Sandals St. Lucia Brides?

[stluciabound]

Thanks so much for your kind words and wonderful information! We are flying in on Wed.and getting married on Sat., the same length of time you guys chose,so I hope it isn't to early. Even as it is we had to pay the expedite fee, as I knew that I definetly didn't want to arrive even a day earlier than we already are. I also wanted to arrive a day before our guests just to take it all in and get prepared for thier arrival with the OOT bags and such. The resort told me they can't pre-deliver them because they don't know what rooms everyone will be in util they arrive. How did you handle that? And, I definitely share your stress with making sure the dress has the perfect fit... I already had my designer add a corset back so I have a little bit of forgiveness

Did you end up hiking Pigeon Island at all? I have seen some pics and it looks beatiful.It is definetly on the to-do list. Did you do any of the other excursions? I have heard that Simon Says has a great tour to the volcano/mineral springs that I am anxious to hear more about. Also, did you make it to the Friday night jump up downtown? I am hoping to enjoy that with my guests but want to make sure it is of course, safe, but also as fun as it sounds.

 

Which location for the ceremony and reception did you go with? I am thinking the gazebo and the gardens. What do you think? Sorry for so many questions, I just want to make everything as nice as possible and feel somewhat helpless without some inside info! Thanks again and I hope you are enjoying the newlywed life!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilsonj2 

Hi!  We did the 4:00 ceremony and it was still really hot...it cooled down considerably by the sunset time, so that should be perfect and well worth the extra money if you have it.  I would also suggest not flying in too many days before the wedding.  We flew in on Tuesday and got married on Friday...too many days.  My dress fit perfectly before I went and I gained a bit of weight before the wedding, even though I was eating pretty well.  I wish we had flown in on Wednesday.  Also, it is a bit stressful, and you will not really get to enjoy your vacation until after the wedding is over.

 

Just a resort tidbit--Pigeon Island National Park is right beside the resort.  You just walk down the beach, past the guard, and into the park. Please go take pictures in the ruins there!  They are literally a two minute walk.  I wish we had known, but we only ventured out after the wedding. 

 

Don't worry about his family.  You'll find out that the people who really want to be there will come, and those are the people you would want anyway!  My family was hesitant also at first, but they had the time of their lives.  Just keep telling them you want them to have a nice vacation, which I'm sure you do!

 

Review to come...I don't have any pictures yet, but hopefully I will soon.

 

 

 

[stluciabound]

Thanks so much for the support!! We are now half way through our engagement (8 1/2 months to go) and his family still has not come around. They are nice to my face and then call and torture him when they think I am not around. I think they will eventually cut the crap, but honestly at that point, who the heck would want to be around them anyway? In any event, he is finally realizing how wrong they are acting and that at the end of the day we are the only ones that matter on our own wedding day! Finally!! As long as I have him, my best friend, back on board I am happy! The rest will work itself out I am sure...

 

On to happier subjects... As far as Sandals goes,I am a huge fan. I don't know if you have ever been to one of their resorts, but you will not be disappointed. This will be my third experience with them (first time in St Lucia) and I can't imagine haveing it anywhere else or in any other family of resorts. My last experience was actually as a part of my best friend's wedding at Beaches (their sister resort) in Negril, Jamaica. They use all the same themes and options so it was a rare sneak peak. They did the BB theme with the one hour appetizer reception with DJ and it was very nice.We then all went to dinner at one of the existing restaurants and it was also very nice.We had no trouble all sitting  together (about 10 of us), despite the concerns they may give you. As for our wedding, we also are going with the BB theme but adding individual upgrades. I think I am going to go with the 2 hour reception,steel drum band, and some extra lighting and decor. We are also opting  for the twilight ceremony.

