stluciabound

Welcome home Jessica!! So glad to hear that everything went perfectly!! And thanks,too, for the moral support. I came to the same conclusion as you as far as guests/family coming, I am just hoping that his family will stop torturing him so he can start to get excited the way I am. I am sure to him it seems easier for me to say, since my parents and best friend is already booked, but I am sure it will all fall into place along the way. But, enough about that. So, I am so anxious to hear about your final choices!! What location did you choose? What reception options did you choose? How was the steel drum band? That's the way I am leaning,but would love to hear your feedback!! Any info, pictures, advice you can give would be SO appreciated!!! St Lucia brides are already fairly scarce, but you are the only other bride I have found that ultimately chose the Grande. I just think it looks perfect and am so excited not only to go, but also to hear about your experience there. Thanks again for all of your wonderful information!!!!

Thanks Marleydog! Your day is almost here!! I am so excited for you and can only imagine how you feel right now! As for my planning progress, obviously I have the date/ceremony/reception booked and am starting to get an idea of upgrades and such. Also, I did order my dress a few months back so I am anxiously awaiting the call that it has been completed. I can't wait to see MY dress!! I am sending out STD's within the next couple weeks, although a couple people have booked already. We are realisically only expecting around 10-15 people. Currently his family is "boycotting"our plans for a "destination" wedding,so who knows if they will end up coming,and other people are saying they will definitely go, but I will believe it once they book. But, at the end of the day as long as he and I are there that's all that matters. We also have decided to do a wine box/love letter ceremony. Wedding planner from Sandals said that shouldn't be a problem so I sure hope she is right! Since you are getting so close, how have you found the final planning stages? Did you do OOT bags? That is my next venture. I figure I will make them along the way... Best of luck to you!! It's almost here!!!

Hi everyone! We are getting married at the Grande St Lucian April14,2012. We are doing the twilight ceremony with the 2 hour reception, BB theme with individual upgrades and the steel drum band. Also, I plan on surprising him with the helicopter ride from the airport to the resort. Has anyone done that/planning to do that? I am also looking for fun welcome bag ideas??? Good luck everyone and hope we can all be a good resource for one another!!

Last year I was in my best friend's wedding at Beaches Negril. It was beautiful. She did do the one hour reception and it was very nice. We had these baby shrimp on top of cucumber slices (sounds kinda weird,but they were awesome!) and some different kebobs with beef/chicken. I think there were some other things, too. It was honestly all really good. And the staff was incredible! They were so helpful, happy,and attentive and they tied in some really neat local traditions that were so memorable! I think there was about 15 of us and that timing seemed pretty good, and then we all went to dinner together at one of the existing restaurants. Everything was great, but to be honest,with as many guests as you sound like you are having I think you might be happier with the 2 hour reception, but I would definitely not go any less than the one hour,just my opinion, of course. Also,I will definetly say do not rely at all on Liquid night club. It was awful. When they say they turn it over to the the adults at 11 it is not what you are thinking. Unless you consider a bunch of 16-20 year olds (guests and locals it appeared to be-strange because how did the locals get in? or why is the staff allowed to mingle after hours? don't know,but that's what happenend) drinking, making out, and grinding each other all over the dance floor and couches in a fog machine filled,laser light room the size of the guest rooms. Plus the music is so loud you feel like your head is going to explode. And don't get me wrong, we are a drinking partying crew all 25-30 yrs old and it was just really uncomfortable... like you wanted to go wake up their parents and have them drag their daugthers out by their hair. I am not trying to sound negative,because the rest of the trip and resort is amazing,I just don't want you to be disappointed when you realize your idea of a night of adult fun is ruined by a teenage romper room. Stick to the other bars and nightly events at the resort and you will be much better off. They do a great job providing interactive entertainment as well as a great energetic mood well into the night to keep everyone having a great time. Anyway, hope some of that helps and happy planning! PS... My FH and I have decided to do our own wedding at Sandals in St Lucia next April, so you know we must have really loved it!

Hi Mrs. Williams1111! We are also getting married at the grande... our date is 4.14.12. We are going with the Beautiful Beginnings theme with individual upgrades. Some of them are a bit pricey, but still far less than going full on with one of the Martha Stewart themes and this way you only pay for what upgrades are important to you,plus you can mix and match. I did have my planning session and got a quote, but I am going to wait until just before we go to committ... once you book anything you have to pay for it and then thats it, why not wait until you are certain? Let's face it,the arches,the decorations,etc.are all there, no need to let them pressure us into deciding now... I am sure they will be just as happy to take our money later Have you done your initial planning session yet? What are your thoughts? I know Sandals is very secretive on upgrade pricing, you have to ask for each specific one. I would be happy to share my quotes with you and would love to hear if you have any to add. I know there have been some other girls on here that have been really good at that. To be honest, my FH's family has really made this whole thing a nightmare for us. They are currently in DW boycott mode, but we have finally gotten to the point where we have decided to accept it whether they come around or not. But,as a result of their objections, I am also starting to look into alternative (less expensive, non all-inclusive) local resorts. I noticed you seem to be doing the same. Have you had much luck? I found trip advisor to be a pretty good resource. Anyway, I hope you have happy planning and hope we can be a good resource for one another!

