BahamaMama2013
-
Posts
30 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Store
Articles
Events
Reviews
Products
Everything posted by BahamaMama2013
-
Thanks for sharing your experience with us JSLM, and most importantly, CONGRATS!! you're an officialy Bahama-mama! ;-) Sounds like everything turned out wonderfully, and that's great to hear. You now have me even more excited about our big day! How did things turn out with the wedding coordinator at the RIU? or did you not need to really work with her anymore? And any other tips? or lessons learned?
-
Sharmilapadman - No problem. Our wedding isn't until November 27th Has everything been sorted out for you? . Â
-
Sharmilapadman - Just sent you the email!
-
Crystal - just sent the email! hope it helps!
-
Hi Crystal - we're having it in the private ballroom. I believe it's one huge ballroom that can be split into 3 seperate smaller rooms. However i'm having atleast 70 guests, so i believe i'm using the whole room. I didn't opt for the ocean view patio because i believe it's not completely private and holds only up to 40 people. I've stayed at the RIU paradise island before and this OV patio is basically an extension of the main buffet restaurant at the front of the hotel. I think it can be seperated from the buffet restaurant by glass walls/windows that open and close. But no dance floor - that was another reason i didn't opt for it. I ended up receving a few more picture of the ballroom from the WC at the RIU. If you'd like to see them i can email them to you if you'd like.
-
JSLM - thanks for the update with the WC at RIU, i sent another follow up email maybe 2 weeks ago and included the main "RIU weddings" email address, still no reply... i'm at 8 weeks now. Thinking i'm going to have to call them directly soon. Just a little frustrating now that i have less than 5 months to go and still haven't firmed up some of the basic plans. (strike against me for not using a wedding co-ordinator like you did!) I'm just as worried about the rain, especially when the Cloisters is such a huge piece of the budget and is SO what i look forward to most! But you've picked the non-rainy season for your wedding... i'm sure you'll be fine. Rain during this time of the year there is usually a quick down pour, not continuous rain. I'm sure you'll be fine!! Praying the same for mine! That is annoying, last minute bookings... i'll likely get to that same point in a few more months. But right now, i'm estimating maybe an additional 5-6 more then i already have booked. If i don't hear from you before your big day, congrats to a beautiful and memorable wedding in the Bahamas!! Enjoy the moment!!
-
BTW, please tell me that waiting over 6 weeks for a reply from WC at Riu is okay?? There are still a few details i need to finalize with the private reception and even with our ceremony officiant! shoudl i be worried??
-
Hey JSLM! Love your idea for the centrepieces and flower balls. I heard too about those dried rose pedals and would think that the Cloisters wouldn't have a problem in using them. Which reminds me, i mean to inquire with wildflowers the cost of pedals... $300 sounds pretty outrageous! As for my cenrepieces.. still trying to decide on whether or not to just leave it up to someone there, or bring stuff ourselves. We will likely have up to 8 tables... so it may be a huge task to bring down that many! And as for DJ, still haven't really looked into anything yet... but you'll definitely have to let me know how yours goes! And yes, majority of my guests are staying a full week... with about a dozen or so staying for the 4 nights. How are things going with your guestlist? did you end up with a lot of stragglers? you must be so excited, the countdown is definitely on! Oh and if you remember, please also let us know how the hairstylist turns out!
-
So exited, we got our bottles!! ordered from DiscountMugs.com... picked them up from a US mailbox in B-lo. Highly recommend discountmugs.com, they usually have pretty good sales during long weekends, we got these bottles 30% off, plus our totes from there at 15% off during the US memorial day long weekend. -
From the album: CANADIAN OOT BAG info...where to shop!
-
CANADIAN OOT BAG info...where to shop!
Images added to a gallery album owned by BahamaMama2013 in Pictures from (pre-2014) Forum Topics
-
-
HI J3J - we're paying the standard $3500 for the Cloisters for a Wednesday wedding ceremony.. which includes chair set up, lemonade and champagne. As for the welcome/rehearsal dinner on the Monday, i asked for whatever was available (a la carte or buffet restaurant) at a reasonable time for our # of guests. The RIU WC offered 7pm at one of the buffet restaurants. I'm fine with that, i just wanted to ensure a reasonable time slot and an area set aside for all my guests.
