Shauna253

I just need to send in my entree choices for Aunt Ruby's. They give you three options (steak, chicken, or salmon), however you only get the choice of 2 among your guests. I have sent requests to all quests for 1st and 2nd choices and was going to go with majority, but they are pretty much even. Can anyone give some input as to what tastes the best there or if any of the options maybe aren't any good. Also, does anyone know if they have seperate meals for children and babies?

The coordinator for the suites told me CD only for the ceremony.

Thanks so much for the info. It would be great if you could email me some pics of your aunt ruby's set up as well as ceremony ([email protected]). How windy was the beach at night in December? Would you think it was too cold or chilly for a beach reception?

Hey Ladies, I just need to rant. I finally got back in touch with the wedding coordinator at the suites after sending a bunch of emails over the last month. I called her and tracked her down rather than continuing to send and ask for a response. I went through all the details I had worked out with Tai Flora regarding my beach reception and now out of nowhere she tells me I require minimum 50 people. I told her this was in none of the correspondence we went through over the past 8-9 months. She said oh well, that is there policy. I told her the whole reason we were discussing doing the beach reception was because we didn't have the numbers for the private reception we wanted. She looked through some paperwork and then said 'well it doesn't matter anyway because you definitely do NOT want a beach reception in January'. Its their winter time and she said it is crazy windy on the beach after 5:30pm. So why did Tai Flora tell me it would be fine? Maybe because Tai Flora makes more money from us for a beach reception???? So my question is to anyone who has been to Iberostar in January or even better anyone who has had a beach reception in January. How windy is and cold does it really get? We are from Alberta Canada so are use to wind and cold in January, but at the same time we will all be wearing summer dresses. Any input would be very helpful so I can make my final decision this weekend. On another note, the coordinator told me that she does not send the overall wedding package where I confirm all the misc. details (ceremony & dinner time, guest list, food choices, rehearsal dinner requests, beach welcome party, etc) until 1 month before. I asked if she could send early so I could take a look at what they require and she said no because this is their process. Oh and I asked about scanning in and sending the Notarized documents (because I heard the Grand and Beach accept this). She said this is not an Iberostar requirement but rather a requirement from the Government of Canada. So Fed Ex they went for $82. So back to square one I go with planning of the reception!

We are having our entire reception on the beach but we are planning on scattering luminary bags in the sand. Right now I'm on the hunt for white lunch bags, filling the base with sand so they don't blow away, and then sticking a tea light in the bottom. We may even line the inside of the bag with gold doilies to give a lace vintage look (as it goes with our theme). I just need to find white lunch bags now. If anyone sees any in Canada let me know. Getting them shipped here is too pricey.

Where did you find them for $5. Send a photo and maybe I'll help cover the cost and share (I assume its $5/strand or something).

I have a few questions: - Does the Blue Moon Music Bar or Lobby bar have anything going on after 10:30 at night (ie. live music or anything)? I'm wanting to put in to my welcome book itinerary where guests are to go after the wedding reception. And which is which? I'm assuming the lobby bar is the one with the black and white tiled floor and the music bar is the purple one? Any info on either of them would be great. - For your notarized documents did you simply have them stamped anywhere on the photocopy or was there some specific requirements that you were provided. The lawyer that I am having notarize mine has said that countries usual have specific requiremtns (ie. stamp directly on the face, etc.) - Do the reception tables have table cloths that touch the floor or do they need to be ordered seperately? - If you had your ceremony on the beach, was the sand fairly packed down? My bridesmaids are wearing stiletto's and don't want to wear bare feet:). - The coordinator has said that the round tables only sit 8 people, however I have seen photos of tables set for 10 people. Do you know if there are 10 person tables? - What exactly is involved in the saturday night beach party? I was thinking of doing a beach bonfire on the Friday but don't want to pay for one if they can get the same thing the next night. Any input and even a review of your wedding would be awesome! Thanks, Shauna

We're planning 3 on the beach (but haven't confirmed anything with the wedding coordinators yet which seems odd to me). Then dinner reception on the beach 6:30-10-30. Then thinking the music bar so the kids can keep partying with us. I not sure we're going to do the disco or not. I guess we'll see what it's like when we get there. If its anything like the discos at the Mexican resorts then I don't think the grandparents would really enjoy it...haha. I definitely want to creep yours as well and maybe get some last minute tips for mine . Let me know your details.

So Tai Flora dropped the price of crystals to $75. I told them that I could buy and bring with me for $50 so either they would have to lower their price or I would just bring them with me. She revised her quote and said the reason for the original cost was because it included the actual huppa. Weird that Tai Flora wouldn't know the draped huppa is part of the hotels wedding package when they are the approved vendor. Regardless, I'm going with Tai Flora's crystals now as they are cheaper than ordering and shipping to Canada.

