RESORT: Sandals Grande Ocho Rios, Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
# GUESTS: 64 adults
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tiffany Lue-Yen (http://www.tluephoto.com)

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios

AIRLINE- AIR JAMAICA:

We flew on Air Jamaica, direct from New York. We flew down on Wednesday before our Saturday wedding and were upgraded to First Class. 

The good thing about Air Jamaica is that we each got to check 2 bags with no additional charge, which was great because we brought several items including, OOT bags.

When we arrived in Montego Bay, Jamaica - we went straight to the Sandals lounge where we were able to have some refreshments while we waited for our bus transportation. The wait wasn’t long about less than 10 minutes.  The drive to the resort took maybe and hour and half, along the way we stopped to see some of the sights.

THE RESORT (Sandals Grande Ocho Rios): http://www.sandals.com/main/ochorios/or-home.cfm

Check-in was relatively easy, we were able to go get lunch and walk around the resort. By the time we returned to the lobby our room was ready. We were able to leave our luggage including my dress with the bell man during the interim.

The property is huge, but most of us got rooms in buildings near to each other on the Rivera side of the resort, and it was easy to meet up. Depending on where your room is (i.e. on the Manor side).There are also golf-carts available, you call for them and they will pick you up and drive you to the lobby of the Manor and there were also shuttles to take you to other parts of the resort.

View from our room (of the hidden pool).

PLANNING PROCESS/WEDDING COORDINATOR:

I must agree that  the most frustrating things about planning a D.W. is communication (or lack thereof). I had decided to make all of my decisions once we got to the resort. We met Ana-Kay the next morning. We gave her all the details, all of our decorations, etc. and it worked out fine. Nothing is arranged in advance of you arrival, my advice is to just do some research and have an idea of what you want for your special day. She wrote everything down on a sheet as we told them to her, and she made arrangements accordingly.

REHEARSAL/WELCOME DINNER
Ana-Kay made the plans for our dinner to be held in the ball room this is for all the guests staying at the resort, we had 50 people in attendance not including those that stayed outside of the resort.

Our gift bags were given at this dinner.

Ana-Kay advised us of the menu (one soup, one entrée, one dessert) and also included a full open bar.  The food was amazing and everyone was happy. The wait staffs were amazing and fun……(Above Picture)

After dinner we changed and went to the bar to celebrate some more. My FI at the time, stayed with his brother that night to follow wedding day traditions.
 

The guys doing their fist pump dance

WEDDING DAY
The morning of the wedding, my MOH and I ate breakfast on the opposite side of the resort where my FI should have been. It was beautiful day. I had my appointment at the salon at 1 pm.

Red Lane Spa did an EXCELLENT job on my hair.

Inspiration picture:


Wedding day hair.

I have a friend (who is a Mary Kay director) do my makeup and she did a beautiful job!

(Happy to recommend her)

Pic of me ready to walk down the isle

WEDDING LOCATION/SETUP
We originally selected the Reef terrace as our ceremony location. This was the perfect location for us.

CEREMONY


The ceremony was short and sweet. Our officiant was funny, and because I was a tab bit late he teased my DH that I was a run away bride……(lol) DH got all choked up and tears filled his eyes although he won’t admit to it (we have pictures! J). He stated, “I had a bug and a bee bite in my eyes…”

We also did the sand ceremony (supplies brought from home!). Ana-Kay set everything up at a table at the end of the aisle. We didn’t give the officiant a sand ceremony script. He said some nice words about how the grains of sand are still the same and can never again be separated.



While signing our marriage certificate, we had Bob Marley (I wanna be loved) playing softly throughout this part of the ceremony, which I thought was a nice touch.

After the ceremony, Ana-Kay & the staff directed everyone to the shuttles to go to the reception site, while the bridal party took pictures.

Below is a picture of our reception location, we where able to have our first dance in the gazebo.

First dance to the Charlie Wilsons (You are)



We skipped some of the wedding traditions (bouquet toss, garter, etc.) and instead did the cutting of the cake (which was chocolate), toasts by the Best Man and Maid of Honor and a thank-you to our guests by D.H.



After the reception many of us went to Margaitaville to celebrate some more.

Second dress pics below. 

DAY AFTER
We did some TTD shots on the beach with Tiffany. I LOVE these shots and I can’t wait to share them with you when we receive them.

These were taken at the private dinner that Ana-Kay set up for us on the day after the wedding.

Picture by D.H.

All in all, our guests had a beautiful vacation, and our wedding could not have been more perfect! I would not have changed anything! I’m happy to answer any questions you have!
 

Professional Pics

TTD