One Love Brownie

Thanks for sharing the info & details of your experience which is really helpful with my planning.

Congratulations! Welcome & good luck.

Hi, thanks for sharing. Im sure it will be useful to many brides to be

Oh I love the idea of the Chinese flying lanterns Catalyst I saw these lanterns last week in the 99p store! They looked like the proper thing. They only had white available which would be great for a wedding. Im sure they'd have a 99p store near you so check it out asap!!

Oh yea nearly forgot Chaklit the contact info is: Natalie Chen Email:[email protected]

Hiya, Thanks ladies. I've also in my search come across the one in Kingston & saw the review of them at Coyaba gardens which looked spectacular. I have recently been in touch with Caribbean Pantry Catering Runaway Bay who were quite prompt in sending a quotation detailing all costs down to the last spoon! However Im not totally convinced & feel their pricing is too high for the type of meal Im requesting (mostly regular west indian food) even if it is a wedding. Almost makes me feel like Id be just paying them to cook the food as anything else beyond that seems to rack up another charge. Just wondered if anyone else finds it unusal for a catering company to include hire fees for necessary equipment to provide a service, serving spoons/tongs, trestle tables etc, transport for their staff & food. The company is based in Runaway bay just up the road from Discovery Bay where Im planning to host my reception. Im having trouble uploading the quotation but here's some info on what was quoted: Option 4 Hors D’Ouerves Honey Jerk Chicken Wings Shrimp Cocktail Ackee Puffs Hot Food Station (1) Jamaica Rum Glazed Spareribs Garlic Butter Snapper Fillet Curried Goat Pumpkin Rice Pilaf (made with coconut milk) Roti Festival Salad Station Tossed Garden Salad Sweet n Sour Caribbean Slaw Dessert Station (1) Tropical Fruit Platter Assorted Jamaican Pastries Citrus Cheesecake[/size] TOTAL FOOD COST: $45.00 US/PERSON Total Food Cost *$2250.00 ($45.00 US/PERSON) Total Cost for Equipment Required by Catering Company$138.39 Rental Equipment$646.58 Wait Staff$466.67 TOTAL COST$3,501.64

As NegrilLB has suggested a good option is to go with a villa location. I've searched many villa rental companies and have found it does pay off to shop around. A word of advice. A villa can be featured on many different sites. Some even have their own company site where you can contact them directly. Depending on which rental company you enquire with the price & what can/cannot be accomodated varies so shop around. (Im having approx 50 guests & have negotiated a 3 night stay for a pro rata rental fee directly with a villa in Discovery Bay). For example some rental companies say the minimum rental term is a week while others have 4 night minimums for the same villa with a 10% surcharge on nightly rates less than a week. Also many villas will charge a $15 fee per guest not staying at the villa which I suppose is like a day pass. The Jamaican Treasures site has an extensive selection of villas & include event planning, specific wedding villas etc. Also good to research locations out there. If you know there is something specific you want it's likely it can be negotiated fairly close to your request. I sent out the same email to some companies of what my specifications are & requesting a quotation for services. Their responses were varied some more dramatically than others especially as each rental company are familiar with their own vendors/planners etc. Best of Luck

Wow, Im having similar issues except that Im planning my wedding in Jamaica. I have avoided a wedding planner & so have been trying to source a reception location caterers etc myself. To my annoyance I get the impression that because Im having a destination wedding Im made of money. For example the caterers I've had a quote from has included 'transportation costs of $30 for catering staff, and Im having the reception in an accesible place a stonesthrow away from where they are located. Also they have quoted for trestle tables & serving utensils which they should already have to provide the service or be classed as caterers. The cheek of it! Luckily I have a plan B in the pipeline!

That's great. Thanks for sharing. Im hoping this also reflects in the UK travel agents prices.

Hi, Quite funny you should start this post.. I was beginning to think Im the only one in this boat! Lovely reading all the US posts but its nice to know that now I will be a little more familiar with others in their search & plans around their day from a shopping/ resources point of view. Planning my wedding for May 2011. Church ceremony & private villa reception in Ocho Rios with approx 50 in wedding party. Doing so without a planner so far and have sourced much of what Im after...am I crazy! Lol Will share anything I come across which may be useful

Wow! These are way too cute! So much attention to detail. I've already sorted my bridesmaids out & after seeing these am now rethinking my invitations! Not sure if Id have the patience or budget to get these in though. Well done U

You were right. I've had a response & the question was relevant due to 'transportation'. I still find it strange though only because I asked her about a specific menu I sent her, not about how we'll get there, table settings or anything, just black n white 'food'. If she had asked 'do you require transportation' it'd be different. Probably me just being strange..maybe this Bridezilla things getting the best of me Im aware of the packages they can do etc but I clearly told her the villa is private, not part of a group or resort advertised. For all she knows it could be owned by my aunt owns is what Im getting at...anyway..rant over ..lol

Just feeling a little irritated with this wedding planning company in Jamaica! I've heard good reviews about them & even though others have said they are quite pricey thought Id enquire anyway. I have been looking forward to seeing what they're quote for catering would be..(Im having a non resort reception in a lovely unknown villa). I sent an email with the area my wedding will be and the menu I want for the day making clear this is the only service I want a quote for on a per head price. Why then am I being asked 'where am I staying. I responded in a private villa not a resort of any kind. They insist on asking the name of the villa in another email. Just that one question & no other information of any kind. What has that got to do with anything. Its like the third day & email. With this time difference its three days wasted & still no price. I get the feeling their price will go according to how big my pocket looks depending on where Im staying!!

Oh I love it! These are adorable & very functional..the detail on the back & handy magnetic detail! Well done!

On our stay in ROR last June we too found the taxis at the desk over priced which is fine if your not on a budget (if your daring enough the local bus to Ochi centre was a $2 return!). We used Marshall who was recommended through staff for the duration of our trip. He was very reasonably priced & in no rush on our excursions (he even gave my partner water shoes at Dunns River to save him buying a pair). Marshall cell 460 5870.