beckys98

Congratulations! We are not getting married at Beaches Negril, but it was a contender when we were picking our resort. We REALLY wanted to be in Negril, but ultimately we decided on Iberostar Rose Hall Suites in MoBay. The pros were that based on their wedding packages our wedding would have been free (or very close to it). However, the cost per person for our guests was at least double any other resort we were considering. We would rather us pay more for the wedding than have many of our guests not able to come because of the cost. We also decided it was a little *too* family friendly for us - we wanted people to be able to bring children, but we weren't super excited about hanging out with a dancing elmo Obviously EVERY couple has different priorities and needs, I just wanted to mention the part about the costs for reference since it was a big difference. Happy planning!

Congratulations! If you search for any of these items you'll come up with a ton of threads with information. I'm getting married at Iberostar Rose Hall Suites on June 11, 2015 with approximately 75-80 guests. I've decided to use the onsite spa for hair and makeup. I love the idea of being able to do it in my room, but the vendor fee just didn't seem worth it to bring someone in and I've only seen GREAT reviews for the spa. For photographer I'm using Stacey Clarke. She pays the vendor fee and her packages are really reasonable for the quality of her images. We decided not to do a videographer but a lot of people use Roxroy or Elite Media Concepts. Happy planning!

If it makes anyone feel any better, I got my current booking list from my travel agent yesterday and there were 2 names neither my fiance or I recognized! Turns out his cousin invited friends and they booked under our reservation without even so much as a mention to us!! And we've never met these people. We clarified with her that they were not invited to the wedding and welcome dinner. I don't really care that they are coming because she is Jamaican and I can understand why she might want to bring friends to Jamaica. But I still can't believe she didn't even think to ask/tell us her intentions! Adventures in wedding planning...ha!

Welcome @@breezie! Oh you're definitely going to burn many hours on this site...but I consider it an investment in my wedding! Haha. I think we're going to be around 80 people and I'm limiting myself to ONE medium sized extra suitcase for any decor/guest items - and chair ties will take up a big portion of it! I love some of the ideas for guests like insulated mugs or tumblers, but that is just not feasible with needing 80. If it doesn't fit, I'm not bringing it!

This makes me feel a lot better. All my friends are doing "pinterest perfect" baby showers and kid's birthday parties that it makes me feel like I should do more. So far I've resisted anything too crazy but reminders like this are helpful. Realistically I just don't have the free time to pull it all off anyway! Why set myself up for failure?

Oh wow! I just found this thread and it is so helpful! Looks like it lost its momentum about a year ago, but worth going back and reading some posts for those of us in the thick of planning. Things I noted: -Have water at the ceremony site! -Have a handkerchief to dab sweat during ceremony and pictures -Have a compact mirror for makeup touch-ups -Need a mic for the ceremony is a must (was trying to avoid getting a sound system) -Definitely make a list of must-have pictures and put a friend in charge of rounding people up

Oh don't get me wrong - I COMPLETELY understand if people can't come and would never hold that against them! It is just the lack of addressing it at all that disappoints me. Going silent for 5 months after I sent you my wedding invitation is just kind of odd to me coming from long-time friends. I mean, I haven't heard a peep from these people at all, let alone about the wedding. A couple I've even followed up directly with and haven't gotten a response. It is what it is, of course, but not what I was expecting!

@@misbosox and @@TinkerSofi I'm kind of like your fiances in our scenario...We are tracking at 80 guests and it looks like I'm only going to have 4 friends there, and one of them is my sister so she wasn't really optional! But the real kicker is that when we look through our list of invitees the only ones who haven't even made reference to the wedding invitation at all are MY friends. It makes me sad that I invited long time friends to my wedding a year in advance and none of them have even dropped a "Hey! So excited for you! I'd love to be there..." Just silence. On the flipside, like every single one of my fiances friends - even ones we haven't seen in years - are coming and have put deposits down. Sure makes my friends look especially crappy. That said...we've been together long enough that his friends ARE my friends and I feel so fortunate that we have approx 80 loved ones coming to spend the week with us. While I will no longer extend the effort I once did with some of my "friends" I don't feel like I'm missing out. And I hope your fiances feel the same way! After all...there is no more yours and mine...only OURS!

Hi! Her cocktail reception was private - it was in one of the restaurants. There are two restaurants that are adjacent to each other (separated by a bar in the middle) and her reception was in the one on the left and then the wedding reception was in the one on the right the next night! I can't remember which was called what They are both elevated and all windows so you have great views of the beach/water. Cocktail reception had appetizers set out buffet style and then open bar. She had about 65 people and there was PLENTY of space. Her and her fiance did a brief speech that night in the room without a mic and it was fine. The reception was at 6 and then most of us went down to the buffet after to eat dinner. Then we all ended up at the disco and drank way too much and stayed out way too late for the night before the wedding...ha All the bridesmaids and my sister had our hair done at the spa. Most of the girls had their makeup done, too. I decided to do my own makeup because I've had bad experiences with having my makeup done before and was worried - but then I was jealous because everyone looked SO good! Honestly, they did amazing with the make up. Most of the bridesmaids had no idea what they wanted for their hair when they sat down and they all looked good. I knew exactly what I wanted (a french twist with volume on top) and they did exactly what I wanted and it held all night. I would say - we got mani/pedis at the spa and they were not very good. My mani chipped right away. I think the polish may have been old? If you can do it before you go (no chip manicure?) I would...

