Villa Weddings Brides - Jamaica!

Hi All, 

I'm starting this forum for all the brides that are getting married in Jamaica and instead of opting for the "all inclusive" resort wedding (which I totally wish I opted for but now its too late), went for the villa wedding for whatever reasons. Here are mine:

• wanted it more private - didn't want to hear the other poolside chatter whilst saying my vows
• didn't want to be hemmed in by all inclusive packages - wanted my own floral deco, cake, drinks
• wanted to choose my own everything ... 

What I didn't bank on is that having a villa wedding is basically like having a wedding at your own house.  You basically have to do everything yourself:

• Entertainment
• Catering
• Flowers
• Cutlery
• Table rental
• EVERYTHING!!!

Sooo... here's a forum for the particular bride who thought "yay destination wedding!" then

"ohhh... destination wedding!"  Let me know your thoughts and or ideas and I will definitely be sharing all of the madness that is the transcontinental (I've got not just one country but 3 London, New York & Jamaica ) wedding that I'm trying to plan.

Oh and all of my best wishes and good lucks to the 2012 brides!

A little more info on me:

Wedding date: April 21, 2012

Wedding site: Silver Sands, Montego Bay

Awesome Fiance: The Tim

I think there are very few brides on this Jamaica forum who are having weddings at villas or non-inclusive hotels, but you'll still get a ton of wonderful ideas from other brides. My fiance and I are having our wedding at a small, non-inclusive hotel. It's not a villa, but we do have to handle everything except for the reception dinner which is being catered by the hotel. Luckily, we have an outside wedding coordinator who's implementing everything for us.

Oh thanks so much Redginger.  I'm beginning to think that I was the only one.  We're getting ready to go to Jamaica next week to meet with wedding coordinators and I'm hoping that he or she will make my life a little easier since I do plan on taking a very involved approach but its hard when not only in a different country but in a totally different time zone.  I just bought this book and I'm hoping it will help organize all the clippings and what not that I've been gathering for last couple of months.  Its insanely organized "The Wedding Bible Planner".  

I'll keep this updated with the rental stuff and etc.  as it becomes more clear. Here's a picture of the villa though... My fiance took one look at it and said... "Yes, that's where I'm marrying you!"

all my best,

Soon2bMrsG

Hi ladies,

We are getting married at Mount Pleasant in Runaway bay and settled on this one after many weeks of seearching through villas and wow are some expensive....Even ours is a little on the $$$ side but once in a lifetime right?

Same as you soontobe, we wanted the exclusivity part and the not feeling like we were having a conveyor belt wedding and....same as you, we are now thinking how much easier it would have been to have a conveyor belt wedding!!!

After 2 not so great experiences with planners, we are now doing as much as we can with a planner out here (UK) and as much as we can by ourselves. Very very frustrating dealing with planners that completely twist my requests but there we are...

Fiance is Jamaican so that should ish make things a little easier???

Anyway, would seriously love to hear how your visit goes partic. re. rentals and pricings. I am guessing (almost certain) that if I phone up to get prices, they will here my english accent and double the price...hence Fiance will do this, soon I hope

Good luck!! I certainly need it....4 months to go!

Villa weddings can be great only if you have a reliable wedding planner in Jamaica.  I promise Sadeki i would recommend her to any bride that would listen as she is very reasonable and plans well visit her site and also just drop any bride that used her on the forum a message and hear what they have to say about her.  www.chic-eventsja.com or just email her [email protected] she will make your budget work trust me and all brides i have recommend is pleased give her a try and let me know your outcome.  Goodluck

OMG...that villa is gorgeous! What a wonderful choice. Have a great time in Jamaica next week and keep us posted!

 

Originally Posted by soon2beMrsG 

Oh thanks so much Redginger.  I'm beginning to think that I was the only one.  We're getting ready to go to Jamaica next week to meet with wedding coordinators and I'm hoping that he or she will make my life a little easier since I do plan on taking a very involved approach but its hard when not only in a different country but in a totally different time zone.  I just bought this book and I'm hoping it will help organize all the clippings and what not that I've been gathering for last couple of months.  Its insanely organized "The Wedding Bible Planner".  

