allaboutodd

Thanks for the review.. Your pictures are gorgeous despite the fact that you didn't enjoy the resort. I'm going to check into Riu now to see if we can have our wedding there. Btw, love the dress.. I work at Davids part-time!

This is our second choice. Do you have pictures?? How much did you pay for the resort and everything else? I think we may end up having our wedding here rather then Riu. How was it?

I will definitely email your Mom and friend. I'm trying to keep it low cause I'm not trying to ask the family for money, complicated situation as far as my parents go. So... thank you again!

Thanks for the responses guys.. JamaicaBride08 - you have the same type of flowers I would like at my wedding. How beautiful!! Do you have pictures of your bouquets??

twelve piece - What kind of music did they play? And YES, please send me their contact information for the flowers PLEASE?? Your bouquet was gorgeous and I really am leaning towards silk flowers especially for my hair. im glad i started this thread too because you guys have already been so helpful as far as providing me with quotes. twelve piece, although you're now married PLEASE don't leave the forum. i feel like you may be able to help me a lot as far as getting this thing under a wrapped budget. im excited but worried as far as this whole budget crisis and money spending thing goes.

Quote: Originally Posted by twelve_piece I just got back this weekend from my wedding, here is what i spent: $250 for ceremony/minister $350 steel drum band 1hour $250 rent the disco for 2 hours- this included open bar and dj $120ish for hair (trial and day-of) I brought my own bouquet and ceremony decorations, there was no charge for these to be hung and I brought my own photog. The florist emailed me this weekend (a week after my wedding) with price qoutes for the bouquets that I liked and they were all $180-$250, matching bout $40 each, and hair orchids $15 each. The bouquets are the ones in my siggy below. I will be posting my review with details either tonight or tomorrow, but feel free to PM me if you have specific questions. We are definitely trying to do something on the same budget as you. Some of the brides have easily spent 20k on a destination wedding and my whole plan was to do destination to save money and allow everyone to travel elsewhere. Where did you get your bouquets from? What kind of reception did you have? And how many people came to your wedding? Thanks so much, I don't know why I didn't utilize this forum earlier.

I'm new to this whole thing and was hoping for some help as far as estimates and budget planning. If any of those who have already gotten married at ROR or already have planned for their upcoming wedding can provide me quotes on how much they have spent - it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Thanks guys.. I was wondering about that. We're tryin to make this as cost efficient as possible but considering how much you pay for a typical wedding. I would say $10 a person is not so bad.

I have seen a lot of people discussing the amount they paid for an open bar? For Riu resorts, do you still have to pay an open bar fee if all of the guests are staying at the resort? That seems silly to me seeing that the resort is all-inclusive as is.. Anyone help please?

Quote: Originally Posted by KtownBride Hi ladies! I'm back! And thought I would fill you all in quickly about our trip. The RUI was amazing. The service was great, and the Jamaican people are wonderful. We were upgrated from our junior suite to a deluxe ( and I mean DELUXE) suite with a jacuzzi on balcony - which was the size on our 20x20 deck at home! Absolutely beautiful room. We were able to keep it for the whole two weeks, but weren't upgraded until tuesday (arrived sunday). We went with the free package. Ended up paying a total of $4000. $250 - basic price $350 - steel band at ceremony - a wonderful choice $350 - dj - reception at seagrape - he was awesome, i did bring 3 cds of our own music - and he did a great job! $450 - open bar at reception. Ladies - the Seagrape is the way to go!!! Your in Jamaica - why wouldn't you want your reception on the beach? There was a bonfire down by the water which we had our first dance song to, and it reminded us of home. SO NICE! $450 - appitizers ater ceremony $1000 - photos - this was for a total of 3 hours and 156 pictures on cd. Michael was excellent! I love my photo's! $532 for flowers - bouquets etc. $800 - upgraded decoration at beach gazebo. They transfered the flowers to our dinner tables and then to tables at reception, then to our room afterwards. perfect! $50 - upgraded cake - i believe this charge was for the flowers on it. My opinion on the DISCO - a great place to dance and drink with you friends. Maybe not so much on your wedding day reception(this is just my opinion, and don't want to hurt anyones feelings). It has no windows. It is a square, with speckelld carpet on the walls and lots of mirrors. There isn't much room for chairs or tables at all. There are bar stools around the bar, but that is it. If you are not getting a drink or dancing, there isn't much room to do anything else. Beach party Reception - I wouldn't. I never did stay at the beach to watch the whole entertainment, on the beach party night, but it was very crowed, and not personal if you wanted something special. Maybe if your group was small.....again, just my personal opinion, and trying to help future brides. If anyone has any questions - bring m' on! or wants to see pictures of something specific let me know, and i can email you pictures. Now can someone help me get a TTC ticker going? lol. Tara Out of curiosity.. And I have been wondering this about many of the different receptions. Do you have to pay for an open bar if all the guests are staying at the resort? That doesn't make much sense to me if it is already all-inclusive??

