Updated Grand Cayman Weddings Thread

[uhura526]

Originally Posted by agm04 

 

So how did you end up with RSVPs?  Also, I'm sorry if you said this somewhere already, but have you booked someone for hair?

Hey. Well, there was a few weeks of RSVP hell but I am happy to say we survived it and we've got our final guest list total of 26 people booked. We'll have 28 total including me and my FI which perfectly fit into our estimate so I'm very happy with that.  It seems most of the RSVPs came in the last week of the deadline and I did have to chase a few people who just told me via email or texting. It worked out in the end just strange that the folks I swore would be there aren't coming and the ones I didn't think would come are booked and ready to go.  Surprised it's mostly our friends coming and very little family. 

 

For hair I am actually doing my own hair for the wedding. I'm pretty skilled with doing my own extensions for years now and that's my plan for myself.  I do however, need to hire someone to do my mom and MOH's hair.  I was trying to book with my make up artist's recommended hair guy but he's not being so responsive.  I got a price of $75 each for them but no details and worst of all, no pictures. I asked him if he had a portfolio or something so I could see his work about a week ago and I haven't gotten a response.

 

I may just make it easy on everyone and just book my mom and MOH  at Rock Gorgeous Hair.  (I believe someone in this thread went there)  Focus Salon is also supposed to do nice work. Both have websites and Facebook pages.

 

How is your RSVP going?

[agm04]

Originally Posted by uhura526 

 

Hey. Well, there was a few weeks of RSVP hell but I am happy to say we survived it and we've got our final guest list total of 26 people booked. We'll have 28 total including me and my FI which perfectly fit into our estimate so I'm very happy with that.  It seems most of the RSVPs came in the last week of the deadline and I did have to chase a few people who just told me via email or texting. It worked out in the end just strange that the folks I swore would be there aren't coming and the ones I didn't think would come are booked and ready to go.  Surprised it's mostly our friends coming and very little family. 

 

For hair I am actually doing my own hair for the wedding. I'm pretty skilled with doing my own extensions for years now and that's my plan for myself.  I do however, need to hire someone to do my mom and MOH's hair.  I was trying to book with my make up artist's recommended hair guy but he's not being so responsive.  I got a price of $75 each for them but no details and worst of all, no pictures. I asked him if he had a portfolio or something so I could see his work about a week ago and I haven't gotten a response.

 

I may just make it easy on everyone and just book my mom and MOH  at Rock Gorgeous Hair.  (I believe someone in this thread went there)  Focus Salon is also supposed to do nice work. Both have websites and Facebook pages.

 

How is your RSVP going?

Very interesting.  I have definitely been surprised on both sides - people booking and people declining.  We still have a couple of weeks left, but so far I only have one friend who is disappointing me and not making the effort.  And you know, that's part of having a destination wedding so I just have to suck it up and live with it!

 

We invited 147, and so far have responses from 58 (41 coming, 17 not - some of those are the +1s of my single friends who are coming alone).  There are 20 more we know are coming (either have already booked flight or hotel but not RSVPd or told me and I actually believe them).  So still over half are unknown, which makes me crazy, but whatever.  It makes me feel a little better to hear that most of yours came in the last week.  At this point I'm guessing we'll have between 70 and 80.  I originally thought around 100.

 

You're using Stephanie Ford for makeup, right?  I called her yesterday and asked if she did hair too - she said she can and sometimes does for smaller weddings, so maybe it's worth asking?  It sounded to me like she doesn't do it for bigger weddings just bc all her time is spent on makeup, but if it's only a couple of people then maybe she could do it.

[uhura526]

Originally Posted by agm04 

 

Very interesting.  I have definitely been surprised on both sides - people booking and people declining.  We still have a couple of weeks left, but so far I only have one friend who is disappointing me and not making the effort.  And you know, that's part of having a destination wedding so I just have to suck it up and live with it!

 

We invited 147, and so far have responses from 58 (41 coming, 17 not - some of those are the +1s of my single friends who are coming alone).  There are 20 more we know are coming (either have already booked flight or hotel but not RSVPd or told me and I actually believe them).  So still over half are unknown, which makes me crazy, but whatever.  It makes me feel a little better to hear that most of yours came in the last week.  At this point I'm guessing we'll have between 70 and 80.  I originally thought around 100.

 

You're using Stephanie Ford for makeup, right?  I called her yesterday and asked if she did hair too - she said she can and sometimes does for smaller weddings, so maybe it's worth asking?  It sounded to me like she doesn't do it for bigger weddings just bc all her time is spent on makeup, but if it's only a couple of people then maybe she could do it.

When is your RSVP deadline?  I would say you may have to chase a few people by the time you get to the week your RSVPs are due, but it won't be a daunting number.  I have sympathy for you though because you're in that stressful point of not really knowing what your number of guests will be and your budget is totally contingent on this.  You want to be able to get solid numbers and you really can't until you hear from everyone.  It's frustrating, but hang in there.  It will be over soon!