-
We finally nailed down the bridesmaid dresses. Going with J Crew dresses. Scored witht their memorial week sale. Just need to make sure they're all the right sizes when they arrive! Hair haven't looked into yet. I have one cousin already doing my make-up, and am sitll hoping a friend of mine comes so she can do my hair! I definitely want an up-do, but still need to find some ideas. I hear of a lot of brides going with the salon at the Atlantis. That will likelly be my backup. What are you doing for centrepieces? and what are these ivory flower balls you speak of? ;-) Are you using a florist from there for your bouquet or any other flowers? We're still trying to decide on flowers and centerpieces and pieces for the Cloisters ceremony. I've gotten a few quotes from wildflowersbahamas.com, but haven't decided if i'll go with them for everything... pretty pricey. (Esp. compared to the RIU package prices) As for room... haven't inquired yet about the bridal suite or upgrades, but i'm thinking we'll likely do it. Do you know what the pricing is for the upgrade? i think it's complimentary if you go with the highest tiered wedding package at the RIU. Just 2 more months to go for you!! (and yes, our place too has been quickly filling with soo many random wedding things!!...my FI has now called it "the corner of love" in a very sarcastic way that is! lol)
-
hey, no worries! appreciate your responses! They haven't released our flight schedule yet, but after looking at what the flights are like sunday to sunday to riu through sunwing, i'm pretty sure it's the same SUPER late flights you're dealing with. Such a bummer... i've done over half a dozen all inclusive vacations, and arriving late and leaving late is not ideal. But what can you do... minor detail that we had no control over. I'm anticipating the comments from my guests once we communicate the times. (somehow still praying that their November flight schedule changes though!) I ended up booking our welcome dinner on the Monday at one of the buffet restaurants... figured so long as we can get a reasonable time slot, in a secluded area, it's good enough. Managed to negotiate transportation with Majestic tours to $6 per person, $3 for kids... and that's doing 2 trips. Agreed though, such a $ grab! Thanks for the info on the DJs, atleast i can gage the pricing/quotes when i get them... we're still considering our options of either doing a playlist (which alot of people warn not to do)... having a guest do it, or go with someone local. Dress is already picked up, waiting til a few months before to do alternations... and now considering a fun short one for afterwards! Still trying to find dresses for my BMs. Our main colour is seafoam green and thought we could go the retail store route but not happening... have a couple appointments this weekend at bridal stores. what are your colors? I feel you on the many little things to do. about a month ago i thought i still had a ton of time, but i'm now at the 6 month mark and i'm trying not to procrastinate anymore and doing whatever i can when i can. Are you bringing alot of things down? decor? oot bags?
-
RIght now we're at about 50 people booked, including 7 babies/kids. Thinking we'll be up to 60-65. Are you going with Sunwing vacations and flying Sunday to Sunday? That kind of sucks about the 9pm dinner reservations. I do recall when i stayed there a few years ago, you really had to be up early to get any type of resos at the a la carts. Who did you book your transportation with? I have a couple quotes and they seem pricey ... anywhere from $8-12 per person round trip (to/from Cloisters). And what about your DJ? how and who did you select? did you shop around and were they all priced similarly? Sorry for all the questions, if you prefer to PM me instead, totally understand! Sounds like you're about set! I'm sure time has flown for you and you'll be there in no time!!
-
Lol (not at you) but that's the response i got when it took her the 3 weeks to respond to me. I responded immediately with follow up questions, and surprise surprise, still no reply almost a month later! I still haven't even filled out that contract nor paid a deposit. Should i be worried? Have you tried calling her directly? If it's any consolation, i hear she's pleasant to work with and very helpful once you're actually there with her... As for the rest of my planning, some of the big stuff has been checked off, aside from ceremony and reception location, can check off wedding dress, grooms suit, groomsmen attire. Still looking for bridesmaid dresses, and need to decide on photographer. are you doing local or flying someone down? Also, did you decide on a DJ?
