~*petals*~

If they book right now, it'll be $1,180 per person for 8 days/7 nights including roundtrip airfare (from Chicago) and all-inclusive hotel, as well as roundtrip airport transfers. Most people aren't staying a week, though. Our wedding is over a holiday weekend so a lot of people are just doing a long weekend for about $800/person (including roundtrip airfare & all-inclusive hotel). It's a new resort so I think prices will start to rise soon. (I've been bugging everybody to at least pay their deposit to lock it in.)

That's awesome-- nice study! You should put this into the first post of the thread so everybody can see it. Quote: Originally Posted by Amarillis So I noticed someone looking to see what the ratio's were for guests attending a DW and the number of invites sent, when I realized that Results of my poll hadn't been posted... Without further ado... this is pretty neat!!! The average cost to guests attending a DW is The median cost is very close as well The average number of invites sent to invite guests to a DW is The average DW has The median for attendance is slightly lower I think think this is really cool - regarding the number of guests attending versus the number of invites sent.... WOWZERS! Thanks for participating!

That wedding gown is gorgeous! Loving the lace & keyhole back.

Congratulations! Kristie takes some beautiful pics.

So it's been a whirlwind few weeks... My mom & I were in Jamaica for a site visit to the resort I thought where I thought I was going to get married... ended up changing resorts to Grand Palladium Jamaica... booked the wedding there, booked our travel, updated all the guests and finally *sigh* booked our honeymoon! http://www.idleawhile.com/vt/06-1roomcommons.jpg We'll be spending a few days at Idle Awhile, one of the resorts we visited in Negril. It is tiny (15 rooms) but steps away from the 7 Mile Beach and just so cute! It looked just like the pictures online.... http://www.idleawhile.com/vt/07-1roombed.jpg http://www.idleawhile.com/vt/08-1roomsun.jpg http://www.idleawhile.com/vt/09-delu...r-verandah.jpg Isn't it adorable? Now if only May would hurry up and get here.....

Try this website: VerseIt.com They've got lots of phrases and wording for invitations.

Prayers for you and your family. It's nice that you're having a mini-ceremony in TX ahead of time.

Thanks!!! I originally didn't think I'd like lace dresses but I love them now! Still debating the sash.... The bridesmaids are wearing blue, and FI is wearing chocolate brown.... since the actual dress will be ivory instead of white (as pictured), either color might be nice... The actual gown will be here in a few weeks, so I'll post some update pics when it's finally here. :-)

I agree with the other girls-- you'll have those pics of your wedding day to cherish forever. If you can cut back a little bit in other areas (decorations, invitations, etc.), I think it'll be worth it.

Thanks! I'm so looking forward to it.

I'm sorry. It is frustrating. When we first started planning, we were really worried about who would/wouldn't be able to make it but the further we got in the planning, the more we got to the point where as long as our very closest family members (mom, dad, sister, brother) could make it, we'd be happy with it. And I know you've done your research but here are a few threads where people posted the costs their guests incurred and some are pretty reasonable. Maybe you might be able to find something new- http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t26340 http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t26706 I've also found some really good package deals on cheapcaribbean.com-- and they offer a deposit plan. If you're booking air & hotel, your deposit has to cover the air, but if you're booking hotel-only, they let you put down a 30% deposit and pay the rest 21 days before your trip. That might help some of the guests who may not have the money to pay for their trips in full up-front. Good luck!

Awww, so beautiful! Congratulations on a lovely day.

Quote: Originally Posted by beyondsmitten I too considered Negril Escape before sticking with my original choice, Tensing Pen. I called and left a message and it took about a week for a response. By then I was firmly moving ahead with Tensing Pen. I liked that it could accomodate a large group, they have a large outdoor area for receptions and ceremony, and a beautiful castle or lighthouse or something. All of this can be seen on their website or try visiting :Negril Jamaica - Negril Onestop Jamaica Resorts and choose cliff resorts to see more. This site also list the wedding package options and prices, very helpful if comparing. I stuck with Tensing because I thought the rooms looked a little 2 starish. I didn't want my guests to travel so far to stay in a two star resort. I liked that it was artistic and different, but still did not feel that it was nice enough to hold the wedding. You may, of course, feel differently. I finally got to see it & definitely see what you're saying.

