Updated Grand Cayman Weddings Thread

[agm04]

Originally Posted by Starfish0512 

 

Hi there! We too we concerned with budget going into theplanning stages and had originally thought of doing a family style cooking event on Thursday night as the welcome party.  Last thing I wanted to do when we got there was cook and couldn't have been happier with our choice to cater in Thursday night and Sunday morning brunch.  We did simple finger foods, pasta salad, potato salad and a ceasr salad.  It was delivered to our suite and cleaned up promptly the next morning.  I think it was around $36 USD a head... so worth it for the welcome party so you can socialize and not be bound to the kitchen.  Laura at LUCA is great to work with!

We did stock our suite with breakfast foods, lunch stuff and drinks, beer wine etc... We use our suite as the "host" suite as we were on the bottom floor beachfront so easy access for everyone! I wouldn't ahve done it anyother way, CC is truly a special place and they certainly take care of their wedding parties there!

Thank you so much!  People seem to be really happy with CC and LUCA on the whole, so as long as all the estimates come back looking okay I think I'm going to book it.  Appreciate your thoughts very much!  You looked beautiful!

[GOHbride]

You're going to love it! I just got married at GOH last week and we actually checked it out last Sept. as well... In case anyone planning would like some advice, here are some of my best tips

 

-- GOH is an AMAZINGLY gorgeous venue. It can house close to 200, so you should be good and the weather contingency is just a tent, so you don't lose anything. The food is out of this world and I don't have enough good things to say about the venue itself, BUT, and this is a huge BUT -- do not go through Desiree to book your vendors. On many occassions I found that she added 50% commission -- and who can afford that?! If you have time to do your own research I strongly recommend it. If not, someone like Juliette at Save the Date can def help you get in touch with the right people to save you TONS of $$$

 

-- Craig from ONE World was fantastic, also a great hire

 

-- We used Rebecca Davidson and her team, and again, there aren't enough words to say how we feel about her. She's super professional, but still fun and amazing at her job. She showed us the slideshow of some of the unedited getting ready shots (during the wedding) and it was all so stunning. ALSO, don't hesitate for one second to do trash the dress. It was the most fun my husband (ah, weird to say that!!) had the whole time. It's so worth it and I'm sure with Rebecca behind the camera lens, the pics are going to be out of this world!!

 

-- I used a few guys from George Carvalho salon -- Kendall is really great -- to do hair and makeup.

 

I'm open to give more advice for whoever needs it!! I had the best experience ever, and I really wish the same for all of you!!

[atrigler]

Your wedding was beautiful!  The photos look amazing - you definitely have to share more!!!

 

Did you work with Molly soley - or did you work with Flower Dell and Massive directly as well?  I'm debating on what to do!

[agm04]

Originally Posted by GOHbride 

 

You're going to love it! I just got married at GOH last week and we actually checked it out last Sept. as well... In case anyone planning would like some advice, here are some of my best tips

 

-- GOH is an AMAZINGLY gorgeous venue. It can house close to 200, so you should be good and the weather contingency is just a tent, so you don't lose anything. The food is out of this world and I don't have enough good things to say about the venue itself, BUT, and this is a huge BUT -- do not go through Desiree to book your vendors. On many occassions I found that she added 50% commission -- and who can afford that?! If you have time to do your own research I strongly recommend it. If not, someone like Juliette at Save the Date can def help you get in touch with the right people to save you TONS of $$$

 

-- Craig from ONE World was fantastic, also a great hire

 

-- We used Rebecca Davidson and her team, and again, there aren't enough words to say how we feel about her. She's super professional, but still fun and amazing at her job. She showed us the slideshow of some of the unedited getting ready shots (during the wedding) and it was all so stunning. ALSO, don't hesitate for one second to do trash the dress. It was the most fun my husband (ah, weird to say that!!) had the whole time. It's so worth it and I'm sure with Rebecca behind the camera lens, the pics are going to be out of this world!!

 

-- I used a few guys from George Carvalho salon -- Kendall is really great -- to do hair and makeup.

 

I'm open to give more advice for whoever needs it!! I had the best experience ever, and I really wish the same for all of you!!

Forgive me if it's not ok to ask this - just tell me! - but do you mind sharing a price range for Craig from One World?  I've been trying to make a loose budget without having my date set (deciding between 2 weekends and still waiting on some pricing from LUCA).  Thank you!  And congratulations!

