Secrets St. James Weddings

alexisinjamaica · July 22, 2013

Just posted a Secrets review for anyone who needs more info! http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/86938/secrets-st-james-wedding-review

Nicole Perkins · September 9, 2013

We just got married at Secrets St. James July 13, 2013. It was everything I hoped it would be. The wedding was beautiful. We were a little nervous about the weather because the previous days it rained. However, even though it was a bit hot the sun was out shining. We had 50 people and got the Ultimate Secrets Package. However, as you will read Iâ€™m a bride on a budget and was unwilling to pay for hardly any upgrades, so I brought my own decorations and made my own centerpieces.

Wedding Coordinator/Minister/Drum Band

Rocio was our lead coordinator at the hotel. She was very nice. She try to accommodate us as best as she could. She told us to keep in mind that based on the previous days weather our wedding reception may have to be moved inside, but she would try her best to have the ceremony outside. But, it didnâ€™t matter because our wedding day was beautiful.

When you first arrive they have will have a meeting with you and your groom to finalize all the details. The Meeting was not very long. It lasted about 40 min. We met with the minister there as well. His name was Terence. He was very funny and made the wedding a blast.

We upgraded from the mento band which was included in our package to the steel drum band for $200. The guests loved them.

Hair/Make-UP

My hair and make-up was included in the package. I just showed Ms. Joyce a picture of how I wanted my hair and she made it happen. She did a great job and I was definitely satisfied. She did my hair and make up. The hotel photographer took pictures while I was getting my hair and make up done which was a part of the package. Later, he took pictures as I was pretending to get dressed with my bridal party.

Wedding Rehearsal

We did not pay for a wedding rehearsal ($120). My husband thought it was not worth the money. So, we met with the bridal party and talked about the details. Weâ€™re so happy we didnâ€™t because half of them were extremely late anyway and everything turned out fine. During the ceremony the minister walks you through everything anyway. So, we just need to discuss with your bridal party who is walking with who, the order, and where they should walk down.

Preferred Club Room

We loved the preferred club. They were so nice and pleasant. They will accommodate anything you want. Also, there are snacks downstairs in the lobby which comes in handy when you are at the pool. In addition, you get free wifi which everyone wanted to use.

The night before the wedding the groom did get a separate room which was nice.

Decorations/Flowers

I thought the decorations at Secrets were extremely expensive. So, I brought everything myself and we delivered our OOT bags ourselves (we wrenâ€™t paying $4 a bag to have them delivered). However, we paid secrets to put them out for us which was about $50. I didnâ€™t want to worry about setting anything up. I just had to explain how I wanted everything. I had 2 suitcases for decorations: 1 for the flowers and 1 for table decorations. My bridal bouquet was made by the florist and Michaels. I made the bridesmaids bouquets myself. Just go to Michaels when they are having the 50% off sale and pick some that you think will be pretty together.

We had red chair bows and table runners and rose petals which have to be biodegradable. I made my own centerpieces. They were 4 picture frames taped together in a square. Since we are high school sweethearts and have been together foreverâ€¦ 2 pictures were of us back in high school and the other 2 were pictures of us now. They came out beautiful. In the middle I put a large battery operated candle which illuminated through the frames at night. Then, around the frames we put votive candles. We saved a ton of money doing it ourselves. So, go to Michaels and get everything when itâ€™s on sale. It will be worth it. Oh we even bought the ribbon and topper on our cake so it could be pretty too.

Wedding Day

We had a sunset wedding. So, the morning of the wedding I hung out with my bridal party by the pool. I ended up seeing the groom twice that day. Booooo. Then, I went and got my hair and make up done by Ms. Joyce at the salon. Some of my bridesmaids got dressed in their room and some came to mine. We had our private photographer which was a friend (Keenan Peterkin: www.keeneyegallery.com) who took pictures when I was really getting dressed. Then, I had enough time to go downstairs in front of the preferred club and take pictures with my bridemaids and mom which was a great idea.

Also, the hotel photographer took pictures of us in the room and on the balcony which came out beautifully.

Rocio came to get us. The bridesmaids walked down with one of the other coordinators. Rocio took me in a golf cart. The ceremony was lovely. We wrote our own â€œwords of expressionâ€ which is what the minister called them. We had a sand ceremony and jumped the broom which we all brought ourselves.

During the ceremony and reception we used our own radio. We got the BOSE speaker which we plugged into the gazebo. We saved a ton of money doing this too. We just plugged our IPOD into it and we already had the music in order. 2 of our friends were the DJs during the ceremony. So they could play and stop the different songs â€¦. Bridal party processionalâ€¦ bride processionalâ€¦. Sand ceremonyâ€¦. Recessionalâ€¦.

