St Maarten - Has anyone planned a wedding there?

[Gizmo]

Hi,

I am planning a wedding in St Maarten. Has anyone planned a wedding there? I would love to hear from you. Thanks

[Mishi]

Haven't planned a wedding there but have been there and over to Anguilla (which is my favorite place on Earth!) Don't know if I can help at all but will be glad to if so.

[LadyD]

I'm considering this place as well Gizmo. Which hotel?

[RoryS]

I have been going to St Maarten every year since 1986, and I know people who live there. Please let me know if there is something I can help you out with. There are several local wedding coordinators that you can also work with.

Happy to help.

[Nonnie]

Finally a St Maarten thread!

 

I am planning my wedding to take place there in December. Things are at a bit of a stand still right now because of travel agent booking stuff (I need 10 ppl from Canada to confirm to book now, I have 7, it's frusterating.

 

Not a lot of hotels there have wedding planners, I am planning on going to the Sonesta Great Bay. Their Maho location is nicer, but so close to the airport that it would be REALLy noisy during the ceremony. They have put me in contact with 2 wedding planners. St Maarten ultimate wedding and St Maarten Marry-Me. Right now I am trying to pressure them into matching each other etc so i can get the best deal.

 

My big annoyance right now (apart from the booking thing) is that the hotel does not give you much of a discount for the reception even if all your guests are staying there all inclusive. It looks like my Fiance and I won't get a lot of guests though, so we may find a nice restaurant nearby and do the reception there.

 

The nice thing about St Maarten is that if your papers are in english you don't need to translate them. My Fiance's papers are in dutch and they also don't need to be translated.

 

Let me know if you stumble on anything fantastic and I'll do the same for you. Have you got an idea about date yet?

 

Nonnie

[Gizmo]

Hi Nonnie,

 

Thanks for your message. I was looking at Sonesta Resort as well. They have provided me their wedding planners. I have been in touch with Marry Me and Ultimate weddings. Marry Me wants a 25% fee and Ultimate weddings want 35%. Which is very pricey and ridiculous.

 

I am now considering having the ceremony in Ft Lauderdale (before boarding the cruise ship) as it is much more cost efficient.

 

Good luck with your wedding and I will let you know what we decide.

[purrfected]

I have not planned a wedding in St. Maarten but have been there. Will help if I can.

 

Mishi--I was in Anguilla for a week for vacation a few years back. Isn't that the most beautiful beach you have ever seen? I stayed at the CuisinArt hotel and it was a fabulous vacation! I would loved to have planned a wedding there but it is so expensive I would not have been able to have any guests!!!

[Nonnie]

I picked a planner!!

 

St Martin Ultimate Weddings is giving me a 10% discount on their fee and has been super helpful so far without me paying them a cent yet

[brecluse]

Congrats and good luck with the planning. I've only been to the French side really so probably can't help you, but wanted to also say I love Anguilla! I went to St. Martin and Anguilla for my honeymoon, and we fell in love with both of them. We are actually thinking of going to one for the holidays this year.