Moon Dance Cliffs

[negrilbridetoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydm You’re very welcome, negrilbridetoo! I’m glad I could help! ***who did your hair and makeup? Were you pleased? I forgot his name but it's the one the resort recommends. They said he's the best in the area but that wasn't the case for my guests. I understand the weather is very humid there and if you have hair that gets affected by it, the moister will cause it to lose the style it has been set into…..but…not before you go outside. Five of my guests got their hair done and by the time he was finished, the style didn’t look right at all. Thankfully, they brought their curling irons so they had to go back and fix it again. Although I didn’t have high expectations, somehow mine turned out to be beautiful (until the humidity got to it). And my makeup was also good. But, I’ve done hair modeling for salons & magazines and I've seen my hair at its best...and his work didn't come anywhere close to that. Don't get me wrong, he's extremely nice, polite and has a positive attitude but I don't recommend his work. ***You mentioned you paid extra for the rehearsal dinner at MDC, was this the non-all inclusive package? We didn’t do all-inclusive and because we stayed at MDV, we had to pay an extra $30 per person for the rehearsal dinner at MDC. If you’re staying at MDV, I highly recommend not doing AI. You’ll save so much. We stayed for five days and our overall cost was only $4,000. This covered everything for 20 guests staying onsite including the recommeded10% tip for both of the 5 bedroom villas, some liquor, the wedding reception dinner for 33 guests as well as the good buy barbeque for about 25 guests. If we had done AI, the cost would’ve been $125 x 5 days x 20 people = $12,500 and it doesn’t even cover your outside guests for the reception diner and the good buy barbeque (if you’re having one). We tried not to use their liquor though. We brought some with us and also went out and bought some from the nearby supermarket. But overall, we saved about $8,500 by not doing AI.

Thanks so much rydm!

[cali2010]

Dear Rydm:

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide answers to all of my many (many) questions! You don't know how much your responses have put me at ease! I already have a few more questions for you...lol! I will try to limit myself though!

 

I really appreciate the suggestion about the rehearsal dinner at the cliffs. That option wasn't presented to me, so I feel like I may not be asking the right questions or maybe I am just not thinking outside the box!

 

I am really worried about going over budget because I feel like I am not really setting anything in stone - there are so many options and I get overwhelmed. Did you find that it all just comes together at the end? Also, how did you settle your wedding related expenses - like, were you able to put it all on a credit card or did you have to pay cash to each individual vendor? The budget/expense part really worries me because I am afraid that I don't have a true grasp on how much I am really going to spend.

 

Also, did you have a dance floor? LOL...another decision I am trying to make!

 

Congrats to all the other MDV and MDC brides! I can't wait to hear more about your planning adventures!

 

NegrilBrideToo - how exciting! We are both May brides! :-)

 

To Big3N09 - I am catching up and read your post that you linked here. I just wanted to let you know that I think you are very brave to follow your heart! Please know that you can always vent here - it seems like everyone is very supportive, no matter what! Best wishes to you!

[Un-Bride]

Quote:

Originally Posted by big3n09 Neha & UN-Bride your weddings are a month away OMG time flies! Is everything straight with MDC are you guys excited? I'm excited for you!!! Mastistyle - What's your date? How's planning coming? BTW I'm the worst, I bought a dress and don't want it and I'm reluctant to go find another one. I keep telling Kerry I am going to make my selections and have failed to do so. I want to pick my dress before choosing my bouquet and I'm still in the air about using the band or a DJ. Maybe after I hear you guys reviews I will get motivated and back on the ball. Please don't leave us hanging, when you get a chance fill us in wth all the lovely details. Best whishes to both of you and happy planning to everyone else!

We are leaving in less than a month! WOO HOO. I can't wait. I think right now I am more excited about just having a relaxing vacation than getting married. We have both been super busy the last two months, we need a break. I think we have everything together. Just need to pack and pay the photography balance. This weekend, I am doing b-pics for FH wedding gift. I hope they turn out well!

