Sandals singles???

[TandDJamaica09]

Hi!

I am planning to get married in Ocho Rios, Jamaica in July 2009. My travel agent had helped me narrow down the resort to: Sandals Dunn's River, Beaches Boscobel, and Riu Ocho Rios. I am a teacher (as are many of my friends), so I am looking for affordability, but also a place that has a lot to do and will allow me to have a private reception after my ceremony without breaking my budget.

 

I really love Sandal's Dunn's River and I could definitely see myself getting married there, but the problem is, I don't quite understand what this would mean for my single friends (my maid of honor and sister in particular since they are obviously VIPs!). Do they have to pay double for a room since they are singles? Is there a special room rate for two people? My travel agent told me there are no "double" rooms with two beds, but there has to be a way around this. Kids are not an issue, because if my FI's sister brings her kids, they are going to stay at Beaches if we get married at Sandal's. I just don't want my single friends/family to feel awkward!

 

P.S. I cannot tell you how much this forum has already helped me! You ladies are all AMAZING!

[KathleenandDan]

I don't know much about Riu except for what I have seen on this website. Seems like ALOT of people get married there. I've been to two Sandals resorts (Montego Bay and Royal Caribbean) and loved them both, but I believe they are a couples only resort. (maybe why no double beds) I'm getting married at Beaches Boscobel, because they are owned by Sandals and I have my two minor children attending my wedding. Two days after the wedding my FI and I are moving to Sandals Grande for our honeymoon. The rooms I am booking for my guests at Boscobel have two double beds and a pull out double couch. Sandals/Beaches are more expensive, but I believe in you get what you pay for. I hope I helped some what. Wnjoy the forum and best of luck to you.

[jamaicabride09]

Congrats to you!! We are getting married at SGOR and do have some single people coming to our wedding. We found out from our TA that Sandals requires two people in a room. There are only king size beds. On our website and in our STD information we have clearly stated that Sandals does not care who the couple is; however, they must have two people in a room. A couple can be two friends or a sister and aunt.

 

Good luck and happy planning!

[JamaicaBride2009]

My husband and I just got married at Beaches Boscobel last weekend. I cannot say enough good things about it! We had 44 guests, including 6 kids and singles of various ages. Kamesha (Beaches WC) told us they did 3 weddings the week we were there. We were entertained and found so much to do, it was sad when we left. All of our guests had a fabulous time... and fabulous rooms.

 

We went to Sandals Dunn River for our honeymoon. While we enjoyed it as well, it was crowded and the energy is different than Beaches. It is very low key, relaxed, and couple oriented. We did see a wedding every day we were there, so they do quite a few.

 

Whatever choice you make... it will be a good one. We prefered Beaches because of the "high energy" atmosphere... but that is just us.

[JenniferSS]

I just wanted to clear up a couple of misconceptions!

 

Sandals does not require two people to a room- however they will charge a single person the same rate as two people in the room!

 

There are only king size beds at the Sandals resorts.

 

Your TA will have to get permission from the general manager for the singles to stay at the resort as it is a couples resort-generally this is not a problem, especially for women. I would obtain that permission prior to deciding on what property to book your wedding at -an alternative is for the singles to stay at Beaches Boscabel but with them being members of the wedding party it's probably not quite what you had in mind.

 

Kathleen andDan- I couldn't have said it better myself! -

"Sandals/Beaches are more expensive, but I believe in you get what you pay for. I hope I helped some what. Wnjoy the forum and best of luck to you.

[JennLizFran]

I have a question along the same lines. My brother is 19, and single, and still lives at home. My parents are supporting him, so if he were to come, they would be paying for it. Obviously, they don't want to have to foot the bill for a whole other room. Is is possible for him to stay in their room (they were thinking of getting a room with a seperate bed and living room, or maybe one of the 2 floor suites)? How would this work?

[mauibabe14]

All of the rooms in Sandals (at least in Royal Bahamian) and I presume everywhere include King beds, for couples. My 18 yr. old sister stayed at Sandals, but my parents had to get a separate room for just her. They could have had someone else stay with her (because they already paid for 2), but we couldn't think of just one other person to invite without alienating other friends or family.

[IrieBride08]

I had several single guests at my wedding and they shared rooms. I will say that Sandals Grande told us that there were only king-size bed, but does have some rooms with double beds (queens). My cousin had a room that had double beds. They were the bungalow style rooms on the Riviera side of the resort and were pretty cute.

 

It's probably safer to bank on having the one bed though since that's how the majority of the rooms are.