lisaeloine

I am heading down to Iberostar next week and staying at Iberostar Grand for a week. If anyone would need wedding planning "day-of" services at the Grand, send me an email. You will feel totally pampered and will be ensured that you day goes smoothly. I offer this service for my brides in the US. If you are looking for the guaranteed lowest rates (usually around 30% below what is on the Iberostar website)--always lower than hotels.com or any other agent...give me a call. I work with an agent that specializes in Iberostar Hotels and gets large volume discounts that no one else can. The savings I get make the difference between staying at the suites vs the grand! Sorry to be offering services, but I honestly truly feel that the folks on this board will benefit greatly!

I just saw your site and was blown away. I actually book marked it to use as a model. It's not that it is the fanciest website (I mean the template), but it was clearly written and very informative. I also love the way you organized it and the photos you picked were beautiful. I do love the activities you chose. Looks like fun. Wish I was invited! :-) Your guests should have no problem understanding what needs to be done.

Hi Paradise, Understand they way you feel. (I am Jamaican). Negril is beautiful. Where are you staying? Just a word to other brides. If you were thinking of eloping to Jamaica (especially if you haven't been there before), a way to alleviate the stress is get married at an all-inclusive. Several hotels now offer free weddings if you stay a certain number of nights. I got married in Negril 4 years ago that way. No stress and it was beautiful and cheap! I recommend Sandals for small weddings. Hope this helps Lisa

Hey Kendra, Port Maria doesn't have a patio. It is kind of like one large covered patio. Sounds like a good option is a beach reception. LOVE the idea of a fire eater. The steel drum is also a great idea. Could also add in limbo dancing where the guests participate. I know this sounds a bit crazy (and you already have your decor), but here are some budget ideas for adding a little drama: - taking down some good quality colorful table cloths (you might even diy and make them). It is a cheap way to add color. Go to Joanne fabrics if you have to, or look into the cost of renting. Go for something with bold prints. It will show up well in photos. - consider using lighting. Bring christmas tree lights that can be hung from sticks that "carve out" your area. Alternately, use a few torches. Only use candles if you plan to put them in hurricane lanterns or they may blow out. - Make it an all-white wedding and have everyone wear white. Since it is such a small wedding, it creates a cool theme and your guests become part of the decor. Warm it up with touches of wicker. Great for pictures. You are welcomed to check out my beach destination decor inspirations at Pinterest.com I have over 100 beach wedding ideas/photos. My exact web address there is http://pinterest.com/lisavernon/beach-destination-weddings/. (Just paste the link into your browser if the link is not active). Lisa

Hey Kendra, Port Maria doesn't have a patio. It is kind of like one large covered patio. Sounds like a good option is a beach reception. LOVE the idea of a fire eater. The steel drum is also a great idea. Could also add in limbo dancing where the guests participate. I know this sounds a bit crazy (and you already have your decor), but here are some budget ideas for adding a little drama: - taking down some good quality colorful table cloths (you might even diy and make them). It is a cheap way to add color. Go to Joanne fabrics if you have to, or look into the cost of renting. Go for something with bold prints. It will show up well in photos. - consider using lighting. Bring christmas tree lights that can be hung from sticks that "carve out" your area. Alternately, use a few torches. Only use candles if you plan to put them in hurricane lanterns or they may blow out. - Make it an all-white wedding and have everyone wear white. Since it is such a small wedding, it creates a cool theme and your guests become part of the decor. Warm it up with touches of wicker. Great for pictures. You are welcomed to check out my beach destination decor inspirations at Pinterest.com I have over 100 beach wedding ideas/photos. My exact web address there is http://pinterest.com/lisavernon/beach-destination-weddings/. (Just paste the link into your browser if the link is not active). Lisa

Hey Allie The difference between the suites and the grand is the beauty of the space and possibly a difference in type of food offered. I looked at both spaces, and the Grand definitely has a nicer overall ambiance.