Hi Everyone - If you don't mind sharing, I'm wondering what the resort is offering you as booking incentives. My travel agent is saying that every 21st person is free, which is great, but my concern is about how they determine the amount. She said that it is based on the "lowest room category booked for the shortest length of stay." This is somewhat disappointing because we have 80 guests coming that will stay between 5-7 nights, but we have a couple people with family in Jamaica who might only stay at the resort 2 nights. So if we have 75 people who stay 5 nights, and 4 people who stay 2 nights our discount is still based on the 2 nights. I just think an average would be way more fair given the number of people we are bringing (and money we are spending). I thought I'd throw it out there to see if that is consistent with what you are getting? Maybe I can negotiate THANK YOU!!

@@nadiakat17 Disillusioned with the human race - Ha! I SOO feel you. I'm just completely amazed how stupid people can be. I have people who RSVP on our website and add the name of their plus one, but then don't mark "yes" for their guest. So it doesn't show up in my count. Also about 80% of the people who have RSVPed yes did so for our WELCOME EVENT and not the wedding. I just go ahead and assume that they are coming to the wedding if they are coming for the welcome event, but I just don't understand why it is so hard. That is completely separate from the frustration with those who just haven't responded. We're going to be doing a TON of follow up with everyone - especially as we get closer and need meal choices. Super excited about all that

Hi @@MexicoWedding2015. Congrats! My sister got married there about a year and a half ago with about 65 guests. Happy to answer any questions or find pics of anything you need. I t rained the day of her wedding so her ceremony and reception locations got moved - she was initially bummed but it worked out great. The ceremony was in the "pure chill out bar" so it was still out door, but covered. That was probably good because we had some shade! Her wedding was in July so it was fairly hot. Her private reception ended up in the Mexican restaurant (again, I was grateful for the air conditioning)! She brought a photographer from home with her. She didn't do a welcome "dinner" but did a cocktail reception with hors d'oeuvres in one of the other restaurants.

We just booked our flights this morning! Wedding is on Thursday and we are actually arriving on Sunday, but not checking into the resort until Monday. We are staying with family on Sunday night. I assume we'll do the wedding coordinator meeting on Tuesday morning. Our guests' arrival is all across the board! Some are also coming on Sunday, some are coming each day after.

Lovely! Your hair and makeup look so great!

We aren't doing printed invites, but we sent all information out in August 2014 for our June 2015 wedding. We sent a reminder email in early December and got a handful of RSVPs and plenty of verbal "yesses." February 6 is when we asked for deposits and RSVPs and we're seeing a steady stream now. NONE of my family has booked yet. Argh. I'm going to start hounding people who haven't RSVPed on February 7. It is fair if they don't know yet if they are coming, but if they are a definite either way I'd like to know. There are plenty of people we haven't heard a single peep from.

@@Everly - nope! I have two friends who spend that much and paid for their weddings themselves with very minimal help from their parents. They basically saved for 2 years and were paying it off for a year afterward. I'd like to think even if I were super wealthy I still wouldn't spend that much

I have no idea what prices are like in Canada, but I live in Chicago and our wedding including EVERYTHING (dress, travel, honeymoon, etc.) for 80 people will be about 1/3 the cost of anything we could do in Chicago. And we are paying for a few people. $60-$70k is totally normal here - which is so insane to me!

Haha! I had to laugh at your "bum" comment. I'm the exact same way - bigger in the backside and my fiance loves it. I DID end up with a dress that I love that very much accentuates my booty, but I'm still not sure he'll like it! He is very particular about "fashion" so it is a complete gamble with him!

Congratulations on your engagement! Fortunately, I did not have to convince my fiance on a DW, and he grew up in Jamaica so that was an easy choice! Like you, I did try to convince him to elope, but when else ever in your life are you going to get friends and family to go on vacation together?! There are MANY upsides to the DW, but that is really the clincher for us. My sister got married in Mexico in 2013 and I just cannot explain how fun it is to have everyone relaxing together for multiple days. Especially at an all inclusive where no one has to worry about a thing, it really is a totally unique experience. Many of my friends who had traditional weddings are very envious when they think about how fast their day went by (for all the money) and how they barely got to spend any time with guests - especially guests who traveled to be there. There is just something special about bringing friends from different parts of your life and family together - I assure you by the end of the trip they will all be friends with each other - and you'll benefit from that for the rest of your life! My sister's friends are now friends with our Aunts and cousins on Facebook! Hope that helps a little bit

I have to say I agree with @@nadiakat17 - at least they are letting you know their intentions! We sent out STDs in August for our June 2015 wedding and I have friends who have not RSVPed and not mentioned one single word to me about the wedding in the 5 months since. I've decided if you don't have the respect for me to say "Hey, thanks so much for inviting me to your wedding. Even though I'd love to be there to celebrate with you...blah blah blah..." then I'm just kinda done trying on that friendship. I mean, if you KNOW you can't come, why not just say so? We requested RSVPs by February 6, so we'll see what happens...

@@kcole123 that is so pretty! I love the sweetheart neckline and the lace. It is very flattering!

@@AllieH were you able to walk in the sand with the wedge??

I would definitely look on the bright side that she has someone who isn't that invested in your wedding/group to help with the baby! That will give her some flexibility to spend time with you while her friend helps with the baby. For example, maybe the night of the wedding she'd be willing to go back to the room with the baby so your friend can stay out with you. Her boyfriend would probably have wanted to be part of all the action! I think it is GREAT that she is still coming with the baby.

I am using appycouple.com. I really like the look of the site, the RSVP/Guest management functionality, group chat functionality, and the app option. I do have my site private, and I can see who has logged in to either the site or the app and when. So when they are asking me a bunch of dumb questions I can say "Well if you looked at the website you would know the answer!" haha.

@@Anastasiya You're right around the corner! Congratulations!