Bahamas Beach Wedding Just started planning HELP!!

[misslindz]

We just got engaged over the Labor Day weekend. We am looking to get married February 4th, 2012.How far in advance do you recommend that I book the destination that I decide to choose?

 

I am a frugal-ista, so looking for a simple yet elgegant resort, preferably all inclusive. Have approx 30 people we are inviting I would like No stress planning or no worries the day of the wedding!I want to  pick all the wedding attire for the wedding part and flowers and leave the rest to a wedding planner I can trust.The day of our  wedding I  want to be sipping a Bahama- Mama on the beach in the morning, then shower and get all beautified and walk right down the isle. Maybe a small reception with cake and champagne or even a nice restaurant for us to eat dinner.

 

 

 

I've kind started looking at different resorts. The one's I've been looking at or in contact with is mainly Our Lucaya Resorts at the Radisson in Freeport. I'm  a little nervous on the unknown we probably will not be doing a site visit. So I'm open to any suggestions on locations, resorts, vendors and activities. Any advise or fantastic ideas!

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[skp1]

I haven't done much research on wedding venues because we knew we were going to do Atlantis.  But we've vacationed at Our Lucaya a lot - I've probably been at least 5 times in the last 5 years.  It really is a nice resort - they have great pools, a nice beach and lots of pretty options for vows.  The rooms could use a little upgrading but that's not a big deal.  The main reason we stopped going there was because Airtran switched their Bahamas flight from Freeport to Nassau and it's just ridiculously expensive to fly there now.  Freeport is definitely small but here is a little "village" across the street from the resort with some nice restaurants.  If you are looking for simple then I'm sure this will work.  One thing I would say about Freeport is that I didn't really notice a culture change - to me it feels like I'm in Florida (but with a much nicer beach). 

 

I think you have plenty of time for planning especially since its not a peak time.  I'm finding the resort is an issue, but vendors book up fast.

[misslindz]

 

 

I did get a price menu from Atlantis wedding packages. How were they letting you customize your own packages? Did they give you discount on rooms for having a group stay there?What  made you choose Atlantis?

 

[loua4]

I am getting married this november at the RIU right beside the Atlantis Resort. I Really wanted to do Atlantis but it was way out of our budget. So we picked the all inclusive RIU. It has recently been upgraded and reno'd. The prices are fantastic! I cannot wait. Plus it is a 5 min walk down the beach to Atlantis so that we can visit it.

[misslindz]

loua4-I have not received a price menu on  the RIU Wedding Packages.Are all your guest staying at the RUI ?did you get a discount for your guest So how was the communication with the wedding planner, reading your thread you were not in contact until two months  before. Is it bad I am plannings so far ahead?

 

Thanks

Lindsey

[skp1]

I only started my Atlantis wedding planning less than a month ago but so far they have been great (getting married June 2011).  I first dealt with the wedding sales agent and she was great at giving honest information and ideas - not just plugging the resort.  I'm now dealing the the on-site wedding coordinator and she's been good.  I think she's a little more pro-resort but she's VERY responsive and offers good suggestions for decor/how to set up the room, etc.  Atlantis allows you to either do a package wedding or customize your own.  I'm doing the custom one since there are some things I want to pick myself.  They do offer group rates for guests that are about 50% off the regular room rates (and they give an option for each tower so guest can choose what type of accommodations hey prefer).  You have to have a minimum of 10 rooms for 3 nights but hopefully that won't be an issue (we also expect about 30 guests).  As for why we picked Atlantis, first it was becasue we love going there but it was also for convenience.  I think if I got married about 10 years ago I might have chosen something more romantic but a lot of friends now have kids, we have older relatives and Atlantis is a place everyone can find something to do - its not just about the beach.  Plus I didn't want to have to deal with transportation and shuttling guests all over.  We can do everything on-site, including heading to the night club when the reception is over.

[ladebug577]

Hi there,

 

I am getting married at Our Lucaya in April 2011.  The stressful part of dealing with Our Lucaya is going through getting a contract with them. You have to go through a women named Faye. She just takes forever to get back with you! Call her just don't rely on email.  She responds better to phone calls.  She is very accommodating but she take forever to get back with you! Once you get past her the wedding planner is awesome! You can do as little or as much as you want! She will take care of everything or you can talk to the vendors yourself. I have been very happy with my wedding planner! 

 

Hope this helps.  If you have anymore questions let me know!

[MrsMiller2b]

I got married this past summer, June 19th, at Our Lucaya. Our guests are still talking about the experience and wishes they were able to do it all over again as well. They're even jokingly asking that we do everything all over again and renew our vows just so that we can all experience everything again. Our videographer, Kendal Knowles, did an awesome job on our video and my husband and I relive our day often. Ladebug is absolutely right about the contract and dealing with Faye! It's work to get everything locked in the way you want it but then you get much better response times from your planner. I chose Our Lucaya because my husband is Bahamian and was born and raised in Freeport. It made sense since all of his family lives there and only my family and friends would need to travel. I have a few of my guests from the States who have been to both Nassau and Freeport and has stayed in the Atlantis on multiple occasions...she is very happy to have found out about Freeport! She loves it's laid back atmosphere and of course the cost of the vacation was an awesome deal. Our guests stayed all-inclusive for 4 nights at the Sheraton. Any questions or information needed...let me know. Happy planning!

[loua4]

 

 

Originally Posted by misslindz 

 

loua4-I have not received a price menu on  the RIU Wedding Packages.Are all your guest staying at the RUI ?did you get a discount for your guest So how was the communication with the wedding planner, reading your thread you were not in contact until two months  before. Is it bad I am plannings so far ahead?

 

Thanks

Lindsey

 

 

Hi Lindsey,

You most likely wont get a price menu on the RIU until Debbie (the wedding planner emails you) She just emailed me the first time last week. We are getting the Royal package as there will only be 21 of us there. We are just going to do the semi-private reception at one of the alacart restarants. I was really hoping for the Krystal, but they dont do wedding receptions there. This way we dont have to pay extra on top of the price for the package. There is an option to go with a private reception in the ballroom but that is not in our budget. Communication with Debbie is slow. I had decided to email the resort 2 weeks ago. I decided I have so many things to finish and I wanted to get my selections in now. haha! and she emailed back about almost a week later. I have these forms to fill out and fax back and then we go from there. I did email her about seeing examples of things, but have not heard from her yet. But I realize that there are like 5 weddings a day there so I have to be patient. haha!

When are you getting married. We got engaged 1yr before our wedding day and i started planning then. So I wouldnt think that you are planning to far ahead.

personal message me and i will try and email you what I got from debbie so that you can see what to expect in the future for you.

 

Good luck!

Amanda

[dine.conway]

I am getting married in Nassau at Compass Point. It is a boutique hotel and super cute, but really expensive to stay there. We are staying about 5 min. from there at A Stone's Throw away Bed and Breakfast. It is a bohemian style building and really homey. It only has 10 rooms so we rented the entire place for our guests( and then the guests are paying us for there rooms). We invited our parents/siblings/ and wedding party to stay there with us and everyone else can stay anywhere they choose.  We have about 35 people going. We gave them a few choices that are close, but most of them decided to rent a beach house.  I am very pleased with both places so far.

 

My WP is Victoria Sarne. She gets back to me quickly and seems very organized. I started planning over a year in advance and most WP would barely even reply, but Victoria is on top of it. She is not on Island time like everyone else in the bahamas.