 

As far as our room goes, we are going with a Butler level  room. I have never had that before. In the past I have always at least gone with a Concierge level and have been extremely pleased. I opted for the Butler this time just to try and make it extra special and luxorious, but also because I think he will end up being really helpful with all the details and guests once we are there. I think we ended up getting 55 or 60 percent off  at about $950/night. Depending on the resort and time frame you might also get them  to throw in a night or two for free. I am hoping we find the extra cost to be worth it, but I have to say I have never heard a negative comment from anyone who went this route. Fingers crossed! Also,don't let them pressure you into booking any "extras" right away. Once you book them you have to pay for them (or at least a portion) and then, from what I understand,there is no going back. However, it is really never too late to book them, even once you arrive. They have everything at their disposal at the resort, so why not take all the time you need to really be sure of your guest list, budget, and vision. For us,due to the family commotion,I have no idea what our guest count will be. Right now my parents and best friend and her husband are booked. That's it. There are many people saying they will go and some saying they won't. I have a feeling it will end up somewhere in the middle. I am just trying to hit the magic "10 room" mark so Sandals will through us in the fun extras. Make sure to set up your group code so you get credit for everyone.

 

Well, I hope some of that helped and at least we are all going through this exciting, yet stressful time together so we are never alone! Happy planning!!

 

Originally Posted by hmpinma 

I think that it is wonderful that you are doing what you want. My fiance and I knew that we wanted a destination wedding. Our expenses for a destination are turning out to be more than a local wedding. However, we did not care. This is what we wanted and regardless of who attends we want it to be about us and no one else. So I think you should do the same. Getting married is about the union of two people. You and your fiance don't worry about anyone else! How has your experience been with sandals thus far. If you don't mind me asking how many people are you having? What package did you choose? What was your cost per night because I feel like it keeps going up. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you so much and congratulations!

 

[wilsonj2]

We had the time of our lives at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, and I cannot think of a more perfect place to have a wedding and honeymoon.  If you want a low-stress wedding in a beautiful location, then this is the place.  The southern part of the island was beautiful, but if you want to get married on the beach and have tons of options for pictures, then the Grande is the best choice.  They made it so easy for us to just show up and get married.  Everything was perfect.

 

Flight 

We flew Delta direct from Atlanta.  The flight was about 4 hours, but not too bad overall.  I would recommend flying direct, as I heard many people were stuck in Miami due to storms.  They missed out on at least a full day of their trip.

 

UVF Airport

We flew into the airport at the same time as the American Airlines flight, so we were all going through customs at the same time.  The airport is very small, so it seemed like there were so many of us waiting.  Even with all the people, we got through in about 30 minutes.  I was worried about some of the items I brought in for my gift bags, but the man at customs didn’t ask questions or bother looking through my bags.  I had even checked “medication†on the customs form, and he didn’t ask me about that.  When you go through customs, there is a door about 10 ft. ahead and the Sandals area is literally about 20 feet beyond that.  There are guys there saying “Sandals?†who will grab your bags if you say yes.  Just keep walking beyond them and through the door.  They charge $1.00 per bag and they are not necessary.  

 

Sandals Desk at Airport 

This is set up like a lounge.  It was pretty busy when we went in, but they serve drinks and cold towels.  There is a lady standing at the far door with a clipboard, and she calls out the name of the particular Sandals resort and asked for volunteers to go.  If you are taking a private car, stop at the first counter as you go in the door.  We waited with all the other people until someone told me where to go.

 

Sandals Transfer to the Grande 

We paid for a private car, and it was nice, but not necessary.  Several or our friends and family took the basic shuttle and had no complaints, except for the actual drive.  The roads are narrow and curvy and some people got car sick.  Our private car was not exactly luxury, but we didn’t really care (it was a Toyota Camry).  We had some friends take the helicopter, and they got to the resort in about 30 minutes (15 min. by helicopter and then a 15 min. taxi to the resort).  I guess this would be worth it if you just have the cash or if you get motion sickness.  The helicopter was going to be about $300, so we passed.  The private car was $110.

 

Arrival/Check in 

The lobby is beautiful, and you immediately start to relax as soon as you walk in.  We were told where to sit, and the receptionist brought over some paperwork.  We had not checked in online, but I don’t think that mattered too much.  Within 5 minutes, we were off to our room.  Our bags arrived shortly after.

 

Room 

We stayed in a Honeymoon Beachfront Luxe room on the left side of the resort.  The view was over the rondovals and Rodney Bay.  The building we were in backed up to the lagoon pool, and it seemed a little musty.  My fiancé has a mold allergy and it was definitely bothering him.  We asked to be switched to another room, but we were told they resort was full and they could not move us until the next day.  I actually called and talked with Jason, one of the managers, and I don’t think they would have moved us if we hadn’t been getting married.  The next day, they moved us to the other side of the resort.  The building was to the right of the lobby if you’re facing the ocean.   The rooms were much cleaner and smelled better on this side.  We didn’t have any problems after that.