Everything was wonderful. We were pleased with our dvd and photos which were given to us before we went back home.

At the end of the night we had wish lanterns which was a big hit with our wedding party. It was a perfect way to end the night. However, we were lucky the servers were there to help us because we had no idea what we were doing.

Overall

Secrets St. James was a great place to get married. The food was yummy. The guests really enjoyed it. I was too excited to really eat. But, things can get very expensive if you buy it through them. So, be a do it yourself bride. Like I said, the only extras we got from them were the upgrade to drum band and tiki torches. We bought everything else ourselves.

RandL2015 · September 9, 2013

Thank you so much for this WONDERFUL review!! You have given me some good ideas!!

muneera0302 · September 9, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicole Perkins

We just got married at Secrets St. James July 13, 2013. It was everything I hoped it would be. The wedding was beautiful. We were a little nervous about the weather because the previous days it rained. However, even though it was a bit hot the sun was out shining. We had 50 people and got the Ultimate Secrets Package. However, as you will read Iâ€™m a bride on a budget and was unwilling to pay for hardly any upgrades, so I brought my own decorations and made my own centerpieces.

Wedding Coordinator/Minister/Drum Band

Rocio was our lead coordinator at the hotel. She was very nice. She try to accommodate us as best as she could. She told us to keep in mind that based on the previous days weather our wedding reception may have to be moved inside, but she would try her best to have the ceremony outside. But, it didnâ€™t matter because our wedding day was beautiful.

When you first arrive they have will have a meeting with you and your groom to finalize all the details. The Meeting was not very long. It lasted about 40 min. We met with the minister there as well. His name was Terence. He was very funny and made the wedding a blast.

We upgraded from the mento band which was included in our package to the steel drum band for $200. The guests loved them.

Hair/Make-UP

My hair and make-up was included in the package. I just showed Ms. Joyce a picture of how I wanted my hair and she made it happen. She did a great job and I was definitely satisfied. She did my hair and make up. The hotel photographer took pictures while I was getting my hair and make up done which was a part of the package. Later, he took pictures as I was pretending to get dressed with my bridal party.

Wedding Rehearsal

We did not pay for a wedding rehearsal ($120). My husband thought it was not worth the money. So, we met with the bridal party and talked about the details. Weâ€™re so happy we didnâ€™t because half of them were extremely late anyway and everything turned out fine. During the ceremony the minister walks you through everything anyway. So, we just need to discuss with your bridal party who is walking with who, the order, and where they should walk down.

Preferred Club Room

We loved the preferred club. They were so nice and pleasant. They will accommodate anything you want. Also, there are snacks downstairs in the lobby which comes in handy when you are at the pool. In addition, you get free wifi which everyone wanted to use.

The night before the wedding the groom did get a separate room which was nice.

Decorations/Flowers

I thought the decorations at Secrets were extremely expensive. So, I brought everything myself and we delivered our OOT bags ourselves (we wrenâ€™t paying $4 a bag to have them delivered). However, we paid secrets to put them out for us which was about $50. I didnâ€™t want to worry about setting anything up. I just had to explain how I wanted everything. I had 2 suitcases for decorations: 1 for the flowers and 1 for table decorations. My bridal bouquet was made by the florist and Michaels. I made the bridesmaids bouquets myself. Just go to Michaels when they are having the 50% off sale and pick some that you think will be pretty together.

We had red chair bows and table runners and rose petals which have to be biodegradable. I made my own centerpieces. They were 4 picture frames taped together in a square. Since we are high school sweethearts and have been together foreverâ€¦ 2 pictures were of us back in high school and the other 2 were pictures of us now. They came out beautiful. In the middle I put a large battery operated candle which illuminated through the frames at night. Then, around the frames we put votive candles. We saved a ton of money doing it ourselves. So, go to Michaels and get everything when itâ€™s on sale. It will be worth it. Oh we even bought the ribbon and topper on our cake so it could be pretty too.

Wedding Day

We had a sunset wedding. So, the morning of the wedding I hung out with my bridal party by the pool. I ended up seeing the groom twice that day. Booooo. Then, I went and got my hair and make up done by Ms. Joyce at the salon. Some of my bridesmaids got dressed in their room and some came to mine. We had our private photographer which was a friend (Keenan Peterkin: www.keeneyegallery.com) who took pictures when I was really getting dressed. Then, I had enough time to go downstairs in front of the preferred club and take pictures with my bridemaids and mom which was a great idea.

