Grand Palladium Jamaica/Lady Hamilton - 2011 Brides!

[MrsD]

Opps...my questions above were for KATIS46

[lindsayraz]

I just received my music/meal/guest list forms to fill out for Omeshia!!! Exciting! Only 51 more sleeps til we leave!

 

Everyone in my group prefers to be close to each other (either in the same villas or at least nearby villas). Did you girls find that the resort accomodated that? Or were your guests pretty spread out over the resort?  I know with all inclusives, it's pretty much just "you get what you get".  I just wonder if they will make an effort or if it will just fall on deaf ears like most room requests do in typical all inclusive bookings.

[Alysia85]

Hi Katis,

 

So excited to hear how wonderful your special day was!!!

 

 

I actually just posted on another forum about renting a mic and speaker system instead of renting a DJ ... i just dont see the point. We're gonna have our ipod LOADED with over 6000 songs for our stag n doe ... so ill just update that again before we leave and we should be good to go with music!

 

Do you know if you can rent an MC with the speaker system .... without the DJ ????? I would be interested in having an MC ... but not a DJ ... just not sure if thats an option???

 

Also... how far in advance do we need to pick the dinner menu and all of that???? So far I have my reception and dinner booked ... but thats IT.

Our date is May 10, 2012 .....Should i be contacting the resort myself or waiting until we get there??????????????????

 

Appreciate ANY help or advice!!!!!!!!!

 

Originally Posted by Katis46 

Hello All.  I just got married January 7th here.  It feels like I just got back but quite some time has passed.  I meant to have a review finished by now.

Do not worry or stress. Everything will be perfect.  I loved my wedding, Nekeisha was amazing to deal with.

 

DoubleTee - we rented the microphone and speakers for $300.00.  And used our ipod for music.  We brought a docking station but were able to hook the Ipod up to the speakers/sound system.

 

Our reception was in the Posiedon (we wanted the blue lagoon but it was booked) and were actually happy we ended up with the Poseiden as we didn't have that many people and perfect and intimate and the scenery was beautiful.

 

Any questions anyone has do not hesitate to contact me.  I would have never got through this so calmly if it were for all of the brides on here.  Special shout out to beachbridein2011 who went above and beyond answering all my pestering questions!!!

 

Good luck ladies.  And I promise you will not be disappointed.  And if anyone is wondering what to do about hair and make up, I highly recommend Rashel Edwards!!  Let me know if you want her contact info!

 

Kate

 

[Alysia85]

Hi Katis,

 

So excited to hear how wonderful your special day was!!!

 

 

I actually just posted on another forum about renting a mic and speaker system instead of renting a DJ ... i just dont see the point. We're gonna have our ipod LOADED with over 6000 songs for our stag n doe ... so ill just update that again before we leave and we should be good to go with music!

 

Do you know if you can rent an MC with the speaker system .... without the DJ ????? I would be interested in having an MC ... but not a DJ ... just not sure if thats an option???

 

Also... how far in advance do we need to pick the dinner menu and all of that???? So far I have my reception and dinner booked ... but thats IT.

Our date is May 10, 2012 .....Should i be contacting the resort myself or waiting until we get there??????????????????

 

Appreciate ANY help or advice!!!!!!!!!

 

Originally Posted by Katis46 

Hello All.  I just got married January 7th here.  It feels like I just got back but quite some time has passed.  I meant to have a review finished by now.

Do not worry or stress. Everything will be perfect.  I loved my wedding, Nekeisha was amazing to deal with.

 

DoubleTee - we rented the microphone and speakers for $300.00.  And used our ipod for music.  We brought a docking station but were able to hook the Ipod up to the speakers/sound system.

 

Our reception was in the Posiedon (we wanted the blue lagoon but it was booked) and were actually happy we ended up with the Poseiden as we didn't have that many people and perfect and intimate and the scenery was beautiful.

 

Any questions anyone has do not hesitate to contact me.  I would have never got through this so calmly if it were for all of the brides on here.  Special shout out to beachbridein2011 who went above and beyond answering all my pestering questions!!!

 

Good luck ladies.  And I promise you will not be disappointed.  And if anyone is wondering what to do about hair and make up, I highly recommend Rashel Edwards!!  Let me know if you want her contact info!

