Firstly, Congrats on becoming a MRS!!! Second I am so sorry to hear about all the obstacles you faced. I am planning to bring somethings with me and do a sand ceremony so I will defintely recruit someone to handle those things. I like your pro and con listed! I am not going to bother booking the dj or bar.
We were planning on doing the steel drums as well but I am a little nervous that we will run into the same troubles as you did. Did you have to pay in advance??