wilsonj2

Thanks for the advice! I'm leaning towards not including them, just because I have instructed everyone to book through my TA and she will email me the information. I hope they book through my TA anyway...hadn't really thought about them not doing that. Rpingree, did all of your guests book through your TA?

I'm sure they will let you...you're the bride!!! I just worry that will add to your stress. I've also heard that the Sandals photogs can be kind of pushy/hard to work with when there is another photographer trying to get the same shots. That's why I'm signing the form to opt out of the Sandals photography.

Hi Ladies, I hope you can help me with something...struggling with the decision of whether or not to include RSVP cards and return envelopes. My mom says it is proper etiquette, but I don't think I need them! I just wanted to include another pass (doing boarding pass invites) with my TA's info and "please book by..." Guests don't really need to RSVP to me...I'll know they're coming when they book, right? I really don't feel like I need to know early. Please help me decide! What did you do???

Thanks!

All right, for the ladies interested in the real flower prices, here's what I have. I am referring to the PDF, and these are the prices my TA gave me. Sorry I don't have more, but these were the only ones I asked about: Beautiful Beginnings MS2/white dendrobium orchids (10 stems) $150 MS34/raffia bouquet wrap $10 Chic and Natural MS6/white roses $165 (second fav) MS8/calla lillies...can't remember exact price, but it was close to $500 ( I know, right?) Island Paradise MS42/magenta dendrobium round bouquet $400 MS12/peach roses and calla lillies $395 (leaning towards this if I don't cheap out and go for the roses) Included theme bouquet can be purchased a la carte for $425 Hope that helps! Let me know if anyone finds out if you can do variations from what is in the PDF...I'm thinking callas with the white roses would be pretty. Happy planning!

Tenny, I feel the same way...can't even consider fake flowers. June11Bride, You would probably love the bouquet I'm obsessed with (orange calas and roses) I'll get my price list and share what I have a little later. I'm so glad we're sharing ideas! This can be such a hard part of the planning process.

JB, I love the idea of the roses with the calla lillies added in. My first love was the cally lily bouquet, but it is way too much...just can't justify spending that. Do you have a price for the roses with the callas added? I like your idea of adding in the yellow for your bridesmaids. You just can't go wrong with the natural "earthy" colors combo. I was just wondering about the diameter of the roses...seem a bit small in the picture. I wish I had another option instead of the purple for centerpieces...not my favorite but it is FREE. I know you can replace them with white, but then I just feel like it would be too blah... I think I will go ahead and decide on my bouquet and pay...from what I hear, I can change it when I get to the resort if I like the other options. I would just like to know I have something I love going in.

Anyone out there getting married at any of the Sandals resorts in St. Lucia? I know there is a St. Lucia Brides thread, but I thought I'd start one for the Sandals brides. We will be married at Sandals Grande St. Lucian July 15, 2011. We are doing the BB theme, but I am upgrading my bouquet, and we will be having the three-hour reception with a steel drum band and DJ. The Sandals brides on here are so helpful, but I would love to have a St. Lucia buddy to chat with!

Hi Ladies, Just wondering if any of you are upgrading your bouquet? I am not having bridesmaids, so I am considering stepping up my flowers from the free bouquet included in the BB theme. My two favorites are the white roses for chic and natural and the orange cala lily/roses bouquet for island paradise. The orange one is a bit more pricey but very beautiful, and I think it would look very "island" with the purple flowers in the centerpieces. The roses are not so tropical, I guess, but they would provide a classic look that would match any other colors I choose. I am wondering how these look in pictures, and I'm hoping I can find someone who has chosen these or will choose these before I get married in July. I am having the hardest time deciding on my colors, and choosing the bouquet is the first step I guess. Any ideas out there? What are your colors/flower choices?

Hey JB, I am also bringing my own photographer. She will be staying as a guest at my wedding, and I will decline any photography from Sandals, so my friend can do her thing without anyone in the way. Pictures are SO important to me, and the Sandals ones I've seen are just okay snapshots, definitely not artsy or natural (my style). I am super excited to have someone who I know will have my best interests in mind!

Tennyt1, I know several people have said you can upgrade at the resort, but I think it depends on what type of bouquet you would like. I am going to try and order mine at least 30 days out, on the advice of my TA. She said she has had brides who waited until they arrived, and then the resort was unable to get whatever bouquet was requested. I have the bouquet catalogue, and many of them are so beautiful (but some are quite pricey as well).

I'm just beginning to plan my OOT bags, but I got some great ideas on the thread. I have already brought Havaianas, which are my favorite flip flops, for all of my guests. I am going to do a sort of "my favorite things" collection of stuff they will really want/use. I saw an idea for a "too much fun, too much sun" bag with advil, aloe, etc., that we will definitely include. If you're in Jamaica, some very thoughtful gifts would be the Blue Mountain coffee and Appleton Rum...not sure how to get them where you will be, as we went to the factory and plantation when I was there. I also like the idea of a CD of Bob Marley/caribbean feeling music. I want the bags to be NICE. I feel like my guests are spending a lot of money, and it's the least I can do. I will also include a handwritten note to each guest.