Good Morning Jessica! My name, also, is Jessica and I too am getting married at the Grande (next April).I have replied to some of your other posts,but I just saw this thread. And... TODAY IS YOUR WEDDING DAY!!! I am so excited for you!! I have to tell you getting to this point in our planning process has been anything but smooth (thanks to the selfishness of his family,unfortunately), but we are finally able to embrace it and move forward (with or without them) and your posts have been so inspiring and helpful. I hope you have the most amazing day today and PLEASE keep us posted!! I am dying to hear how everything went and your advice!! Good luck today,enjoy your honeymoon,and can't wait to hear about it!!!

Thanks for the warm welcome!! That is awesome we have the same wedding date!! While I am sure there are many ladies out there excited to take advantage of the beautiful spring, you are the first bride I have talked to that has the same date! So exciting! And by the way, looks like you are getting married in Montego Bay... don't know if you have ever been there, but it is great! I don't know if you are interested, but we spent some time there last year and met a certified personal driver there that was awesome! He works for one of the major companies, but can do private tours, too. He has a van for up to 8 people I think,but it is a flat rate whether you want guests to join you or if you guys want to go alone. He charged us only $100 for the entire day, unlimited hours, miles, and stops. We went just the 2 of us,he took us all the way to Ocho Rios to Dunns River Falls, through the rainforest, to local shops, an authentic, amazing, Jamaican jerk hut for lunch,where we dined with the locals,stopped whenever we wanted for photo ops, brought us back to the resort to get showered and changed, took us back out to Margaritaville and waited for us as long as we wanted and took us back to the resort!! The best money we spent on the whole trip!! And cheaper than just going on the Dunns River excursion alone with the resort!! Especially if you have any guests join you...split the cost of the van and I am pretty sure the entry to any given place was no more than like $10 or so. Oh! And he even stopped in a local supermarket and bought us beer so we could have some drinks for the road at local's prices (the prices quadruple if you go in and buy it yourself). It was like the whole thing was a personal.giant tour. Far more authentic then going on the packed, overpriced, tourist excursions through the hotel. Anyway, his name is Norville and I still have his contact info if you would like it (we loved him so much we still send him Christmas gifts and such!) I would also recommend,if you are interested, use him even a second day and go to the other end of the island to Negril and go to Rick's Cafe for sunset. That was the other most amazing day of the trip. With that,you will hit the big three attractions of the country. Amazing and rare to hit in one trip,but totally practical and unforgettable. Plus, when you go on those personal tours they get to keep that money (unlike on the planned "excursions").It felt really good to help a local. They are so kind, but so poor. Let's face it, if we are flying all the way there to get married we might not be rich, but we are definitely more fortunate than the opportunities they have been given. That $100 is like a weeks pay to them in one day. I can't imagine. Anyway,thanks again for my welcoming and I hope some of my babbling was helpful. As I said, I still have that info if you would like it, as well as other experiences in Jamaica if you are looking for any input. Happy planning... PS... yesterday was officially exactly 9 months away for both of us!!!

Congrats Everyone!!! We will be getting married April 14, 2012 (exactly one year after you started this forum!!) at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian! We could not be more excited! Anyone else going to St Lucia?? Oh, and I have also said "yes to the dress". I can't wait until it is completed so I can go see MY dress!!! Good luck everyone!!

Thank you so much for this article! My FH and I are getting married at the Grande on April 14,2012 and you have just totally reinforced our choice! Your descriptions and detail make me want to be there NOW more than ever!! Thanks again!!!

Hi WilsonJ2 and ladies! Looks like you are arriving today!! Congratulations!! My FH and I are getting married at the Grande April 14, 2012 and simply can't wait!! Please update us on how everything went and any suggestions you have for us!! I did attend my best friend's wedding at Beaches/Sandals Negril last year and it was amazing. Stress free,fun and beautiful. The in house photographer did do an excellent job. We are getting married on a Saturday and arriving on Wednesday and are also paying the $150 fee.We are also doing the sunset ceremony,which was an extra $600, so I hope it is as beautiful as I think it will be. I have to say Sandals has been awesome to work with... very nice, helpful, lots of options,and not pushy. The only problem I have faced has been ridiculous negativity from his family about our decision to have a destination wedding. They seem to think that despite the fact that they aren't contributing anything and we are paying for this ourselves (and they are very successful) that we (mostly they are blaming me,though) are just selfish and they are refusing to come. The fact is, we tried to do the big."traditional" thing and we can't afford it! It has just been so upsetting to the point where I don't care if they decide not to come. We always all got along great until we stood up to their unreasonable demands. I just feel bad for him that he has to be tortured this way. Have any of you experienced this? I just feel so frustrated when all I want to feel is excited!! Good luck everybody!!