Also, the hotel photographer took pictures of us in the room and on the balcony which came out beautifully.

Rocio came to get us. The bridesmaids walked down with one of the other coordinators. Rocio took me in a golf cart. The ceremony was lovely. We wrote our own â€œwords of expressionâ€ which is what the minister called them. We had a sand ceremony and jumped the broom which we all brought ourselves.

During the ceremony and reception we used our own radio. We got the BOSE speaker which we plugged into the gazebo. We saved a ton of money doing this too. We just plugged our IPOD into it and we already had the music in order. 2 of our friends were the DJs during the ceremony. So they could play and stop the different songs â€¦. Bridal party processionalâ€¦ bride processionalâ€¦. Sand ceremonyâ€¦. Recessionalâ€¦.

Everything was wonderful. We were pleased with our dvd and photos which were given to us before we went back home.

At the end of the night we had wish lanterns which was a big hit with our wedding party. It was a perfect way to end the night. However, we were lucky the servers were there to help us because we had no idea what we were doing.

Overall

Secrets St. James was a great place to get married. The food was yummy. The guests really enjoyed it. I was too excited to really eat. But, things can get very expensive if you buy it through them. So, be a do it yourself bride. Like I said, the only extras we got from them were the upgrade to drum band and tiki torches. We bought everything else ourselves.

thanks for the great review! glad you had a great time and your wedding turned out beautiful!!! i can't wait til december for mine!!! :-)

SWOK · September 9, 2013

thanks for sharing! the red was stunning and you looked beautiful!

would you reccommend doing the ceremony at the gazebo or on the sand after being down there and seeing it. that is one thing i cant decide. also how much were your flowers - were yours real? i also noticed that you had the buffet, which foods did you choose and would reccommend again?? any tips? my wedding is 12/3/13 at SWO! Thanks again!

pzl101 · September 14, 2013

Nicole - Thank you so much for a great review! I'm getting married at Secrets next May and have a few questions:

- the BOSE speakers were loud enough to hear during the ceremony processional and dance to during the reception? Which kind do you have? There was an outlet for it in the casita/hut?

- Did the minister use a microphone during the ceremony? I'm afraid guest won't be able to hear him or us saying the vows

- How did you get the steel band for only $200? The price list Secrets gave me has them at $350

- Were you able to arrange for the hotel photographer when to have him take the photos? I am also getting the Ultimates package but am also hiring an outside pro photographer - trying to figure out how to have them take separate pictures as my outside pro doesn't want anyone else taking pics while he is too

- where did you get the ribbon and topper for your cake? Great idea to bring your own

thanks again!

Nicole Perkins · September 14, 2013

SWOK,

Congrats!!! You will have a wonderful time.

I liked being at the gazebo... I was able to wear my shoes without my feet sinking in the sand.

I made the bridesmaids bouquets and the guy at michaels made my bouquet for about $40.

Our guest loved the food... we had to pick foods for cocktail hour : island conch fritters, brushetta, chicken satay with peanut sauce, and thai fish fritters. But we just had an assorted buffet which we didn't get to choose.

Nicole Perkins · September 14, 2013

Congrats PLZ101

- the BOSE speakers were loud enough to hear during the ceremony processional and dance to during the reception? Which kind do you have? There was an outlet for it in the casita/hut?

Bose Sound Dock Portable. We could hear it, but we were suppose to bring another radio and connect both so it could be even louder. Yet, my husband forgot the wire. But, it was fine. Everyone still got up and danced. It was fine during the processional too.

- Did the minister use a microphone during the ceremony? I'm afraid guest won't be able to hear him or us saying the vows

Yes he uses a microphone and he will put a mic on your husband so your guest can hear both of you.

- How did you get the steel band for only $200? The price list Secrets gave me has them at $350

I upgraded from the momento band which was included in my package. I didn't want them and they said it will be $200 extra to get the steel band.

- Were you able to arrange for the hotel photographer when to have him take the photos?

Yes... you will meet with the wedding coordinator to discuss the photo details.

I am also getting the Ultimates package but am also hiring an outside pro photographer - trying to figure out how to have them take separate pictures as my outside pro doesn't want anyone else taking pics while he is too

- where did you get the ribbon and topper for your cake? Great idea to bring your own

I got the ribbon from Michaels.

pzl101 · September 14, 2013

thanks for the quick reply! So Secrets didn't charge you to "rent" a microphone? It was free? I had asked them and they said I would have to rent their sound system to get a mic.

And did you upgrade to the steel band when you met with the coordinator or before you arrived in Jamaica over email/finalizing the details? They said they would be in touch 2 months before.