pintsize1

i totally agree. it was a tough decision. the bulk of our budget went to photography. but i figured we'll be looking at those pictures for a long time. plus a lot of my friends who got married in the new york area paid twice as much. that's my reasoning. =) i didn't negotiate either.

Bride0807, Thanks for sharing your experience with Misha!!! I will be using her in Aug. That is great to hear that she came well prepared!!! I'm so excited!!!!!

RyGuysBride, I went with the Gold Package which is $3,500. It includes up to 10 hrs which will be split into two days. I will be using her services on the day of the ceremony at an offsite venue and than reception at the Iberostar Suites and the second day will be during our honeymoon for casual pictures in Negril (Misha is from there).

Hi! I went with the Gold Package which is $3,500. It includes up to 10 hrs which will be split into two days. I will be using her services on the day of the ceremony at an offsite venue and than reception at the Iberostar Suites and the second day will be during our honeymoon for casual pictures in Negril (Misha is from there).

Seems like you can't go onto the Suites if you stay at the Beach from what everyone says. Unless you pay for a day pass. Not sure how strict they are with guests just walking through or hanging in the rooms or using the pool area. Do they really look at your wristbands that closely? CAN any past brides CHIME in on this? Just in case you were wondering to get an idea...my travel agent was able to get room rates for about $155/person/night for Aug 2011. Getting 2 or 3 or 4 people in one room doesn't make a difference in pricing.

Thank you for posting

thank you for posting.

Thought I share.... Since I read from some reviews that the Suites Spa didn't do such a fabulous job with their mani/pedi (plus it was kinda pricey) I thought I would just do it at home since they have this new gel coating to make nails last at least two weeks. Never tried it but thought I would give it a try since all these sites like Lifebooker and Dealist are offering deals. http://www.minxnails.com/ Has anyone tried it???

Thank you! I will be using Tropical Weddings Jamaica for an offsite ceremony. Just wondering the packaging costs.

I reserved with the Suites and I did NOT receive a formal contract like the Beach. Hmmm....good ques.? Should I be concerned? If you sign that Starry are you really locked into Tai?

Congrats Jules!!!!! Love, love your pictures!!!! Love that your groom and all the men were wearing barongs!!!! So cute!!!! Silly ques. but was wondering how you got the fire going on the beach. I would love to have a bonfire one night. I read somewhere that it costs $$$$. Thank you for sharing your pictures.

i'm going with Misha Earle for my August wedding. Communication thus far has been wonderful. I am attaching the prices for the packages. If it doesn't show up please message me directly. =)

Can someone confirm that if we use an outside florist (e.g. Jan's Flowers) we have to pay $100 for the vendor fee. Nicole replied to my email saying it's a $100 but I'm not sure if that's for people dropping stuff off too. I believe I read somewhere that as long as it's a drop off they don't have to pay but for those staying like DJ's or make-up artists they do. Is that the vendor fee and the day pass dispute? That sucks if that's the case. Thank you!!!!!

http://www.shorechic.com/starfish.html I haven't purchased anything from here yet but I think I will.

This is a great idea. Thanks for taking the initiative Shana!!! I don't know if you guys have done this already but I've gotten a pretty good idea of the layout of the Iberostar from local photographer's sites like Sungold...Misha Earle.. Saab....the only thing is you need to search through each couples slideshow but well worth it!!!! Here's some beautiful weddings I found on the web: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv3Xd87htDk http://www.mishaearlephotography.com/blog2/ http://www.saabweddingphotographers.com/index2.php Additional Stuff:

2nd attempt to paste picture. it worked! badgley mischka forrester white from www.6pm.com for $99.00

Hi Tropical Love! Are you referring to the travel accommodations? If so, I can have you talk to the person I am using and maybe she can get you something better. No harm in comparing. A lot of my guests will be flying out of NY/NJ this Aug. for 3-4 nights and paying around $1050.

Room Rates dropped from $200 to $150/person/night at the Iberostar Suites this summer from my travel agent. Message me if you want her contact info. She has been fabulous with getting us the best rates.

Prettysparklie, I got clarification from Jonesr1979 who recently her private reception at the Calabash gourmet restaurant that there is NO additional fee for the dancefloor. Thank goodness. I was confused too after Nicole's response. Hope this helps.

Here are responses from Nicole to questions I had emailed her. 1. We would like a Welcome dinner on Sat. Aug. 20th. Can this be at any a la carte restaurant? From my understanding we can book this upon my arrival Wed., Aug. 17th. Is that right? Will this be free of cost? We can reserved the restaurant for groups of 25 or more we offer 6:30 or 8:30pm seating the only way we will charge is unless you want the restaurant in private. 2 . For other nights for dinner, how do we book a la carte restaurants as a large group? Does each guest have to do it or can bride do it? Please send the request and we will see how best we can accommodate them at the restaurants 3. We are interested in a cocktail party after the wedding ceremony on Sun., Aug. 21st with only food. If we went with Menu A is it $8.00/person/hr What are the locations? Will all locations be near an open bar? Please view the wedding details with the cocktails locations. 4. What are the shape of the tables at the Gourmet Restaurant and Mediterranean Restaurant? How many does each fit? They are square tables we can joined them together and it can seat up 10 people, if its private we can use round tables that seats up to 10 people. 5. We would like a DJ and dance floor in The Gourmet or Mediterranean restaurant. Is that possible for either? Please find extra service charge for the DJ, Dance floor ranges from $400 up. 6. For flower decorations for the restaurant, can I contact the Tai Flora directly to get prices? Yes you can contact Jodi for that. 7. If we just want a cake and champagne for 40 people what is the cost? I will find the cost and let you know 8. Will it be possible to have guest rooms in same area of hotel? Once you send the guest list early we will try our best to accommodate the requests.

Hi Tina!!! You really make a very good point about guests spending so much to go. I have also been struggling with this. But I was wondering who Rebecca is when you were referring to the the OOT bags. Also, are you having a sit down welcome dinner by the pool or do you mean appetizers by the pool and dinner in an a la carte? I emailed Nicole but haven't heard from her yet. It's been only a week. =)

Thank you so much for posting this!!! Super helpful!!! I emailed Nicole a list of questions as well yesterday. I will post as soon as she responds! I'm going to print your post out and put in my binder!!!!!

OMG. I just figured out what QUOTE means!!! Islandgirl910-I just started looking into this too. If you search "Jamaica Excursion" there's a thread that comes up (I subscribed to it) and it's super helpful!!!!

I thought I would share this PM I had with PrincessJ with everyone in case you might have the same ques. Since I am doing my ceremony off-site but will be having the cocktail and dinner reception at Iberostar Suites I was wondering about the flower decorations: PrincessJ: "For my reception I brought my own centrepieces and had the hotel set them up (bowls with artificial flowers and candles and sand). We brought our flowers back from the reception and set those up too" Ques-I was wondering if you planned any excursions/day trips for your guests. That's my next project. PrincessJ: "We planned a 1/2 day Catamaran with Dream Catamarans and it was perfect. We just booked our group when we got them and got 10% group dicsount, so I think it was $60 pp all in. It was 4 hours long and took us out on the beautiful boat with open bar and stopped once for snorkelling and then stopped at Jimmy Buffets to play on the water trampolines. I would recommend them for sure."