Great pics!

I'm excited!! We're going to spend our honeymoon at Idle Awhile in Negril! I visited the property on my most recent trip and it was super-cute! Nice vibes and it looked just like the pictures. It's only a 30 minute drive away from Grand Palladium, but it'll be a total change of scenery & change of pace.

Those are so nice! You designed them yourself?

aww... congrats! Pretty dress!

Welcome Heather!

When I first started my search after I got engaged in January, FI & I decided to get married at sunset on the cliffs of Negril. We went to Negril on our first vacation together in 2005 and thought it would be nice. Figuring we'd invite about 160 people, we were looking for a place large enough to hold everybody and also a place that allowed children, to accommodate our niece and nephews. The contact told me they allowed kids and it was large enough for our group, and didn't require anybody to stay on-property so we were set. We put down a 25% deposit to hold the place sight unseen. I still had some anxiety about it, not being able to find much about it online (besides its own site), my mom suggested a site visit. The two of us booked a grand opening special to Grand Palladium Jamaica and planned to drive over to Negril to check things out... and boy was I happy we did!! The place we previously booked was not as nice as it seemed in pictures, and the stone border surrounding the terrace that was supposedly safe for children was barely ankle-high, a misstep away from the rocky cliffs and crashing waves. Scary for those family members with little kids, and pretty disappointing to me... But thankfully, a backup plan became clear since we were staying at Grand Palladium. http://x9d.xanga.com/2a5f1a756203520...m163486212.jpg I checked out their wedding packages, and surprisingly, for the same amount of people, it's LESS EXPENSIVE than the original place! I called FI from Jamaica and he was down with the new plan. http://x29.xanga.com/dbbc90421553020...m163486153.jpg While there, I met with the wedding coordinator, saw all the ceremony locations, and put down a deposit there before I left! http://x33.xanga.com/fb9c64741653020...m163486241.jpg The resort just opened this summer so good rates are still available. As soon as I got back home, I started e-mailing and calling everybody to get them to put down deposits asap before the prices go up! http://x22.xanga.com/3e7c95401133320...m163486071.jpg But I love the new resort and I'm soo happy we went!

You might have some luck with one of the salons listed in this thread: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t22077

Welcome, Geralyn! Here's a thread about Riu Montego Bay: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t28217

Quote: Originally Posted by jax1182 Petals, Can I ask one more question? Do you think the Blue Lagoon is big enough for 60 people with room for a dance floor? I can't exactly tell from the picture how big it is? Thanks for all the info... I would say yes, especially depending on how you have it set up. It's one of the main buffet restaurants for breakfast and lunch only so it's pretty big. In this pic the section off to the left is the Indian restaurant, and the two sections to the right are both in Blue Lagoon. To the very far right and out of frame is the Italian restaurant. Below is the view from the other side. In this pic, you see the Italian restaurant and the Blue Lagoon is the part sticking furthest out into the pool. (Can you tell I took a LOT of pics while I was there??)

Welcome Amber!

I haven't stayed there before but when I was in Jamaica last week for my site visit (before I switched to Grand Palladium), I got a property tour of Grand Pineapple and a couple other beach hotels. Grand Pineapple is a small, standard property (I just saw the beach side) but was cute & really colorful. The management was nice & very helpful. They gave me some information packets and all of their contact information. PM me if you need any of it. The packet they gave me says this about weddings- Weddings attract an additional cost for the basic package. The basic wedding package includes: services of a minister or marriage officer, services of a wedding coordinator, marriage certificate, bridal bouquet, groom's boutonniere, bottle of sparkling wine, wedding cake and a choice of on-resort wedding locale. For further information, please contact the wedding department or the wedding coordinator at Grand Pineapple Beach Negril. (No prices were included) Sorry, I only took a couple pictures while I was there: Steps to the beach:

In case any of the girls in this thread haven't already seen the pics from Grand Palladium: http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t28568