No Vendor fee for DJ Kevan as he is the DJ that the resort says to use. I went directly on his website to book him, but it was the wedding coordinators that gave me the information to book him. There is a 3 hour minimum though.

Has anyone found luminary bags for a good price (in Canada)? Or does anyone know if white paper lunch bags from Walmart would work or if we need the flame resistant ones? I'm going to fill them with sand and use a tea light in each and scatter them in the sand surrounding our beach reception.

Wow, now that its less than 2 months before my wedding Tai Flora is really on the ball. They have been sending me tones of emails and now just called me to go through all the details (we spoke for 50 minutes). I had received a lot of back and forth and pricing on different items, but now shes going to compile in to one overall quote where I can add and subtract the items I want. The only item I am not happy with is that the dance floor is $500 for an oak one or $1000 for a white laminate one. I really want the white one, but think that is a rip off! I decided to stick with Tai Flora over Floral Fantasies as FF didn't have all of the things I needed. I'm doing a beach reception and FF is more focused on flowers rather than chair rentals, bamboo poles strung lights, etc. But if I wasn't needing all those other things I would have stuck wtih FF as they were so great to deal with from the get go.

We are looking at having a beach bonfire as our welcome party. I have been told the bonfires are right in front of the beach bar by the infinity pool. Does anyone know if we need to pay to get the national or international open bar or if the beach bar is close enough to walk a few steps and get a drink?

- Reggae band (4 piece including violinist) is $1000/hr with 15 min break. - anything on the beach needs to end at 10:30. I have heard that sometimes they let you stay until 11 but that it is a Jamaica thing to have to end outdoor functions by that time. - there was a post on here a few pages ago that lists exactly what is included in each of the open bar options - the DJ can bring the sideshow equipment. $150. The DJ for 2013 is $170/ hr and three hr minimum is required. - I have been told that you either need to pay for the DJ for music or pay the same rates to use the hotels/restaurants sound system with your own CD or iPod. I'm opting for the DJ as it seems a waste to pay the same amount and have to run the music yourself. - I'm not sure about the half hour before the disco opens to the public. I would think you could stay there's?

I just bought 50 mugs at Dollar Giant/Dollar Tree (similar to the attached photo). They are mugs with plastic handles and you can add your own paper inserts. Only $1.25 each and then we are going to make some fun labels that go with our theme as well as a party picture of me and my groom. They might not work as great thermal mugs, but they are a great price! We were originally going to order bubba mugs but as I spoke to a lot of my guests it didn't really sound like a lot of them were actually interested in using mugs. So why spend all that money on them just for a few people that would like them.

For sure. Just PM me your email address and I will forward.

FYI, I spoke to Tiffany about 2 weeks ago (wedding coordinator at the Suites) and she said I could use a different vendor as long as I paid the outside vendor fee. Floral fantasies has also told me they have done several weddings at the Iberostar in the past and they know details of several of the venue locations.

See attached resort map that I had found somewhere. I'm not sure if anything has changed from it or not though. As for excursions, let me know if you find any good deals as we plan to do a big group catameran on the Saturday (hoping for snorkelling and margaritaville).

I also saw that post about table dimensions that you are quoting. In addition, I just received this email from the wedding coordinator for the tables at Aunt Ruby's. It really doesn't make sense that a round table sitting 10 people would have a dimension of 71.5cm and be 29cm high. I think she meant to write 71.5" x 29" high (which would be 182cm x 74cm high). Regardless, it looks like they can pretty much make any size of rectangular table based on adding their square tables together, so thats good. Dimensions of square tables & how many people they sit: Tables for 4 pax: 90 cm x 90 cm (35.4 x 35.4 inches) Dimensions of rectangular tables & how many people they sit: As for the rectangular tables please let us know how many person will be seated at each because we put the square tables together to make rectangular tables. Dimensions of round tables & how many people they sit Round tables for private receptions are 71. 5 cm diameter and 29 cm height, seats up to 10 people per table.

I should also note that they clarified the following for me: "As it relates to the Beach BBQ this takes place on a Monday & Thursday starting at 12:30-2:00pm and Beach Party is on a Saturday which starts at 9:00pm. Please note that these schedules are subjected to change so it’s best if you check in with us at least a week in advance since the entertainment department does a weekly schedule."

The suites sent me their daily activities program as well as evening programs. Kind of funny how its the same daily program that they have had since 2011. DAILY PROGRAM 2011.pdf NIGHTLY PROGRAM.pdf

So they don't have a bonfire at the Saturday beach party?does anyone actually know what is involved in the beach party? I was going to do a private bonfire beach party as a welcome party but changed my mind when I heard the next night the hotel had a beach party anyone. But if its not a bonfire then maybe I will still do one only own.

I love your shoes. What kind are they and where did you find them?