 

I'll keep this updated with the rental stuff and etc.  as it becomes more clear. Here's a picture of the villa though... My fiance took one look at it and said... "Yes, that's where I'm marrying you!"

 

 

all my best,

Soon2bMrsG

 

THANK YOU SO MUCH CATERERBRIDE!  I'm definitely thinking about a planner here too but will definitely let you know how things pan out from my visit.  We're hitting NYC first for the wedding dress shopping (yes to make everything MORE complicated - wedding dress shopping in NY because that's where the MOH and Mom are and I'm having a special brunch for the MOH and the rest of the bridesmaids.  I had my artist friend create these gift boxes that will double as keepsake boxes  for them and my mom and the FI's mom.  Since my colors are "tiffany blue" (i really hate that descriptive because it sounds so pretentious but it is what it is) and chocolate so she made this boot box size covered in fabric and intstead of Tiffany & Co it says "Natalie & Co." and inside I made them individual "how to be" bridesmaids books with swatches of the colors of the bridesmaid dresses (i decided to let them choose their own and I'll approve - i have to much to worry about) and "Team Wedding" Tshirts and when I get to NY first stop tiffany's to get martini glasses or something else not sure yet. Will send pics as soon as I get them.  

more to come later.

Originally Posted by catererbride 

Hi ladies,

 

We are getting married at Mount Pleasant in Runaway bay and settled on this one after many weeks of seearching through villas and wow are some expensive....Even ours is a little on the $$$ side but once in a lifetime right?

 

Same as you soontobe, we wanted the exclusivity part and the not feeling like we were having a conveyor belt wedding and....same as you, we are now thinking how much easier it would have been to have a conveyor belt wedding!!!

 

After 2 not so great experiences with planners, we are now doing as much as we can with a planner out here (UK) and as much as we can by ourselves. Very very frustrating dealing with planners that completely twist my requests but there we are...

 

Fiance is Jamaican so that should ish make things a little easier???

 

Anyway, would seriously love to hear how your visit goes partic. re. rentals and pricings. I am guessing (almost certain) that if I phone up to get prices, they will here my english accent and double the price...hence Fiance will do this, soon I hope

 

 

Good luck!! I certainly need it....4 months to go!

 

 

 

 

thanks so much redginger!  I can't wait to see it.  Live pics coming next week! 

Originally Posted by redginger 

OMG...that villa is gorgeous! What a wonderful choice. Have a great time in Jamaica next week and keep us posted!

 

 

Thanks so much Sasha I will check out her site and see if i can arrange a meeting with her when I'm jamaica next week.

Originally Posted by sasha 

Villa weddings can be great only if you have a reliable wedding planner in Jamaica.  I promise Sadeki i would recommend her to any bride that would listen as she is very reasonable and plans well visit her site and also just drop any bride that used her on the forum a message and hear what they have to say about her.  www.chic-eventsja.com or just email her [email protected] she will make your budget work trust me and all brides i have recommend is pleased give her a try and let me know your outcome.  Goodluck

Soon2be,

That sounds so lovely and...organized!! Here's something you might like then.... one of the many many things I am going to try and sort for the wedding is to have an artist at the villa to paint the reception 'as it happens' so to speak. I came across this idea online and I love it! Then post wedding, maybe we'll have prints made for our parents??

I think I have taken on quote a challenge but it is what it is and I can't wait! Whilst you are over there, you could pop into into Hummingbird Hall to see what it's like - the staff have been hands down the best to deal with re. communication, friendliness etc... it would be interesting to see what there set up is like (to see how you should do it at the villa?).  Also go to Half Moon for breakfast or stay a night if you can, the service is out of this world. I first went there with my family when I was 18 and then spebnt New years (just gone) with the fiance - still fabulous just too expensive for our wedding

until the next installment....

CB