I agree with everyone that the best thing to do is just have an open reception in one of the restaurants if all of your attendants will be staying at the same resort. I had the same idea in mind because it seems that all of our guests will be staying at SJG with us. Does anyone have any pictures to share?? Jnowlan - I see that your wedding is soon approaching.. I'm so excited for you. We are booking in the next week and I am very anxious. 2008 seems to be a big year for all of us. I would like to see pictures of the flower arrangements and options as well.. Have you heard anything from Esther as far as pictures of bouquet arrangements?

I have been working with Liberty Travel and I am beginning to get everything together and prepared for booking. The date will be August 8, 2008. Yayyyy because August is a big month for me as it is. I am just weary about booking without having a list of the prices for the extras such as: photography, DVD, flower arrangements, reception arrangements.. I just want to know about that before booking. Can anyone help or do I really have to wait to talk to Esther about that? Also, do you pay for the wedding amenities upon arrival or beforehand?

Awesome!! Thanks... I'm really excited too and I think we're going to finalize our booking in January. We decided to go with Sunset because Riu is already booked up for the month of August. We want to be really simple as well but photography is important for me since not as many people are able to come. Plus, we plan on having a casual reception when we get back so we're definitely getting the video. Do you know if they are blocking off tables for you for the reception? All of our guests are staying at SGJ as well so a reception at one of their restaurant will suffice. I will look for that review... I was also very skeptical due to reviews that I saw on there.

Hi Pook2b!! Thanks for getting back to me.. I haven't booked yet because I'm waiting for my travel agent to give me quotes on everything. I think I'm going to offer to pay for my friends stay there in order for her to take the pictures. I'm worried because I have seen some of the photos of the photographer at Riu and wasn't so pleased but like you I am looking for something simple. I think there is only going to be about 10 of us total going. Are you doing a private reception or just having all of your guests book a reservation at one of their restaurants in a blocked off space?

No you're not being too laidback. Wedding planning should not be stressful, it should be a momentous time in our lives. Since you have already booked your wedding with Sunset Jamaica Grande, do you think you can help me out since I am in the process of possibly booking with them? Do you have price quotes? How are you decorating the wedding location? Have you asked about photography prices there? How much were the extras..?? I really want to know a base price of what I should expect to pay if I go with them.

I just wanted you to know that I met with my travel agent and she said that she just did a wedding at Sunset Jamaica Grande and they loved it. Apparently the couple has been going there for the past couple of years and likes it. Tell me how it progresses and if you hear anything from the wedding coordinator there.

We haven't booked an exact location yet but Sunset Grande is one of our options. We can't seem to get a date in place for when we want to get married due to family and personal conflicts. I have looked into both resorts and am skeptical about the reviews for Sunset Grande but know that Riu books up quite quickly. Have you heard anything about Sunset Grande and how quickly they book up?

Hi everyone! I just got engaged on September 14, 2007 and we just decided we would like to have a destination wedding in Jamaica. I think the main resort we are looking at is Riu Resorts in Ocho Rios. I'm excited to hear what everyone has to say!!