-
Congrats on your engagement! And, YAY to Paradise Island weddings in November! We too are expecting about 60-70 guests, and the semi-private reception was not at all an option. I asked Debbie for pictures a long with a few other questions, but the pictures never came! Would you mind sending me the pictures of the ballroom she sent you? [email protected], or if you want to post them here? that would be awesome! Is the wedding outside a private reception? and would you be allowed to play music or have a DJ? Sorry for all the questions, i find Debbie so slow in her responses (avg. 2 week wait) and i still feel like there's so much more to do and decide on. thanks!!
-
I found this great site for sunblock, lipbalm and all sorts of small beach pacakges for OOT bags... I've inquired about prices since it is not listed on the site. Only thing is that most items require 100 minimum... i'm going to need atleast 50 items. http://promosunscreen.com/item_choose.cfm?CatalogGUID=9c3ee846%2Db9b6%2D47b4%2D8cad%2D95891559e568&SearchType=and&choose=1&OrderBy=AcctOpenDate%20ASC%2CSuplItemNo&ProdNo=1&ProdName=1&Description=1&NoPricing=0&startrow=1
-
Regarding large group reservations, i hope that 930pm isn't the only option. I'm hoping that since i'm not using my semi-privatee option to have our wedding reception, that we can then apply it to a welcome/rehearsal dinner on the second night we are there. Let me know what she gets back to you on with regards to the reservations. Are you still waiting on guests to RSVP?
-
Well Debbie finally got back to me last Friday, apparently had some computer issues. So we are likely sticking with the reception back at RIU in the private room after the Cloisters ceremony, and still getting a RIU wedding package. Now waiting to hear back from Debbie on securing the date and finalizing a few other details. Other than that, started dress shopping, FI's suit is already purchased...and finalizing formal invitations so we can send them out in the next few weeks. If you still feel like you have so much to do, i don't know how i'm going to make it for another 8 months!? lol This wedding planning is never ending and consuming i must say! i have a love hate relationship with it all! lol
-
Atlantis Wedding - Cost? Other venue suggestions in Nassau?
BahamaMama2013 replied to ddbx524's topic in Bahamas Weddings
JSLM - just double checked all the info that was initially sent from RIU and no, only ballroom available for private reception. Think this will likely be our best choice.... I've stayed at the RIU when my bestfriend got married there in 2009...she only had 25 guests, so did the beach ceremony with semi-private dinner. It's a conveniently located hotel, and easier that it's an AI resort. how's the rest of your planning going? -
4 months! exciting!! how many guests are you expecting? So that's what i'm waiting for Debbie to respond on, whether i can still apply the RIU wedding package (ie. officiant, licence, bouquet, cake... etc.) to my offsite location since i plan to have the reception back at the RIU. And whether or not she could help with other things like transportation, flowers at ceremony. Because if it not, then i think i may just work with a WC. I was referred to that same wedding planning service by a couple others... and now considering all the "other" costs, it may be worth while to go with that Cloisters package. I already have the agreement from O&O/Atlantis for the CLoisters... i just need to send in my payment for our reserved date. What are some of the things that you're still working with the RIU on? I'm wondering if i'll be able to arrange a rehearsal dinner there for my 70+ guests.
-
My bad, realized after that your wedding date is part of the profile info! July 30th! .. my bf got married in July of 2009 in Bahamas!
-
Thanks so much for the info on Luciano's JSLM, and congrats to you! when is your Bahamas wedding date? Are you working with a WC? or just organizing everything on your own? I'm assuming that since i'm not going with the RIU to have my ceremony, that i will have to work directly with CLoisters to arrange things like officiant, marriage license, flowers, transportation, etc. Debating if it's worth while to get a WC instead... plus, i'm now going on 3 weeks without hearing back from Debbie! =P Happy Planning!