[uhura526]

I actually just emailed Craig from One World today and this was what he wrote me:  $365.85  USD covers the equipment and sound, and then they add $152.44 USD for every hour of Djing  so 3 hours would be $823.17 USD.   He gave the quotes in Cayman Dollars but I just converted them here to US Dollars.  They charge a 50 % deposit to hold the date.

[uhura526]

Originally Posted by atrigler 

 

Your wedding was beautiful!  The photos look amazing - you definitely have to share more!!!

 

Did you work with Molly soley - or did you work with Flower Dell and Massive directly as well?  I'm debating on what to do!

Atrigler: I also would just go ahead and find photos of florals that you like online and email them to Flower Dell for quotes.  Breakdown the types of flowers you want and how many etc.  They will give you a very detailed quote and get back to you right away.  I emailed them the floral arrangements I wanted and they were able to give me prices on them.  I would compare the quote they give you at Flower Dell to what you get from your planner. That is what I intend to do.  

[agm04]

Originally Posted by uhura526 

 

I actually just emailed Craig from One World today and this was what he wrote me:  $365.85  USD covers the equipment and sound, and then they add $152.44 USD for every hour of Djing  so 3 hours would be $823.17 USD.   He gave the quotes in Cayman Dollars but I just converted them here to US Dollars.  They charge a 50 % deposit to hold the date.

Thank you so very much!  That's really reasonable.

[agm04]

Sorry for blowing this thread up with all my questions, but for those of you who are farther along in this process and/or have experience with Luca:  I contacted Caribbean Club and LUCA Friday (via email or their online form, can't remember which).  I called CC and spoke with Danielle on Saturday.  She was helpful and very nice and said someone would be in touch with me from Celebrations and Luca.

 

I ended up reaching out to both separately on Monday.  I know weekends are probably really busy, but I'm trying to nail down my date and venue, and I can't do that until I have pricing details.  Celebrations has been really proactive, but Luca not so much.  I called twice yesterday and was told I'd be contacted soon, then got an email at 8pm last night saying that Laura had been out of town for 2 days and would be in touch with me today (Tuesday).

 

It's 7:30 pm and still nothing!  So my question is, am I just being crazy and impatient?  Are they always slower to respond, or are my expectations way off in terms of response time with destination wedding planning?  If it's going to be like this the whole time, I'm not surethis type A can take it!

 

Anyone out there want to reassure me that they will be responsive overall, or go ahead and tell me that I'm being obnoxious?  Haha.

[uhura526]

Originally Posted by agm04 

 

Sorry for blowing this thread up with all my questions, but for those of you who are farther along in this process and/or have experience with Luca:  I contacted Caribbean Club and LUCA Friday (via email or their online form, can't remember which).  I called CC and spoke with Danielle on Saturday.  She was helpful and very nice and said someone would be in touch with me from Celebrations and Luca.

 

I ended up reaching out to both separately on Monday.  I know weekends are probably really busy, but I'm trying to nail down my date and venue, and I can't do that until I have pricing details.  Celebrations has been really proactive, but Luca not so much.  I called twice yesterday and was told I'd be contacted soon, then got an email at 8pm last night saying that Laura had been out of town for 2 days and would be in touch with me today (Tuesday).

 

It's 7:30 pm and still nothing!  So my question is, am I just being crazy and impatient?  Are they always slower to respond, or are my expectations way off in terms of response time with destination wedding planning?  If it's going to be like this the whole time, I'm not surethis type A can take it!

 

Anyone out there want to reassure me that they will be responsive overall, or go ahead and tell me that I'm being obnoxious?  Haha.

First, relax and breath!  They will contact you. I was in communication with Luca in the beginning of my search and they got back to me very quickly each time I emailed them. Granted, I only communicated with them via email. In fact, I find that all of the vendors prefer to communicate in this way and it's better for you because you will have quotes in writing. 

[agm04]

Originally Posted by uhura526 

 

First, relax and breath!  They will contact you. I was in communication with Luca in the beginning of my search and they got back to me very quickly each time I emailed them. Granted, I only communicated with them via email. In fact, I find that all of the vendors prefer to communicate in this way and it's better for you because you will have quotes in writing. 

Ok thank you!  I needed to hear that.  I prefer email communication as well, but got antsy and called when I didn't hear back.    I'll try to relax and wait for them to come back to me.