A few vendor reviews for all you gals still planning:
HairComesthebride.com - haha, I laugh everytime I type that! I ordered a flower hair pin on a Wednesday and it arrived on Friday - that's paying for standard shipping. I chose the gardenia and it is exactly as it appears online. I have no complaints, plus the FH loved it. They have lots of other hair pieces - tiaras, veils, headbands, combs, etc.

Weddingfactorydirect.com - I ordered some "bling" for my bouquet here. I had been endlessly searching for a letter 'B' rhinestone brooch for my bouquet stem and found a good option here. The upside is that the letter is on a pick so it can be used on the stem or mixed in with the flowers. The price couldn't be beat - $12.50 - it looks expensive, not cheap and fake! My one complaint - standard shipping was as much as the item itself. It weighs nothing, I can't figure out why shipping cost so much. But again, I ordered it on a Wednesday and it arrived that Saturday.

Ashley Brooke Designs - she designs custom stationary and whether you need thank you cards or invitations I would highly reccommend her! She designed an announcement for us complete with a drawing of me and my honeybear in front of the gazebo. She was a delight to work with, and she was very prompt in responding to emails. Overall, the entire process from start to finish was about 2 months, it could have been much faster but I was usually the delay in responding. Her price for custom work was VERY reasonable. Our announcements arrived yesterday with an 8x10 keepsake to be framed. I will post a copy after we return.


Hope everyone else's planning is going well!

[sunkissedleah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydm You’re very welcome, negrilbridetoo! I’m glad I could help! ***who did your hair and makeup? Were you pleased? I forgot his name but it's the one the resort recommends. They said he's the best in the area but that wasn't the case for my guests. I understand the weather is very humid there and if you have hair that gets affected by it, the moister will cause it to lose the style it has been set into…..but…not before you go outside. Five of my guests got their hair done and by the time he was finished, the style didn’t look right at all. Thankfully, they brought their curling irons so they had to go back and fix it again. Although I didn’t have high expectations, somehow mine turned out to be beautiful (until the humidity got to it). And my makeup was also good. But, I’ve done hair modeling for salons & magazines and I've seen my hair at its best...and his work didn't come anywhere close to that. Don't get me wrong, he's extremely nice, polite and has a positive attitude but I don't recommend his work. ***You mentioned you paid extra for the rehearsal dinner at MDC, was this the non-all inclusive package? We didn’t do all-inclusive and because we stayed at MDV, we had to pay an extra $30 per person for the rehearsal dinner at MDC. If you’re staying at MDV, I highly recommend not doing AI. You’ll save so much. We stayed for five days and our overall cost was only $4,000. This covered everything for 20 guests staying onsite including the recommeded10% tip for both of the 5 bedroom villas, some liquor, the wedding reception dinner for 33 guests as well as the good buy barbeque for about 25 guests. If we had done AI, the cost would’ve been $125 x 5 days x 20 people = $12,500 and it doesn’t even cover your outside guests for the reception diner and the good buy barbeque (if you’re having one). We tried not to use their liquor though. We brought some with us and also went out and bought some from the nearby supermarket. But overall, we saved about $8,500 by not doing AI.

Dear Rydm...

My fiance and are are marrying at the villas in June 2010. We are paying for our wedding party and immediate family so we have reserved the two 5 bedrooms and the 4 bedroom. Thanks SOOOOO much for the heads up on not doing all-inclusive at the villas. We are also staying for 5 days and the all inclusive option alone would be almost
$18k if not more considering we plan on having almost 70 people at the reception since my fiance is jamaican. You said that you paid a total of $4k for your guests daily meals, tips and reception dinner for 33 guests. Quick question(s).....
*did you guests eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there daily?
*did you have a wide variety of food to choose from? and if so did you have to provide them with menu before hand or were they quite flexible?
*you mention that you brought some of your own liquor, they didn't have a problem with you bringing your own? I read in an earlier post that Miriam told someone that offsite drinks were not allowed.
Thanks in advance for your reply:)

[Mastistyle]

Hi ladies-sorry I haven't been on here much. We leave next week for our wedding-and I can't wait. Of course I have a ton of things to do before we leave, but I am at the point if it doesn't get done-oh well! But I will be sure to come back with full reviews of all the vendors I am using. Have a great weekend!

