ROR review 1/5/09 *long w/ pics

[cleo22]

Thanks so much for this review - we have been considering Ocho Rios and ROR so this has been VERY helpful. So nice to see reviews of the activities you can do outside the resort as well. Congratulations!

[Bride010101]

Thanks everyone! We had a fabulous time. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I can try and help.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbie wow becky! i cant believe your wedding has come and gone already, it seems like just yesterday you were planning everything!   it sounds like you had an amazing time, and im so glad! you and sean are glowing with love and the pics are such a great testament   cant wait to see your pro pics!   ps ADORE the brown and white bikini! what a great pic!

I know... time just flew by! It's amazing that its already come and gone. And thanks that was my favorite suit - got to love VS!

[jrodsgirl]

Great review and pics. Thanks for sharing.

[Bride010101]

I've recieved some questions from several individuals... and since some of them are repeated I thought I would just copy and paste some of the answers here for anyone else who is curious:

 

1) Do you have templates of the documents you gave your guests about the resort, your wedding...etc that you would be willing to share?

I *think* i still have them and will email them to you who have asked. I should have my invitations/std letter, our welcome letter, timelines, and programs saved. For information on the resort itself I mostly used my wedding webpage. For more details look at: Our Wedding Website (most of the info is taken from the Riu website)

 

2) How much was the poolside reception and what did it offer? (if you don't mind speaking about price, of course)

The poolside reception cost me $15/person. This included $10/person for an open bar and $5/person for the tables and tablecloths. The extra $5 for tables is kind of a jip because I think the tables are already there anyways... but I didn't bother arguing about it. I also brought candles and petals that they put on the tables for me. Then I spent $300 for the dj for 2 hours. He was awesome!

 

3) What photography package did you get and how much was it?

We actually didn't go with a photographer. We had originally won a contest for one but had some financial problems come up that zapped our remaining wedding budget. (thankfully I did so much way ahead of time or I would have ended up cutting even more). We were lucky to have one of my uncles and a close family friend who are into photography - so they had nicer cameras and the eye for better pictures/setups - who were already coming that did our photos from us. Our family friend even got up with us to do a TTD. Still waiting to see how they all turn out.

 

I know lots of brides have used the Photoshop that's onsite. If you do a serach through the Jamaica section you should be able to find some updated prices.

 

4) What decor did you bring with you? Would you do that again if you could or buy things at the market there?

We brought down all our own flowers. I have mixed views on whether I would do it again. We ordered them from an online vendor - and although I loved them - they were a pain to bring down with us. Also, since I ordered them early and our bridal party changed I spent more money in the long run. On the positive side they look great in pictures and we were able to bring them home with us.

 

I also brought down hanging flowers for the gazebo. They looked cool and were easy to do. We also brought flower petals for the aisle which added a nice touch.

 

We also brought bubbles and programs down. The programs added some more color. And we had a sand ceremony stuff we brought from home on the table inside the gazebo.

 

We chose not to get chair covers and sashes. I'm so glad we saved the money hear. We didn't want it to look super formal or anything... so the basic brown chairs were perfect for us.

 

 

5) Was there a website you found the off property excursions or did you go through the hotel?

We booked our Dunns Falls catamarn trip through the resort. They were the cheapest and easiest. (You can get 15% off just by getting a Riu card when you are there). The rest of the excursions we booked with our travel companies. You will have a meeting set-up to meet with your company the day after you arrive. They will have all the information and prices.

 

6) Did guests pay their own way on the excursions, or did you and your husband pay?

We would have loved to be able to have a group activity that we sponsored. However, that defintely wasn't in teh budget. Everyone paid their own way. We dealt with this by including in our timeline the approximate prices of each activity and the statement "anyone is welcome to join us on any of our activities or plan their own." No one seemed to expect it. And since we booked as a group - we didn't end up paying for our own. Each time some member of our family took care of Sean's and I excursion.

 

7) Is there anything you wished you had know ahead of time, or anything you would change

I spent so much time on the forum in my early planning stages that I felt pretty prepared going in. If anything, I wish I would have relaxed more and not spent so much time worrying about the little details.

 

Once we got there we changed to the poolside reception- from the Seagrape beach bar - and I'm so glad we did. It was easier for our guests and felt more private and intimate. I also was very worried about the semi-private Mammee Bay reception. But I am so glad we didn't pay more for the Plantation! Mammee Bay worked perfectly for us... we had our own space... but it was more of a relaxing atmosphere.

[ukbride]

Thank You for sharing. Great review and beutiful pictures.

[evtalbot]

Thanks for the review! You look so beautiful!

 

Interesting comments on Carlson Wagonlit Travel. I met with someone from that company when I was trying to figure out my destination. Something just didn't seem right with them. She said they charge $250 to "plan" your wedding and communicate with the resort, which you can easily do yourself. Every time I tried to call or e-mail her a question, she was out of office for several days. PLUS, she told me that they don't like to book the RIU, which is what I really wanted, and tried to convince me that everyone has problems doing group bookings with them!!! Needless to say, I am not using them.

[Soon2beWed09]

I just love ur pictures..I can't wait till I go..Congrats...

[Bride010101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by evtalbot Thanks for the review! You look so beautiful! Interesting comments on Carlson Wagonlit Travel. I met with someone from that company when I was trying to figure out my destination. Something just didn't seem right with them. She said they charge $250 to "plan" your wedding and communicate with the resort, which you can easily do yourself. Every time I tried to call or e-mail her a question, she was out of office for several days. PLUS, she told me that they don't like to book the RIU, which is what I really wanted, and tried to convince me that everyone has problems doing group bookings with them!!! Needless to say, I am not using them.

Luckily who I worked with didn't charge to "plan" - then again, maybe if she would have charged up front we would have gotten better prices at the end? She also mentioned that the Riu wasn't one of there "preferred"... she heavily pushed Sandals.

But I also do want to mention my in-laws have had GREAT service with the CarlsonWagonlit Travel they normally use in Toronto. So it may just be office specific. We have used the Toronto branch to book mutliple trips from MN to Toronto.. and for our trip to Disney last year. Looking back I wish I would have had the Canadian guests use that branch instead... it probably would have been way easier.

[Jamaicabride409]

HI, Thank you for the awesome review and pictures, it is so nice to be able to invision how the day will go! Your pictures and day looked awesome. Congrats!

[chicklet]

Great review. Glad to hear you had such a great day and thoroughly enjoyed your vacation. Nice to hear.