Moon Dance Cliffs

[NM2013]

Hi all, just throwing my 2 cents in on the vendor fee issue or more specifically, what I think is really the “makeup artist†issue (I will explain below).  I would not freak out too much, because ultimately they really should honor what’s written in your contract.  If you’ve already booked and it’s not in your contract, a simple email to the Chicago office or even Kerry should do the trick.  The same thing happened a while back when they started adding the fee for a tent in inclement weather - certain people had it in their contract and some did not; it depended on if you booked after the policy change.

 

I booked with Rashel for both makeup and hair for me, my bridal party and 2 moms a year in advance of my Feb. 2013 wedding.  I didn’t really start the planning with Kerry until September/October 2012, but when we started, she asked me for the list of vendors that I had booked.  Back towards the end of December, when the planning correspondence between Kerry and I increased, she sent me a really good overview of everything that had been discussed to date.  In that email is when I got the:  â€œWe no longer allow offsite makeup artist on site, since you have already booked her we will allow her onsite to do your make up service. However there will be a 15% vendor fee on her overall service.â€

 

I sent her firm - but respectful (don’t want to shoot the messenger) - email back stating that this policy was nowhere in any of the communication previous received from MDC and to try to implement it in the eleventh hour was both unreasonable and bad business.  After she spoke to “higher authority,†the fee was waived and the issue was resolved.  In that same email I also asked if it was going to also be an issue that I booked with another vendor for linens, napkins and chairs.  The answer was no problem, which leads me to speculate what the real issue is.

 

Having been to MDC, I don’t think it’s a "general" vendor issue which is why the same does not apply for a photographer, DJ, etc.  I think the real issue is they specifically don’t want an “outside†makeup artist or hair stylist on site when their spa already offers those services.  If you read the wording in the emails received, it only refers to an “offsite stylist/makeup artist†specifically, not all vendors. 

 

A few days before our wedding, I went to the spa for a pedicure and was asked by a few different people if I had booked my beauty appointments yet for the day of the wedding.  When I replied that I had someone coming in to do my hair and makeup, I could see the disappointment in their eyes even though I was greeted with a smile.  Hiring someone from the outside takes money out of their pockets.  Plus, I’m sure it’s that feeling of someone coming into your own house and saying I can do this better than you.  I get what MDC is trying to do – there are a lot of resorts that have fees for all outside vendors - it just needs to be in their contract from the beginning when you book.   

 

Sorry for the long post.

 

…............PS: I’m still working on both my review and planning thread and promise to post soon!  Since we got back to the states, the “real world†kicked back in quickly and I have not had the time.

[NM2013]

@ Mocha Hontas - If you're on FB, search for Chasity Artistry Rashel Edwards and friend her.  She is very responsive on FB and you can see lots of pictures of her amazing work.  No matter the skin tone or complexion, she is truly an artist. 

[Mocha Hontas]

hey NM2013, I did just that. looked her up and contacted her. her work is good. I especially like that she airbrushes! when she responded she told me that MDC charges her $175 + 20 percent in which I. promptly called MDC and they rectified that. No fee. Thank you!

[Mocha Hontas]

hey NM2013, I did just that. looked her up and contacted her. her work is good. I especially like that she airbrushes! when she responded she told me that MDC charges her $175 + 20 percent in which I. promptly called MDC and they rectified that. No fee. Thank you!

[amybutz89]

Has anyone seen any reviews on the spa at MDC? I cant decide if I should get my make-up and hair done there or get an outside vendor.

[Dazeydawl]

Has anyone seen any reviews on the spa at MDC? I cant decide if I should get my make-up and hair done there or get an outside vendor.

I'm also interested if anyone has any info on hair and makeup from the spa. I'm getting married at tensing pen and they only have one vendor for hair and makeup which I'm not really impressed with, but they charge a $500 outside vendor fee so my only other option is to find another salon in negril to goto day of. I can't seem to find any pictures from Kamala spa of the work they do for weddings or pricing

[LMC1]

I was married at Moon Dance Cliffs on 3/16/13. It was amazing and worth every penny! My main advice is to to just enjoy the entire time, know that it will all work out and let yourself have fun with your friends and family. Everyone has told me how much fun they had, we did not hear one negative comment from any of our guests and we had 76 guests at the wedding. Every single room at MDC was reserved with our guests and we had 11 guests say at other properties. The service at MDC is ridiculous. They go above and beyond to make sure you and your guests are taken care of. I could not have dreamed of a better time. I'm still in awe of how well everything went and what a good time we all had. When you are there you quickly learn that the staff's number one priority is to help make sure your needs are met and your having a good time. The food is delicious and the drinks keep flowing. The quality of the resort tops any other all-inclusive I have ever stayed at. If you have any questions let me know but I can tell you that our flowers were gorgeous (Floral Fantasy), the DJ was very good (Sound Illusions), our photographer was spot on (Clayton with WPA) and our band was the hit of the party... I would recommend them to anyone in a second, we got so many compliments on how good they were, our guests danced the entire three hours that they played. The band is the PACE Band and I would hire them again in a second!!!

 

Also, I did use the spa at MDC for my hair, my seven bridesmaids hair and two other family members. They did all 10 of our hair quickly and nicely. I would say that I've seen better wedding hair styles before at high end salons but I thought they did a good job overall on the bridesmaids hair and I actually loved my hair. None of my bridesmaids had ideas on how they wanted to do their hair so they just did it but I think if you have a picture of what you want (like I did) they will do a great job matching it. Also, I had my makeup done and it was good, not out of this world but I was satisfied and received many compliments

 

Let me know if anyone has any specific questions!!!

 

Good luck and congrats to all the upcoming brides.

[MsFaszion]

This is good to know re. all the happy brides who've had their wedding at MDC.  Sadly I'm still torn.

[Mocha Hontas]

LMC1 how far In advance did you pick your floral arrangements? I booked Tai flora but because myweddingisn't until April 2014, they don't seem to be too concerned with me right now.

[LMC1]

I contacted Floral Fantasy about a year before my wedding and then I put my deposit down and signed the contract about 6 months before the wedding and finalized everything with them about 1-2 months before the wedding. I noticed that I did not have much communication with all the vendors until a few months before my wedding.