 

The room was nice, and it had plenty of room.  If we were staying at pricey resort in the US, I would have expected better, but I’m familiar with the Caribbean and thought the room was fine.  The bed was so comfortable, and the bathroom was fine.  I looked at some of the other rooms, and I thought an upgrade wasn’t really necessary, unless you’re upgrading to a luxury room, but all the lower level and concierge rooms seem to be the same, except for the views.  The only thing we didn’t get because we weren’t in a concierge level room was the liquor in the room.  We didn’t really need it though, because we were constantly sent champagne and the bar was right down from the room.  If we wanted extra drinks, we just left a note for the maid, who was wonderful.  She came in every morning around 9:30 after we had left for breakfast and straightened up, swept, and mopped.  She even folded a bunch of clothes I had left in a pile on the loveseat right after we switched rooms.  She was awesome.

 

 

 

Resort

The resort is so well-kept and the flowers are gorgeous and everywhere!  It was so easy to relax here.  If we needed anything, all we had to do was ask.  The staff were friendly, and everything was catered to couples, making it easy to enjoy your time together.  We spent time on the beach, in the pools, doing watersports and eating/drinking a TON every day (beware…you WILL gain weight here!).  One of our favorite things to do was to get on the hobie cats and sail out into the bay.  They are first come, first served, and you have to take a quick lesson.  Don’t miss hiking at the fort beside the resort!  You just walk down the beach and through the gate of the national park.  There are beautiful ruins there and it is about a 20 minute walk up to the top.  Great view and photo opportunities!  It was $5 each to get in.

Note: out of the 3 Sandals on the island, this one definitely had the best beach and the most convenient amenitities...Regency had the nicest restaurants but things were a little more spread out and hard to get to. Halcyon was small and quiet, but we felt somewhat unsafe there.

 

Restaurants

I have no complaints about the food.  We are pretty particular, and there was always something for us on every menu.  We went to Bayside most mornings for the buffet breakfast, but Toscaninis also has a nice breakfast.  Lunch was usually Bayside or Barefoot by the Sea.  Bayside is always buffet, but they do different themes every day.  Barefoot by the Sea had quick food like nachos and sandwiches.  They also had a grilled fish of the day with mango salsa which was always good.  For dinner, we ate at Bayside the first night everyone flew in (weddings department made reservations for us), and everyone thought it was great.  The house wine is free and it was fine.  We had our rehearsal dinner at Toscaninis, and everyone also thought that was great.  Toscaninis is a bit nicer than Bayside.  You can also go to Jasmines for pizzas and crepes (we did this on our first night when we wanted something quick).  We also went over the Regency and ate at La Toc (French).  It was good, but not as good as everyone says.  Some of our friends went to the Regency and had good meals at Pitons and Kimonos.  Late at night, we go in the London Pub for some wings or sandwiches and drinks.

 

Dress Code

I had everyone so stressed about the dress code, as I’d heard they would turn away guests for not having on the right shoes.  Bayside was very relaxed, and the guys could wear shorts and flip flops.  Girls could also wear flip flops for dinner….very casual.  Toscaninis required long pants for the guys, and it said no flip flops, but they didn’t seem to mind if you were nicely dressed.  During the day, everyone just wears their bathing suits and a cover up…no real dress code.

 

Beach 

The beach was absolutely beautiful.  The views were amazing, and there were many quiet spots of busy spots, depending on what you wanted.  We always walked down the left side, near the pier, and we were usually only 1 of 2 or 3 couples in the water.  There were rocks and pieces of coral occasionally, but the water was clear so you could see where you were stepping.  My favorite thing to do was pull a lounge chair down to the water’s edge and just lie there relaxing.  There were vendors on the beach, but only a few, and they would leave you alone if you said no thank you.

 

Pools

The main pool was really busy and there was a DJ there that was really loud (and a little obnoxious).  Luckily, there were plenty of quiet pools around.  Our favorite was the lagoon pool in the back, as there was rarely anyone back there.  We would grab some drinks for the bar and swim there late at night as well, and most of the time we were the only ones in the pool.  There were such beautiful flowers back there, and there was always a raft or two floating around.

