Iberostar Rose Hall Brides - Post all info/questions here!

[IslandBride201x]

Congratulations and welcome!!!  There is so much great information on these boards.  

 

Here are some more answers to your questions from a future bride on how we are handling timing.  I got engaged Jan. 21, 2011 and we are getting marries July 22, 2012.  We had always promised people at least a years notice so they could save for a destination wedding, so we have spaced everything out pretty far.

 

1.  I sent out save the dates around May 10, 2011.  Word had pretty much already gotten around to everyone, so we figured we'd get these out as soon as we could.

2.  We are planning on sending out our invites Jan. 3, 2012, and our RSVP will be due May 1, 2012.  That is the final payment date, so I figure people will know by that time if they need to make final payment.  Some could book last minute and some could cancel, but we'll have a close number by that point.

3.  I am using a travel agent through AAA.  They actually put the deposit down on my block for us, so that was nice.  I blocked 12 rooms to start and they added 5 more when we filled it.  I have had some troubles with my agent though, so the TA has been one of the most stressful parts for me.  I just didn't get a good one, but am dealing with it and making sure we are all taken care of.

4.  Yes, I included TA information in our STDs, and to date 30 people have booked.  No business card.  I just included her info on one of the pages on our boarding passes.

5.  My goal is the May 1st date to know how many people are coming, obviously with the exception of last minute additions and cancellations.  Hopefully those will be minimal.  I have had 80 people express interest in coming, but I am not counting on that many.  I built my budget looking at expenses if 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 people come to the wedding so that I can tell where I need to cut if the highest number come, thank goodness for excel.  I am figuring we'll be around 60, but I really won't know until they all book.

 

Hope this helps. 

 

Originally Posted by kate7711 

Hello all past/future brides!! I am planning on wedding at IRHS on May 18, 2013 and have TONS of questions for you past brides.. First off, congratulations on what must have been a beautiful and amazing wedding in Jamaica! I guess i will just ask the questions i have on my mind right now, and just post more as i think of them.. Everyone and anyone, please respond because I sure could use the help!!1. How many months before your wedding did you send save the dates?2. How many months before your wedding did you send invitations?3. Did you use a travel agent? If so, I know most require a deposit to "hold" the rooms, did you pay this deposit yourself, then just got refunded the money once people paid?4. Did you provide travel agent contact information on your save-the dates or invites (did you include their business cards??)

5. When did you find out how many people were REALLY coming. (I feel like most people are saying "yes were coming!" but im not sure if they are REALLY coming, or just trying to be polite). When did you get a final headcount.. and how did you budget your wedding without this headcount???

 

Thanks brides!!

 

-Kate  

 

[susan1672]

Congrats! Can't wait to see pics! Enjoy your honeymoon!!
 

Originally Posted by futuremrstgun 

 

well, ladies...i got married!!! 

 

its all now something me, my husband and our guests can reminisce about...

 

all went very well..of course, there were a few hiccups...like, i don't have a clue where my bridal hanger is...didn't get ALL the decor the way i wanted..but still beautiful..had to move the wedding inside due to the weather AND i feel as though Marcia E. Roberts didn't have enough time to capture mine and torry's love (eventhough she's incredibly prompt, professional, patient and overwhelmingly accommodating) due to some crazy timing with having to move things inside, etc..plus, i was late walking down the aisle (again, timing, etc) but all in all, everything was great!!!

 

i decided to just 'go with the flow' and adopt a 'no problem, mon' attitude at the last minute...our guests were happy and i'm confident that everyone had a good time.

 

hoping to post pics, soon.  stay tuned.

 

ok, ladies, that's it from here... hope ya'll have a GREAT weekend..let the honeymoon commence in 4.3.2.1... ;-)

 

until next time, be blessed!!!

 

R~

 

[IslandBride201x]

Congratulations!!!!  Enjoy your honeymoon and can't wait to see pictures.
 

Originally Posted by futuremrstgun 

 

well, ladies...i got married!!! 

 

its all now something me, my husband and our guests can reminisce about...

 

all went very well..of course, there were a few hiccups...like, i don't have a clue where my bridal hanger is...didn't get ALL the decor the way i wanted..but still beautiful..had to move the wedding inside due to the weather AND i feel as though Marcia E. Roberts didn't have enough time to capture mine and torry's love (eventhough she's incredibly prompt, professional, patient and overwhelmingly accommodating) due to some crazy timing with having to move things inside, etc..plus, i was late walking down the aisle (again, timing, etc) but all in all, everything was great!!!

 

i decided to just 'go with the flow' and adopt a 'no problem, mon' attitude at the last minute...our guests were happy and i'm confident that everyone had a good time.

 

hoping to post pics, soon.  stay tuned.

 

ok, ladies, that's it from here... hope ya'll have a GREAT weekend..let the honeymoon commence in 4.3.2.1... ;-)

 

until next time, be blessed!!!

 

R~

 

[JamaicaSukie]

Hey there! Congratulations to you!  I'm getting married at the Suites on 7/7/12.  I sent out my save the dates at the end of August.  We wanted to give our guests about a year's notice so they can try work out a way to attend.  I don't plan on sending invitations until March or April with an rsvp date of 6/7/12.  We are giving our guests OOT bags so we want to have as close to an accurate number at least one month before the wedding.  We are using a travel agent (beach bum vacations) because he was able to get us some incentives with the hotel for booking a certain number of guests/rooms like free and upgraded nights, free cocktail hour, etc.  He did require a deposit of $100 per room, but as the guests book their rooms we get each $100 back towards our own trip.  We included our website on the STDs so that's how we are leading our guests to the travel agent information.  We are also using word of mouth to get it across that guest must book their room through our agent (or we lose our money).  As of now, my FI and I pretty much know who is coming and who's just blowing smoke but we are going to set the rsvp date for one month before the wedding.  Obviously, we may have last minute additions or cancellations but the nice thing about a DW is that you really do have to plan for it so most people should know what they are doing by the rsvp date.
 