 

Yeah, I'm using Stephanie for make up and she's aware I only want two people's hair done because she's also doing their make up.  She didn't offer that service to us, but it might be that she's not well-versed in doing special occasion styles for Black hair.  It does involve a different more complicated process, so she referred me to people who are supposed to be pretty experienced and good at that.  I just haven't gotten good communication via email with them so I'd rather just go through a salon. The price is the same and I actually have something to go on (ie. pictures!)

[agm04]

Originally Posted by uhura526 

 

When is your RSVP deadline?  I would say you may have to chase a few people by the time you get to the week your RSVPs are due, but it won't be a daunting number.  I have sympathy for you though because you're in that stressful point of not really knowing what your number of guests will be and your budget is totally contingent on this.  You want to be able to get solid numbers and you really can't until you hear from everyone.  It's frustrating, but hang in there.  It will be over soon!

 

Yeah, I'm using Stephanie for make up and she's aware I only want two people's hair done because she's also doing their make up.  She didn't offer that service to us, but it might be that she's not well-versed in doing special occasion styles for Black hair.  It does involve a different more complicated process, so she referred me to people who are supposed to be pretty experienced and good at that.  I just haven't gotten good communication via email with them so I'd rather just go through a salon. The price is the same and I actually have something to go on (ie. pictures!)

Our deadline is March 1st.  So there is still time - I'm pretty impatient in case you can't tell.  Haha.  But thank you for the encouragement.  I am actually really glad I based all my budget #s on 100 guests even when my mom was telling me that # wouldn't happen.  Now the #s can only go down, which is a pretty nice relief at this point in the game.

 

I specifically said I was looking for someone to do both and only needed simple styling so yeah that makes sense.  I automatically get nervous and don't want to use vendors who aren't responsive from the get go.  Just doesn't make you feel very reassured!  You will post lots and lots of pictures after your wedding right???

[uhura526]

Originally Posted by agm04 

 

Our deadline is March 1st.  So there is still time - I'm pretty impatient in case you can't tell.  Haha.  But thank you for the encouragement.  I am actually really glad I based all my budget #s on 100 guests even when my mom was telling me that # wouldn't happen.  Now the #s can only go down, which is a pretty nice relief at this point in the game.

 

I specifically said I was looking for someone to do both and only needed simple styling so yeah that makes sense.  I automatically get nervous and don't want to use vendors who aren't responsive from the get go.  Just doesn't make you feel very reassured!  You will post lots and lots of pictures after your wedding right???

That's good that you based your budget on the bigger number so at least you know it won't be more than that.   I take the same stance regarding vendors with poor response time. I do not have time for that. I know all about "Island Time" my family is West Indian, but business is business and I respond much better to vendors who are on top of their game and want my business. You snooze, you lose.  Simple as that. Just because it's a small island, the options aren't as plentiful as some of these big destination wedding spots like Jamaica and Mexico and they know it.  Not as much competition and they can charge a lot more for average work. 

 

I will post pro photos when I get them. Hope I do not have to wait too long for those.  

[agm04]

Originally Posted by uhura526 

 

That's good that you based your budget on the bigger number so at least you know it won't be more than that.   I take the same stance regarding vendors with poor response time. I do not have time for that. I know all about "Island Time" my family is West Indian, but business is business and I respond much better to vendors who are on top of their game and want my business. You snooze, you lose.  Simple as that. Just because it's a small island, the options aren't as plentiful as some of these big destination wedding spots like Jamaica and Mexico and they know it.  Not as much competition and they can charge a lot more for average work. 

 

I will post pro photos when I get them. Hope I do not have to wait too long for those.  

Totally agree - business is business!  We're still spending a lot of money and deserve a response.

 

Cannot wait to see your pictures!

[yogi1212]

Hi all! I'm still trying to narrow down my venue. I like Kaibo beach restaurant alot. My issue is I wont have enough guests to have the event private so I am open to them having the restaurant open for the public. Have any of you had your wedding and reception there? If so was it a hassle having the space open to the public. They did tell me that they would not be able to section off our space or control our "area". Thanks for your insight

[CAKnight]

For any of you GC brides, 

When you go there, can you please please please price how much the Tortuga rum cakes are? 

I am thinking about giving each couple a mini (4oz) Tortuga rum cake in lieu of our wedding cake...

But, idk if I should buy it when we get to port or have it shipped to us!

 

I would be extremely grateful to anyone who could price this for me!

 

THANKS in advance! 

[agm04]

They quoted me $1.96 USD for the little ones (they described them as about 2 bites to me). I'm paying in advance and then picking them up when I get there. Hope that helps!

[agm04]

If I were you I'd definitely buy there!