 

Wedding Planning

We met with Monica, the wedding coordinator on the second day we were there.  She walked us around the property and we chose the beach for the wedding and reception.  We then went back to her office and filled out all the paperwork and went over the details we had already planned.  She asked us if we wanted extras but was not pushy.  When it came time to talk about the photographer, I was worried she might have a problem with us since we brought our own, but she was very nice about it.  She asked if we wanted a photographer to come anyway (they offer a free 5x7) and we declined.  I’m so glad we did, because I thought the photographers and videographers to be very cheesy and a little pushy.  I’m sure he would have gotten in the way of our photographer.  Something we didn’t know is that we had to come back the following afternoon to meet with the lawyer and sign some more paperwork.  This would have been a problem if we had planned an excursion beforehand.  Anytime I had a question, I would just walk down to the wedding office (by the spa) and ask, and they were always very patient and accommodating.  I was a bit worried because of the loud DJ at the main pool, and they also had a volleyball game scheduled for the time of our wedding, so I asked about that and Monica assured me she would call and take care of it.  On the day of the wedding, my husband had to go down to the wedding office 30 minutes before the wedding and Monica came up to get me about 5 minutes before.

 

Ceremony

The ceremony was on the beach at 4:00 and it was hot!  We had the chic and natural arch, and I thought that might provide some shade, but it didn’t.  In retrospect, the $500 for twilight time might have been worth it, because we were dripping sweat.  There was a slight breeze every few minutes which helped.  I chose to upgrade my bouquet to the Island Paradise theme and it was stunning!  I had Monica split the included orchids bouquet in half and give to our mothers.  The officiant did a great job and it was a very simple and sweet ceremony.  Remember to smile, even if the sun is in your eyes!  I wish I had thought of that, because it looks like I’m frowning in so many pictures.  We had the steel drum band, which was a nice touch.  Immediately after the ceremony, we cut the cake and had our champagne, and the videographer made us do some stuff for his video (pose, play steel drums, walk, etc.)  This was a little irritating because it was hot and we didn’t really want him there.  I’ll discuss the video a little later.  After that, our guests went to cool off and we went to take pictures with our photographer.

 

 

 

 

Reception

We chose the 2 hour plated dinner for our reception.  It was set up under a tent (no extra charge and we were not given the option to not have one, in case it rained) on the beach.  We took our Ipod and I’m so glad we didn’t pay extra to have a DJ.  The only thing I regret was not taking Ipod speakers.  We thought we could find something there, but the only option was to rent the wedding sound system for $100.  We had beautiful beginnings tables, which were fine.  We chose the shrimp appetizer, tropical fruit salad, beef tenderloin, and baked Alaska for dessert.  This was by far the best meal we ate while we were there.  The wedding cake was served last and honestly not very good (we chose chocolate).  After dinner, we would get up and dance occasionally, but it was a very laid back reception.  After dinner, we went back to our rooms and then met up a little later to go into Gros Islet for the Friday Night Street Party.  This was a lot of fun!  Lots of food and Piton beer.  The Island Routes desk will call for a cab, or someone at the front desk can do it too.

 

 

 

 

Photography

We brought our own photographer (Katherine Thomas Photography  www.katie-t.com) and were so glad we did!  She did an awesome job and after seeing some or the resort photographer’s photos/style, I am so glad we did not just go with them.  The Sandals pictures are really expensive too!  One thing I do regret is not taking pictures inside the national park next door.   We didn’t realize how pretty it was until we went hiking a few days after the wedding.

 

 

Videographer

We did not originally want a video ($500) but the coordinator told us they would send one anyway and we could have the option to choose it after the wedding.  I really wish we had told her no.  The videographer made me do really cheesy things, and I felt he got in the way of my photographer.  For the entire ceremony, he knelt right in front of us, so my photographer could not get any great shots without him in it.  After the ceremony, he was so pushy, and I really just wanted to enjoy the time.  At that point though, we felt like we couldn’t really tell him no.  If we said we didn’t want to do something, he would just say, “One more time.† He also made us play with the steel drum band, which would have been fun for a minute, but he made us keep playing the whole time, because it was “good footage.† Ugh…he was really annoying and I am a pretty laid back person.  We went to watch the video the next day and it was pretty awful.  First of all, he shoots up at you during the ceremony, so the angle is just not flattering.  Almost have the video was just scenes of St. Lucia, and he even got our names wrong (not just spelled wrong, but different names).  If I had to do it again, I would have bought a video camera and had one of my family members just record it for us.  We did not order the video, because the wedding seemed so magical and video made it seem so cheesy.   I could go on and on about this…my only real gripe about the whole thing.