Originally Posted by kate7711 

Hello all past/future brides!! I am planning on wedding at IRHS on May 18, 2013 and have TONS of questions for you past brides.. First off, congratulations on what must have been a beautiful and amazing wedding in Jamaica! I guess i will just ask the questions i have on my mind right now, and just post more as i think of them.. Everyone and anyone, please respond because I sure could use the help!!1. How many months before your wedding did you send save the dates?2. How many months before your wedding did you send invitations?3. Did you use a travel agent? If so, I know most require a deposit to "hold" the rooms, did you pay this deposit yourself, then just got refunded the money once people paid?4. Did you provide travel agent contact information on your save-the dates or invites (did you include their business cards??)

5. When did you find out how many people were REALLY coming. (I feel like most people are saying "yes were coming!" but im not sure if they are REALLY coming, or just trying to be polite). When did you get a final headcount.. and how did you budget your wedding without this headcount???

 

Thanks brides!!

 

-Kate  

 

[vbbbtk]

Engaged in Nov, STD/Invite sent out May I believe, most people already knew about it so they could be planning/saving.  Like I said before I am not sending out another invitation.  I included an early RSVP for people to get to me by August, Yes, no, maybe,  to give me a rough idea.  I am using a TA but I did not put money down on rooms.  Everyone is booking through the TA, we were able to get a discount and we will get so much money back per guest booked.  I knew everyone would be traveling on different days and staying at different lengths so I wanted to leave this open to my guest to do what they like.  Plus I have been royally screwed putting deposits down for people and then not holding up to it.  We have a wedding website, this was included in invites and all of the TA information is posted on there and my TA also composed an email that was sent out to everyone too.  A majority of the people that RSVPd yes have already booked and my TA is updating me when anyone books and I know the No's already so there are a few maybes that are floating out there but we have a pretty good idea of who will most likely book and who will not.  I'm not too concerned with final numbers yet. 
 

Originally Posted by kate7711 

Hello all past/future brides!! I am planning on wedding at IRHS on May 18, 2013 and have TONS of questions for you past brides.. First off, congratulations on what must have been a beautiful and amazing wedding in Jamaica! I guess i will just ask the questions i have on my mind right now, and just post more as i think of them.. Everyone and anyone, please respond because I sure could use the help!!1. How many months before your wedding did you send save the dates?2. How many months before your wedding did you send invitations?3. Did you use a travel agent? If so, I know most require a deposit to "hold" the rooms, did you pay this deposit yourself, then just got refunded the money once people paid?4. Did you provide travel agent contact information on your save-the dates or invites (did you include their business cards??)

5. When did you find out how many people were REALLY coming. (I feel like most people are saying "yes were coming!" but im not sure if they are REALLY coming, or just trying to be polite). When did you get a final headcount.. and how did you budget your wedding without this headcount???

 

Thanks brides!!

 

-Kate  

 

[pmwoodard1978]

I have a question for past brides or people who have visited the Beach. Are the electrical outlets the same as in the US? I'm bringing down a hand steamer and I know that my dad is planning on bringing a computer and I need to know if we need to get an adapter or if it will work through their outlets.

 

Paula

[futuremrstgun]

my guests stayed at the beach this week...YES..all outlets work with US appliances.

 

R~

Originally Posted by pmwoodard1978 

I have a question for past brides or people who have visited the Beach. Are the electrical outlets the same as in the US? I'm bringing down a hand steamer and I know that my dad is planning on bringing a computer and I need to know if we need to get an adapter or if it will work through their outlets.

 

Paula

 

[futuremrstgun]

hey ladies...

 

for those of you looking for 'sneak peak' pics..check out my planning thread..i've uploaded a few pics there.

 

we had to move our ceremony inside due to the weather..and i hope to get professional pics soon so you can check out the ceremony site.

 

well, i'm off to enjoy my husband!!!

 

until next time, be blessed and HAPPY PLANNING!!!

 

R~

[vbbbtk]

R~

 

Thanks so much for the updates and Congratulations!
 

Originally Posted by futuremrstgun 

hey ladies...

 

for those of you looking for 'sneak peak' pics..check out my planning thread..i've uploaded a few pics there.

 

we had to move our ceremony inside due to the weather..and i hope to get professional pics soon so you can check out the ceremony site.

 

well, i'm off to enjoy my husband!!!

 

until next time, be blessed and HAPPY PLANNING!!!

 

R~

 

[luvmoo]

Hey Ladies!!!! 

For those that have already sent your Notarized documents to the resort... It says in all of the docs to send the notarized papers via Purolator, UPS, DHL etc... has anyone sent them via express post rather than the couriers?? Only reason i am asking.. is i was just quoted from the courier companies.. between 61.00 and 87.00 to mail 4 pieces of paper!!!!!!!!!!! i went to 4 of them.. and the cheapest was Purolator, at 61.00.. I just find that is sooo expensive.. for 4 pieces of paper.. so i was thinking of just sending them via Canada post, express post.. that way they are still tracked.. but will be so much cheaper.... 

 

Thoughts, advise or stories on what you other ladies did??