Hey Kendra Yup, don't worry - you are not alone. When my niece got married last year, She expect 40-50, well 100 came. People really seem to like the idea of coming to JA for a wedding. Port Maria is really large - it can hold up to 150 people. If you have a little over 30, perhaps you can have the reception on the beach. Yes it would cost a bit more, but you wouldn't have to worry too much about decor with the backdrop...just a simple arrangement on each table. Rent a dancefloor and have a DJ or your ipod. Merrick Cousley was the photographer at my neice's wedding last year. He did a fine job! Lisa

Hi Connolly, I think the florist is the most important. Take LOTS of pictures for every angle. You'll be surprised how much you forget when you leave. Did you decide on a photographer? If you are using the in-house photographer or Sungold Photographery (who shoots there all the time), then you could probably wait until you go down for your wedding to meet them and get familiar. Lisa

Hi Leah22! Just got back from Iberostar Grand. Wow - it was amazing! You and your guests will not be disappointed with this place. Everyone there is very attentive, polite and professional. I did tour all the wedding sites and watched a couple weddings. I have to tell you that if you want a private wedding, the main beach location (in front of the pool) is not private at all. You are basically in the middle of the property. You have the people from the infinity pool looking from the back and the lounge chairs on your left and right. That said, it happens to be a very pictureque location especially the way you enter the beach. If you have your wedding as late as possible (5pm or 5:30 - you will have less "gawkers"). The side beach location is more private (though not 100%). You are not in the middle of the property. You don't have the pool behind you. If you are facing the ocean, there is no one to your left. But people to the right can still see you. You are farther away from beach loungers (gawkers) If you really want a beach wedding and a bit more privacy, this is your best option. The terrace area is the most private and is also a pretty location overlooking the property. I did a tour with Angelie (she is sooooo nice). She did tell me that you could add the lanterns around the edge and explained how they do it. Here are a couple pics of the beach... Hope this helps!

Hi Katelyn, I am actually at the Iberostar Grand on vacation now. The floor is tiled so you don't need to add a dance floor. They are also extending it to make it larger (by about 6 feet all around it looks like). FYI to Kristy. Don't know that the paper lanterns are going to work. The ceilings are high and they have fans hanging from the ceiling everywhere. Anyway they have wood inlaid in the ceiling which would be beautiful to look at... I am not sure you will be able to attach the lanterns to the ceiling anyway. Hope this helps! Lisa

He was the photographer for my neice's wedding at RIU Ocho Rios. The pics came out really nice.

Hi Kristy, Congrats on your wedding! I am a planner in the US (Pennsylvania). I LOVE Iberostar Rose Hall Grand and am actually going there in a couple of weeks. Thought I might answer some questions for you: Port Maria is a beautiful venue for the reception. When I was there last year I saw two weddings there. One of them had the reception in Port Maria with the shear white curtains -- it was breathtakingly BEAUTIFUL! Very airy and ethereal. Regarding the lanterns. I am assuming you mean the round chinese paper lanterns? That would look really nice with the curtains. I wouldn't think about filling the entire space. I would add the lanterns over the area you designate for the dancefloor. So it depends on how big your dance floor would be. The size of the dance floor depends on the number of guests. I would also get the measurements for Port Maria. The two top wedding photographers in Jamaica are Saab Weddings (http://saabwedding.com/) and Sun Gold Photography (http://www.sungoldphoto.com/). I saw Sun Gold shooting a wedding when I was at Iberostar last year (I think it was Paula). She appeared to be very professional and unobtrusive. Alternately you can import an American photographer to shoot your wedding. For example Laura Novak, a high end photographer out of Philadelphia (starts at about $8,000) shot a wedding last year at Iberostar Grand. The pics are gorgeous. (http://lauranovak.net/index.cfm?catID=5). Of course there are other US talented photographers in a lower price range. Many photographers love to travel and are sometimes willing to be flexible on price for international weddings. Hope this helps!! Lisa

Hello and thanks for posting this most gorgeous wedding! Do you mind telling me what your budget was?