[rydm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cali2010 Dear Rydm: Thank you so much for taking the time to provide answers to all of my many (many) questions! You don't know how much your responses have put me at ease! I already have a few more questions for you...lol! I will try to limit myself though! I really appreciate the suggestion about the rehearsal dinner at the cliffs. That option wasn't presented to me, so I feel like I may not be asking the right questions or maybe I am just not thinking outside the box! I am really worried about going over budget because I feel like I am not really setting anything in stone - there are so many options and I get overwhelmed. Did you find that it all just comes together at the end? Also, how did you settle your wedding related expenses - like, were you able to put it all on a credit card or did you have to pay cash to each individual vendor? The budget/expense part really worries me because I am afraid that I don't have a true grasp on how much I am really going to spend. Also, did you have a dance floor? LOL...another decision I am trying to make! Congrats to all the other MDV and MDC brides! I can't wait to hear more about your planning adventures! NegrilBrideToo - how exciting! We are both May brides! :-) To Big3N09 - I am catching up and read your post that you linked here. I just wanted to let you know that I think you are very brave to follow your heart! Please know that you can always vent here - it seems like everyone is very supportive, no matter what! Best wishes to you!

Cali2010 - you’re very welcome! I’m sooooo sorry for taking forever to get back to you! I’ve been a little busy these past couple of weeks but things are back to normal now :-). Below are the answers to your questions. Please don’t limit yourself…. feel free to ask any questions you have! Really! I’m very happy to help!!


***I really appreciate the suggestion about the rehearsal dinner at the cliffs. That option wasn't presented to me, so I feel like I may not be asking the right questions or maybe I am just not thinking outside the box!

They don’t advertise this option. I had to call and ask them if they could do it for me. I got the idea from Claudette, a former bride on this board. She didn’t do AI but during her stay, the resort planned a special AI dinner for her and her guests for $30/person. So I called and asked if they could do the same thing for my rehearsal/welcome dinner, which they were every happy to arrange.


***I am really worried about going over budget because I feel like I am not really setting anything in stone - there are so many options and I get overwhelmed. Did you find that it all just comes together at the end?

It really comes together at the end. Also, what I did was keep track of every single expense on excel. It’ll help you see where you are with your budget. Shoot me an email and I can send you the spreadsheet I used for my wedding. My e-mail is [email protected]


***Also, how did you settle your wedding related expenses - like, were you able to put it all on a credit card or did you have to pay cash to each individual vendor? The budget/expense part really worries me because I am afraid that I don't have a true grasp on how much I am really going to spend.

Except for the videographer, we paid all venders through the resort with a credit card. We just thought it would be safer and easer to make one big payment rather than deal with different vendors with different due dates.


***Also, did you have a dance floor? LOL...another decision I am trying to make!

We didn’t have a dance floor. Honestly, you don’t really need one. Most of us wore our shoes the entire time and the sand didn’t bother us at all. Besides, I found the dance floor to be very costly…. I think they were asking $400 for it.