 

Kate

 

[Alysia85]

Hi Katis,

 

So excited to hear how wonderful your special day was!!!

 

 

I actually just posted on another forum about renting a mic and speaker system instead of renting a DJ ... i just dont see the point. We're gonna have our ipod LOADED with over 6000 songs for our stag n doe ... so ill just update that again before we leave and we should be good to go with music!

 

Do you know if you can rent an MC with the speaker system .... without the DJ ????? I would be interested in having an MC ... but not a DJ ... just not sure if thats an option???

 

Also... how far in advance do we need to pick the dinner menu and all of that???? So far I have my reception and dinner booked ... but thats IT.

Our date is May 10, 2012 .....Should i be contacting the resort myself or waiting until we get there??????????????????

 

Appreciate ANY help or advice!!!!!!!!!

 

Originally Posted by Katis46 

Hello All.  I just got married January 7th here.  It feels like I just got back but quite some time has passed.  I meant to have a review finished by now.

Do not worry or stress. Everything will be perfect.  I loved my wedding, Nekeisha was amazing to deal with.

 

DoubleTee - we rented the microphone and speakers for $300.00.  And used our ipod for music.  We brought a docking station but were able to hook the Ipod up to the speakers/sound system.

 

Our reception was in the Posiedon (we wanted the blue lagoon but it was booked) and were actually happy we ended up with the Poseiden as we didn't have that many people and perfect and intimate and the scenery was beautiful.

 

Any questions anyone has do not hesitate to contact me.  I would have never got through this so calmly if it were for all of the brides on here.  Special shout out to beachbridein2011 who went above and beyond answering all my pestering questions!!!

 

Good luck ladies.  And I promise you will not be disappointed.  And if anyone is wondering what to do about hair and make up, I highly recommend Rashel Edwards!!  Let me know if you want her contact info!

 

Kate

 

[Alysia85]

Hi BeachBride !!!!

 

We are definitely wanting the Zurielmaka show for our wedding ... it sounds like an awesome suprise for our guests .... but i have nooo idea how the booking works.

Is it up to US to schedule the show??? OR do we simply say "I want the Zurielmaka show" and the resort says... okay it will be booked for this time (regardless of dinner, etc) ????

I like your idea of having it during dinner...never would have thought of that!!!!  But is it too much when guests are trying to eat and converse over dinner????

Our ceremony is early ... at 2pm... so im wondering if maybe we should have dinner at 6pm (if possible) and then have the show at 7pm.

that way our guests can relax after dinenr and enjoy a really cool (and unexpected!) show

 

Originally Posted by BeachBridein11 

I'm definitely FOR a DJ/MC.  I told our WC that I wanted dinner to be served during the Zurielmaka show, scheduled at 7p.  The entertainment was an hour long and dinner was served during the show.  We only booked the DJ for 4 hours, so we danced from 8-10p and then continued the party upstairs at the Infinity Bar.  Having the DJ and MC made our reception feel like a "true" wedding reception back home.  I will say, if you get the DJ then definitely get the MC otherwise, why not just hook up an I-Pod?  The MC made the experience!  Hope this helps!
 

 

 

[Alysia85]

Hi Meaghans990,

 

I'm thinking you might want to still look into group rates for the travel... for my guests the group rate is $1530 PP ... and that includes the Imperial Club upgrade. I believe it was about $100 savings off the regular price.. plus the club upgrade. Also, we are allowed 1 price adjustment from booking until balance due date in case the price drops any (which it hasnt!!) 

The travel company also offered the bride and groom incentive for the number of guests booked under the group ... for example... for every __ number of guests that book, you receive 1 free.

 

If we would have had everyone book on their own without a group rate.. our guests would be paying much more and receiving much less.

Also... it's kind of tricky to book on a sale or last minute... because your flight times are going to be wonky and probably not ideal times for travelling with a group.

I would definitely recommend getting a group rate for your guests. That way EVERYONE is on the same page and booking the SAME thing for the SAME price.

