New Member!

[sweetiecat]

I'm Stephanie, and I'm new to the forum. My boyfriend (yes, the official proposal hasn't happened yet, but the ring is ordered) and I are planning on having a destination wedding, probably in early 2011. I wanted to get a jump start on planning for the wedding since we would like to give the guests as much time as possible to plan and save, and I really don't want to wait much more than a year after the official engagement date to the wedding.

 

We attended a destination wedding earlier this year at Sandals Negril in Jamaica, and we absolutely loved both Jamaica and the atmosphere of a destination wedding, since we were able to reunite with old friends and make some new ones. I initially thought that I still wanted a wedding at home, but after being a bridesmaid in another wedding this summer, I was able to see how much easier and less stressful the destination wedding was. Not only that, it gives us a very good reason to return to Jamaica (or at least another tropical location)!

 

So far, I have focused my search mostly on Jamaica since I am more familiar with it. We have not decided yet on the resort, but I am mostly interested in the following qualities:

 

- Small resort (not a 500+ room mega resort)

- Preferably all inclusive

- Negril or other similar areas compared to busy Montego Bay

- Good food

 

I guess I'm just looking for properties that will not feel like a wedding factory but are still affordable. So far I like Coral Cove in Little Bay, Jamaica, and Sunset at the Palms in Negril. I'm also considering Bluefields Bay Villas but am concerned that it would be more of a hassle to plan travel arrangements and that the guests wouldn't get as much privacy. I do need a place that can accommodate my brother, who will be 15 years old at the time of the wedding.

 

I'm looking forward to really participating in the forum and utilizing the great resources that can be found here.

[TammyB]

Hello Stephine, and welcome to the forum. When I first joined I wasn't engaged either, I just wanted to get a head start. ;-) We have many brides on here that are or was getting married in Jamaica, so I' am sure those threads will help in your planning process.

[dewiggy]

Hi Stephanie: Welcome to the forum. I am in the early stages of planning my wedding and the hardest part so far is picking the resort. We are going with the Grand Bahia Tulum in the Mayan. Good luck and have fun!!

 

Dawn

[Ashley0802]

Welcome and Congrats!! Good luck picking the perfect destination, there is tons of helpful info here

[*Nadine*]

Welcome to the forum and good luck with your planning

[sweetiecat]

Thanks everyone!

[jenniebey]

Congratulations on your (almost) engagement! Welcome to the forum.

[finleys7]

Hi Stephanie, it's always a good idea to start looking and thinking. I started researching before the ring was on too! When you know you know ;-)

 

I have never been to Jamaica so I don't have any advice on that, but I have been to the Riveria Maya, Mexico 6 times and LOVE it, did I say LOVE...yup LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!!

 

All inclusives are the way to go and the rest is your opinion. I would use the search tool in here to find reviews of places you mentioned and maybe it will shed some more light. Mexico, Jamaica and the DR are pretty popular on here.

 

Good Luck!

[jwilke5]

Congrats in advance on your engagement! =) Good luck planning, you will find a ton of info on Jamaica resorts on this site.

[super19]

Hi Stephanie - It's never too early to start planning. We'll look forward to hearing about the official proposal.

 

Happy planning,

Jen