 

Simon Says Boat Tour

Do this!  $110 per person.  We booked through the Island Routes desk for our whole wedding party.  We went the day after the wedding, and it was such a fun way to spend time together exploring.  We got on the boat at about 9:00 and returned around 4:30.  We saw the island by boat, snorkeled at Jalousie and took some pictures in front of the Pitons.  We went in the mineral baths and mud baths and had lunch at Simon’s house.  There were souvenirs all along the trip, so take some cash.

 

Spa

The spa was a nice treat.  Two guests bought me massages, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  They are a bit pricey, and there is a 12.5% fee on top of the price.  I got my hair done for the wedding, and although she did a good job, it was $90 and I really could have done it on my on…just curls. 

 

Departure

Sad day!  I did NOT want to leave.  It was so easy to get used to the pampering and beauty of the Grande.  We spent our last morning at breakfast and on the beach, then we came back and showered and had to have our bags ready by about 10:30.  Someone came to pick them up and sat them in the lobby with everyone else’s stuff.  They shuttle you by flight, so you just listen for your flight number and then grab your bags and get on.  The shuttle back to the airport was not bad.  We had plenty of room.  The guy in front of us did get car sick and we had to stop a few times.  The airport is small, and we had to wait a couple of hours for our flight.  There are some restaurants upstairs and we just sat next to the window until we saw our plane arrive.

 

Overall, I was very pleased with all of our choices, from the resort to the actual wedding/reception details.  This resort was full of honeymooners, and several other couples got married while we there, but we still felt very special.  It was so easy to just relax and enjoy the moments together, as we knew everything was taken care of.  We can’t wait to go back and celebrate our anniversary in 5 years!   Worth every penny!

[stluciabound]

Thank you so much for your excellent detailed review!! You make me so happy about my decision and gave such valuable advice!! Thanks again and congrats on being a newlywed!!

[KristieSteven]

Congrats wilsonj2...

 

Thank you so much for posting the review and the pictures. I am really excited about our wedding...it's in less than 3 months! I am definitely taking your advice on a lot of things. 

 

Thank you! and Congratulations!!!! )

[Cvantine]

Awesome review! My girlfriend is getting married at Sandals Grande St. Lucian in April of 2012 and I'm so excited for her (and for me, of course, to enjoy this gorgeous place!) This is such a helpful site - I used it when planning my own destination wedding in 2010 (Riviera Maya) and came back to see what info I could dig up for her now that she's planning her own. Everyone at bdw.com is so nice and great with sharing information. Congratulations to all of you who have been or will be married at this gorgeous resort!

[ErinxNJxMay]

 

 

Originally Posted by wilsonj2 

 

We had the time of our lives at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, and I cannot think of a more perfect place to have a wedding and honeymoon.  If you want a low-stress wedding in a beautiful location, then this is the place.  The southern part of the island was beautiful, but if you want to get married on the beach and have tons of options for pictures, then the Grande is the best choice.  They made it so easy for us to just show up and get married.  Everything was perfect.

Beautiful pics and great review - thanks! So you ended up using an outside photographer. Did you pay for them to stay at the resort? Were they a wedding guest? Is there a day pass?

[RaynDrop]

Helllllooooooooo Anyone still out there?!?!  hee hee  This is actually my first post and although there are lots of great info on this site I was excited to see there are other St. Lucia Sandals brides around.  Or used to be . . .   So I thought it was time that I make a post and see if I can start some connections.

 

Hope someone is around to chat with : )

[RaynDrop]

Hello,  I am wondering if anyone can tell me what the  "keepsake gift from Resort for Each Member of the Group" is that is included in the group weddingmoon packages?   Also, I am curious what types of toiletries are included in the room and that the resort gifts you for free if you forget.   I am working on Welcome bags and have a few items I thought to include but don't want to waste space packing things that are in the room already.  

 

Thanks