If anyone wants to wait for a last minute sale... they dont HAVE to book with the group. But for the majority of your guests... they would probably rather pay the group rate and be SURE of what they are booking. We had 4 guests wait until last week to book for our wedding.. the group rate was long expired... actually the price had increased ...not decreased like they thouht it would .... soooo they actually called the travel agent and the company honored our group rate for them. I know you are trying to save your guests money and leave it up to them... but I really think its going to cost a lot more in the long run... on top of the nightmare of everyone having potentially different travel times... I think you should definitely offer your guests a group rate OPTION.

 

You should still have plenty of time to do so for Nov 2012. We booked our group rate in July 2011 for May 2012 travel.

 

 

Originally Posted by Meaghans990 

I am excited to see so how many couples chose the Grand Palladium for there big day!!! My fiance and I are getting married there November 10th, 2012!! We did not book on a group rate so I know this may be personal but do you guys have an idea of what your guests paid per person? I just keep watching websites etc for discounted rates and will keep everyone informed in addition to everyone else watching as well. I just felt the group booking required deposits at times when money was tight for everyone, christmas etc and everyone knows there financial situation the best so everyone could at there own leisure!

 

[Alysia85]

Hi BeachBride and Lindsayraz,

 

 

My ceremony is for 2pm at the gazebo (wanted 4pm but that was already booked!!) .... I see you guys have scheduled drinks for your guests after the ceremony ... was this an extra cost ... or are you referring to the included champagne toast???????? I have the waves of love package ... and im not quite sure what to do with our guests between the 2pm ceremony and 5pm reception ?????? anything? or should we just say after the ceremony (like how weddings are here) OK SEE YA at the 5pm reception for cocktails!!! lol

 

Originally Posted by BeachBridein11 

That's exactly what we did... Ceremony at 4p, champagne toast afterwards, Reception at Blue Lagoon at 6p.  While we were off taking pics, my guest were having drinks at the bar above the Blue Lagoon (name has slipped my mind) before they headed down to the reception.

 

 

 

[lindsayraz]

Alysia,

 

My wedding is on March 26 and I just received the forms last week.  She wants them returned to her a month before.

 

Here is what her email read:

 

I have attached all our forms for you to fill out, they are as follows:

 

1). Our Music Request Form – On this you will find that we have four segments for a music interlude. You will place the songs that you wish to be played at what time. You can bring these songs on CD or Ipod.

 

2). Our Floral Request Form – I have also attached our Floral Magazine , please note that Bouquet numbers 128, 130, 148 through to 164 comes with your package and should you desire any other bouquet, let me know the bouquet # and I will provide you with the upgraded cost.

 

3). Our Rooming Request – Each of our villas have 3 floors. Each floor has 12 rooms, making a total of 36 rooms. With the rooming request we will try and get you and your guest as close in proximity as possible. Please note however that this is largely based on availability. I have also attached a map of the hotel to help guide you.

 

4). Our Dinner Request Form – I have also attached our Menus from our 7 a-la-carte restaurants, on this form you will see that this is a four course meal, you are required to select 1 Appetizer, 1 Soup, and 1 Desert. However you will be able to select 2 entrées. You will need to let us know how many people will be having entrée 1 and how many will be having entree 2.

 

 

 

[lindsayraz]

I have the Waves of Love pkg too!  I don't have any formal drinks scheduled.  I might have been referring to the champagne toast, not sure? My ceremony is at 4pm and the reception is at 6pm.  So I plan to take photos during those 2 hours and the guests can wander up to the infinity bar to kill some time before the reception, or do whatever they want really, go have a nap if they want lol.  I think with your timeline, it is just going to be like any other wedding back home, they are on their own to kill time in between     Unless you want to pay for the cocktail reception...

 

Originally Posted by Alysia85 

Hi BeachBride and Lindsayraz,

 

 

My ceremony is for 2pm at the gazebo (wanted 4pm but that was already booked!!) .... I see you guys have scheduled drinks for your guests after the ceremony ... was this an extra cost ... or are you referring to the included champagne toast???????? I have the waves of love package ... and im not quite sure what to do with our guests between the 2pm ceremony and 5pm reception ?????? anything? or should we just say after the ceremony (like how weddings are here) OK SEE YA at the 5pm reception for cocktails!!! lol