[rydm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunkissedleah Dear Rydm... My fiance and are are marrying at the villas in June 2010. We are paying for our wedding party and immediate family so we have reserved the two 5 bedrooms and the 4 bedroom. Thanks SOOOOO much for the heads up on not doing all-inclusive at the villas. We are also staying for 5 days and the all inclusive option alone would be almost $18k if not more considering we plan on having almost 70 people at the reception since my fiance is jamaican. You said that you paid a total of $4k for your guests daily meals, tips and reception dinner for 33 guests. Quick question(s)..... *did you guests eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there daily? *did you have a wide variety of food to choose from? and if so did you have to provide them with menu before hand or were they quite flexible? *you mention that you brought some of your own liquor, they didn't have a problem with you bringing your own? I read in an earlier post that Miriam told someone that offsite drinks were not allowed. Thanks in advance for your reply:)

Hi Sunkissedleah! Congratulations! I’m veryyy sorry for the late reply. I’ve been a little busy these past two weeks but…I’m back now to help you guys with any questions you may have :-). Not doing AI will definitely help you save a LOT! Especially when you’re paying for your guests. Below are the answers to your questions. If you have more, please feel free to ask!


***did your guests eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there daily?
Yes, all of them ate there…three times a day + snacks
P.S. – Out of 20 guests, 4 were kids (Ages 2, 5, 7 & 11)


***did you have a wide variety of food to choose from? and if so did you have to provide them with menu before hand or were they quite flexible?

When you get there, they will ask you the times you want to have the three meals served. I think we did 10am for breakfast, 2pm for lunch, and 7pm for dinner. And…after each meal, they will ask you what you would like to have for the next meal. They have menus for all breakfast, lunch, and dinner but they can also make ANYTHING you want as long as the ingredients are available in Jamaica :-). They’re extremely flexible! We never used their menus nor did we provide our own. We just told our chef, Mark, to cook whatever are his most favorite Jamaican cuisines. So…he cooked whatever he wanted the entire time. And boy, was he amazing! Every single dish was super delicious!!! Five-star quality with five-star service at a five-star resort :-).


***you mention that you brought some of your own liquor, they didn't have a problem with you bringing your own? I read in an earlier post that Miriam told someone that offsite drinks were not allowed.

MDCliffs doesn’t allow it but if you’re staying at MDVillas, you can bring your own liquor. I actually remember asking Kim (Chicago office) if it was okay and she said it was completely fine. Just know that if you’re taking the liquor with you from the US, Jamaican customs only permits 2 litters per person, at least back in August 09. But please verify this with either Jamaican embassy or customs (Jamaica Customs Department) to see if this rule hasn’t changed. These days…airports & customs change their rules every minute.

Happy planning :-)

[rydm]

Mastistyle & Un-bride, have a wonderful wedding!!! I'm sure it will be beautiful!!!

[Un-Bride]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastistyle Hi ladies-sorry I haven't been on here much. We leave next week for our wedding-and I can't wait. Of course I have a ton of things to do before we leave, but I am at the point if it doesn't get done-oh well! But I will be sure to come back with full reviews of all the vendors I am using. Have a great weekend!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydm Mastistyle & Un-bride, have a wonderful wedding!!! I'm sure it will be beautiful!!!

Mastistyle - I know you are so excited!! Can't wait to hear all about it and to see pics when you return.

Rydm - Thank you so much! I am busting at the seams with excitement.


I have posted our announcement on our blog and a few of my DIY details (ok, I only have 2!) .... oh yeah, and a few of my boudoir pics. Check it out and let me know what you think!!

[Un-Bride]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastistyle Hi ladies-sorry I haven't been on here much. We leave next week for our wedding-and I can't wait. Of course I have a ton of things to do before we leave, but I am at the point if it doesn't get done-oh well! But I will be sure to come back with full reviews of all the vendors I am using. Have a great weekend!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rydm Mastistyle & Un-bride, have a wonderful wedding!!! I'm sure it will be beautiful!!!

Mastistyle - I know you are so excited!! Can't wait to hear all about it and to see pics when you return.

Rydm - Thank you so much! I am busting at the seams with excitement.


I have posted our announcement on our blog and a few of my DIY details (ok, I only have 2!) .... oh yeah, and a few of my boudoir pics. Check it out and let me know what you think!!