Villa Weddings Brides - Jamaica!

[Giffojess1]

Omg those pics are fabbo !! Since you said you guys did all the planning yourselves, would you mind sharing who your vendors were ? Flowers & decor , Caterer, Music, Cake etc ? I really like the villa ! It's a elegant but relaxed and unique vibe as opposed to a hotel wedding .

[DivaBride2Be]

This looks absolutely stunning and looks so perfect. Congratulations!!!!

[Cherina]

Originally Posted by Jacki7896 

 

That villa is beautiful!  Wow!!!! 

 

Jacki- Did you stay at the Villas or the cliffs? How was your experience?

[Cherina]

Catererbride-

 

I so so so hope you are still checking in on this site. I would love to get some info on how to contact the band and the artist at your reception.... Breathtaking!

Originally Posted by catererbride 

Ok so here goes, my wedding experience.....

 

I should start by saying that I was told by every wedding planner that I contacted to organize my wedding that I was asking too much and it couldn't be done. Oh and they all wanted up to $2500 for the priviledge of me doing all the work. I didn't end up using one and this is what happened:

 

Went out to Jamaica on 15th August to finalize arrangements for 7th Sept Wedding. Spent the next few weeks driving all over Jamaica to source the following:

 

Catering - had actually organized this from UK via email. His name is Gregory Nelson and he is fabulous! I am a trained chef and catering Manager and have very high standards when it comes to food. This is no 'rice and peas' chef. He was trained in France and is the Sous Chef of a resort in Ocho Rios. Wonderful man, very passionate about what he does, very reassuring and so so meticulous. I wanted 'family style service' i.e. where guests serve themselves at the tables. Dishes of each menu item in the centre of the table so that by passing to/serving each other, they interact more and also if they didn't like certain items, they didn't have to eat them and if they wanted 2nd or 3rd helpings....then they could  Worked out great. Gregory also sorted our bar out for us which as having a villa wedding, we had considered doing ourselves but considering that would have meant sorting coolers, ice, extra tables, glassware, enough drink and servers...we just wanted less hassle. In my opinion, Gregory is very reasonably priced.

 

No offense about the rice and peas part either...he can cook Jamaican food very well too. My husband  is Jamaican so we actually had an informal family cook off welcome party with all the traditional Ja yummy food.

 

    

 

 

Photographer: Again sorted him out whislt in UK. Merrick Cousley. Lovely guy - very humble and modest. Quietly goes about and does his thing without feeling like he was in the way or too bossy at any point. I think he charges fairly too for the quality of his work. Only annoying thing was waiting 6 weeks for our picks when he originally said 4...but hey, I would rather wait and be this happy than get 'average' pics instantly! He arrived slightly before arranged - at 2pm - bearing in mind our service wasn't until after 5pm and he didn't leave until past midnight. No way I would have paid an hourly rate lol!   

 

My favourite picture without doubt (though there are sooooooooo many):

 

 

 

But then agian there's this one.....when our son was asked to give the rings, forgot they were in his pocket, so ran off to look inside the villa for them!! 

 

 

 

Cake - a massive let down. Went through Sheila's Bakery which is in Ocho Rios but doesn't have a website. We went there ourselves and saw that it was a professional set up and gave them our cake requirements and this picture:

 

 

And ended up with this!...

 

 

 

What an embarrassment! Glad Merrick only took one pic of it and that it at least tasted good. Ladies, let's be honest, what crap.

 

Music: Fabulous band that my fiance found and I can hook any of you up that are interested. VEEEERRRRY cheap considering - under $1500 for 6 hours including a guitarist for the ceremony:

 

 

My hubby even got on the mic for a bit...but hey, you met a Jamaican that doesn't sing?!

 

Wedding Make Up: My best friend she did great I think, plus I am obviously a very au natural kind of gal:

 

 

 

Flowers: Only got a few bunches for the head table from a local florist - super cheap and our bouquets were made out of buttons!

 

 

 

 

Centre pieces, quizzes, menus etc:

 

 

 

The entertainment and the extras:

 

Mini Golf!

 

 

 

Pool!

 

 

A local rasta who painted our reception 'as it happened'!

 

 

Floating lanterns

 

And finally, our exit vehicle.....

 

 

 

Ladies, this day, our day, was a dream and I think one you can only truly have at a villa.

 

Any questions, fire away x

 

 

 

 

[Cherina]

Hi I am Cherina, I am a  Newbie. I am a semi Villa bride I am getting married at Moon Dance Villas we are doing a property by out and they are a great hybrid. The food is included but everything is customizable. I have read every post of this thread and I thank you ladies for sharing..... In valuable

[JA2012]

Love the photos!! I was looking at the same photographer and saw your pics on the website. Congrats. Beautiful wedding!!

[JA2012]

@ Cherina...I went to a wedding at Moon Dance Cliffs and it was AMAZING!! Just wait until you get your photos back. The property and the cliffs are so beautiful your pics will be STUNNING!!

[Cherina]

@ Cherina...I went to a wedding at Moon Dance Cliffs and it was AMAZING!! Just wait until you get your photos back. The property and the cliffs are so beautiful your pics will be STUNNING!!

I am not getting married at the cliffs as they don't allow children and I am a believer of children at weddings, if weddings are about bring together two people and two families and the children are the future of that family how can I not include them.? We are getting married at moon dance villas with some events to take place at the cliffs.

[JA2012]

Regardless, Negril is beautiful and Moon Dance anything is probably stunning. I am struggling with the children at weddings thing at the moment. I have nothing against them but depending on the venue, I do have an issue with paying full price for kids to eat. Arghhhh! All part of the planning process though. It's best if the venue can offer some sort of entertainment or kids area to keep the children occupied. Cuz they will def get bored after a day out in the sun wearing their sunday best.

[Cherina]

Regardless, Negril is beautiful and Moon Dance anything is probably stunning. I am struggling with the children at weddings thing at the moment. I have nothing against them but depending on the venue, I do have an issue with paying full price for kids to eat. Arghhhh! All part of the planning process though. It's best if the venue can offer some sort of entertainment or kids area to keep the children occupied. Cuz they will def get bored after a day out in the sun wearing their sunday best.

That is a part of why we picked MDV children's meals for the wedding and the meal plan for children is WAY less than adults dare I say "reasonable" and we are taking one of the villas living rooms and hiring a nanny or two during the reception for the children to have a movie video game zone.