RMB May Wedding Review

[blumenthale]

I overall had a great time but if i could do it again, it would NOT be at the RMB. Let me explain why, and these are just my experiences and opinions.

 

Check in: C-

We booked an ocean front suite. We were given an ocean view, regular room. Which means, we could look over a bunch of roofs and sort of see the ocean. It was a small room and smelled kind of funny, it was not a suite. I had my booking numbers and everything, it clearly states that an ocean front suite was paid for....after some back and forth will the front desk person, she admitted she couldn't do anything about it until the manager came and he wasn't around for an hour or so. So we had to go back to room and hang out. Finally my Fiancé, got it sorted out and we were moved to the room we had paid for. This was just the first few hours and already RMB is stressing me out.

 

Wedding Coordinator(s): C-

At arrival, we were given an envelope with an appointment to meet Sherika the next day at 1pm. We show up for our appointment and she is not there. We ask at the desk, they call around....a women shows up. She is not Sherika and has no record of the appointment. I show her the letter from Sherika that clearly states, our meeting. This lady is a WC but from a different RIU and is covering for Sherika (who is pregnant and only works sometimes). So, this other WC, tells us we can have a meeting with her on Friday the day before our wedding. I say no, we have events planned all day Friday for our guests, and I say it makes me uncomfortable to be cutting it so close. I have 80 people attending the wedding so, it's a bit more to manage. So she says she can talk to us now, but it has to be quick.

Another, layer of stress, I really feel that I should get a proper appointment and that it should not be too much to ask for, I am bringing a lot of business to this resort and should be treated as a good customer. So, I cannot recommend this resort to another bride.

So, we have the quick meeting and I give her my cake, flower, and music details, so the bill can get finalized.

WC day of wedding—she is late getting the flowers to me, she doesn’t give the boutonnières to the groomsmen (I have to have a BM run them over), she doesn’t help when one is missing, so my Dad has none, which I only notice as we start walking down the aisle . She also disappears after she sends me down the aisle. So, there is not coordination of the cocktail hour and reception.

[blumenthale]

Flowers- A-

We wanted to use Grande Gardens but basically were bullied by the RIU to use Tai flowers. The RIU WC said we would have to pay $200 dollars if we didn’t use their florist. This happens after the WC said I could use Grande Gardens and had worded out the details we Grande Gardens, then had to cancel. So, I used Tai flowers and they did an okay. Basically, I just had to pay more for the same flowers I had designed and worked on with Grande Gardens—it was all the same stuff but Tai just charged more…I actually think I would of saved money if I had paid the $200 RIU charge for not using Tai flowers. My bouquet was beautiful but I had asked for Stargazer lilies and I had pink lilies in the bouquet but they were not Stargazers. And, the florist did not spread the petals down the aisle; we realized this when the flowers were dropped off at our room. Because, we had a big bay of petals, so my Mom ran out and spread them, right as the guest were sitting down!

Again I can not recommend this florist, she did as little as possible.

Music: B-

The steel band was great. We had them for the ceremony and cocktail hour.

The DJ was awful. We want to play our Ipod but the WC talked us out of it. She said the DJ could be our MC, that he would announce us, and help coordinate the first dances and cake cutting. Well, he couldn’t get any music to play without it stopping randomly. He didn’t understand that we wanted to be announced. So we had no entrance. And, he could get out first dance song to play. It was pretty bad.

Just us your Ipod the DJ was a waste of money.

Food: A-

The food was fine. The cake was fine. The only problem was one bartender accosted my husband demanding more tip money. Which was so ridiculous. First off, the who resort is supposed to be tip-free because they already charge you a gratuity fee. Second, the bartender had a plate out and was getting tipped by the guests all day—from before the ceremony, and then the cocktail hour and then the reception. Then we also gave him a good tip. So, really what is this guy’s problem.

 

After all was said and done, I really feel this resort was not helpful and could of done better. I would not recommend it to a future Bride.

I do recommend my photographer and will post on him soon.

[MsSmithtobe]

Im sorry to hear that, I was considering this resort for my wedding, now I'm glad I didn't go with it.

[Perplexy]

I'm sorry you had such a bad time!!  I got married on May 5 at RMB and my wedding went perfectly (save for the torrential downpour right after our ceremony)!  I did, however, arrive with no great expectations.  The WC (Roxianne I think her name was) did very little.  I completely feel you in that respect, but I didn't care - we didn't need her anyway.  All she did was lead us to the ceremony site. I chose Jamaica because it was beautiful, English-speaking, and simple - not because of their exemplary reputation on customer service.

 

It seems like you had exactly the opposite experience than I did.  You must have at least enjoyed your vacation.  I hope you did!

 

I suppose advice for any future brides who are thinking about Riu Montego Bay - don't expect too much.  Go to get married and have a great time with your husband and family and friends.  The space really is pretty, and my guests and I created a week-long vacation that we'll never forget.  

[Ayslinn]

awww that's horrible!!! i'm sorry it went so horribly. I do hope you had a good honeymoon at least. =)

[Tissey]

I'm so sorry to hear all of that!  I hope you were still able to enjoy your wedding day.  Hopefully, years from now, you and your husband will be able to look back and laugh at all the things that went wrong and really appreciate the special moments you shared during that time.  My parents were married in Jamaica 30 years ago this month, and my mom said nothing went right.  The minister mispronounced her name, it poured, my dad had an allergy attack, and the over half of their pictures are of a verse on the wall that their friend thought was hilarious, "Behold I come quickly."  Yet despite all of that she says she wouldn't change a thing now.

Congrats on the wedding.  Can't wait to see your pics!