Hi Ladies, I'm also a Sandals bride! Getting married July 15 at Grande St. Lucian. We are going with the BB theme for around 30 people. The only thing I will probably upgrade is my bouquet. We are hiring a steel drum band for the ceremony and using an IPod/DJ (not sure which yet) for a 3 hour reception. I've been planning with my TA, who is wonderful. Can't wait!

Thank you Ladies! I had a planning meeting with my travel agent Wednesday, and I received some more information. I also did not like the music they provide for the walk down the aisle, so I decided to hire the steel drum band. I couldn't get any details like band name, songs they play, etc., but she told me every bride that has used them has been completely happy. She said I could send in song requests for my walk down and back up the aisle. For the reception, I'm still torn. She said if we used an IPod, we would need to rent speakers to make it loud enough. She's checking on the price for me. I'm leaning towards a DJ if we have enough money, but I'm a little hesitant since I know nothing about the one they will choose. She said I am able to send him requests for first dance, songs I really want him to play, etc., but you never know. The DJ is 350 for the first hour and then 150 for each additional hour. JB321, I'm so curious to hear how your's turns out! What kind of band did you choose?

I'm planning to send mine by March 15, 4 months before my wedding on July 15. Seems early to me, but I read somewhere you should send them out at least 4 months before a destination wedding.

LaraJo, When I was initially researching, I fell in love with Moon Dance Villas. However, we wanted to invite more people and details about reserving were just too complicated compared to Sandals. We chose the Sandals resort in St. Lucia instead. I absolutely still love Moon Dance and think you made a perfect choice! It is beautiful! Good luck with your wedding!

I think shooting for the end of this year is a good idea. We are getting married in July 2011, and I sent mine out in September. I figured the more notice I give, the better. I just went with simple cards from weddingpaperdivas.com (seaside elegance...simple starfish), and I figured I would get more creative with the actual invitations. I think that was the way to go, as it got the word out and didn't cause me too much stress. Happy planning!

Hi Ladies, I know, I know....I should be posting in the music section, but my question is specifically for Sandals brides who have chosen the long reception. I am struggling to decide which will be best, because I have heard nothing about the DJs Sandals use. We are getting married in St. Lucia, but I'm interested in any Sandals music experience. How was your experience? If you're still planning, what have you chosen to do? Do the DJs work with you on a song list? Thank you for any help! The music is very important to me

Hi! Congratulations! It was such a relief to finally decide on a location for our wedding. We are July 15, 2011, at Sandals Grande St. Lucian. Jade Mountain is beautiful! You are lucky to be able to get married there!

As far as I know, you have to pick one item from each category on their menu. I am going to ask for two options, because I've heard other brides say they complained and were given the two options. As far as music, I really want the steel drum band too! The prices are pretty outrageous though...going to be like 350 for one hour. Maybe that's good? I don't know...never done this before! haha good luck planning. Let me know if you find out any other details or I can help with anything else!

Hey sthor07, I love Sandals Whitehouse...it was our second choice! We ended up going with Sandals Grande St. Lucian for July 2011. We are planning to have the private 3 hr reception for our guests. We figured that since they are coming so far/spending so much money, it's the least we can do. It's going to be $75 per person, but I think it will be well worth it. We're still trying to decide on whether or not to hire a DJ or just use our Ipod. We are working with a travel agent who has done lots of Sandals weddings. Choosing the resort was the hardest part! Good luck!

Hi Ladies, Â I hope you can help me with something! We are getting married at the Grande St. Lucian July 15, 2011. We are having our ceremony on the beach, and then we are planning to have the full 3 hour reception with dinner. Â My question is, what did you do about music? We thought it would be neat to have the steel drum band for one hour, so they would play for the ceremony walks and for our guests while we are taking pictures. Has anyone purchased the steel drum band? Could you tell them what songs you wanted? Â We are thinking about using a DJ for the rest of the time. Has anyone used a DJ provided by Sandals, and how did that go? Do you get to pick the songs? When would you plan with them? Â Ahhhhh...so many unanswered questions about this! I hope someone can help! I've searched the forums and have not found the exact answers I am looking for. Â Thanks for any info!

We're getting married July 15, 2011, in St. Lucia. I feel like it's so far away, yet so close! So much to do! We have already sent out our save-the-dates...wanted to give everyone as much notice as possible, as St. Lucia is so expensive. We are planning to send out formal invitations in April, as the final date to book/pay is May 25. I guess we don't need RSVP cards, because everyone will need to book through our travel agent. Any advice on that process? Â Yea for 2011 brides! It will be here before we know it!

I have heard so many wonderful things about Whitehouse in Jamaica. We decided on Sandals Grande in St. Lucia, but if we weren't having it there, it would definitely be at Whitehouse. Hope that helps! Â

A college friend of mine is great and affordable. She is in Jacksonville, but she travels to Georgia often, and you might just catch her when she's here. Her website is www.katie-t.com  Hope that helps!