can you have it in English only? cI really don't want my ceremony to be translated. Also do they normally rush you through the ceremony or can you do a sand ceremony, hand ceremony or your own vows? I don't want a five minute ceremony.

Thanks again! I have so many questions that I have no clue where to even begin.

Thanks for the warm welcome girls! I'm glad I found this site!

Thanks girls! Sorry I didn't get back to you right away, I'm a flight attendant and I had to work. Uggghhh, so I guess destinationweddings.com might not have been my best choice. I don't think they are what I'm looking for either. They never asked me any questions about what I wanted for my wedding or anything. I'll give them a chance though. My agent is Joanie, she said she'd going to send me some brochures to look at. Someone recommended weddingsonthego.com to me. I think the company is called Trips down the aisle. Has anyone ever heard of them? Thanks Akh for your quick reply! Glad to hear you found someone who worked out better for you. I wish I would have found this site sooner. KayKay - I've seen a lot of brides that are getting married at the Palladium resorts on The Knot. I checked their website and it doesn't have much info on wedding and packages. Would you mind passing along any info you have? Thanks! Glenda - We're considering cancun or Riviera Maya for our wedding in Mexico. Thanks for the info reguarding DJ's and stereo systems.