April 2013, Sandals Grande Riviera Ocho Rios, Jamaica

[Katie McLean]

I just had my call with Deadra the "wedding coordinator" more of a sales person, but that's okay. I forgot to ask her if there is a place we can have an indoor reception for 60 people. If anyone knows the answer let me know, i'd really appreciate it!!

[valaug]

We're booked for March 2. I hope the weather will be good! We only have about 10 people booked so far but hoping for 20-30. Invited 80! Sandals does give discounts based on number of guests booking under your code. Check out their wedding section. I think you get a free room if you book 10 rooms though that might not be exactly what it is... There are lots of bonus things for booking groups though!

[CaitKen]

Hi ladies!

 

I am getting married at Sandal Grande Riviera on 03/16/2013! I am so excited for the wedding but feel like I should be doing more to prepare. My fiance and I are debating on whether or not to have the 3 hour reception with an extra hour so we can have the typical formalities- like the first dance and cake cutting. Plus, we expect a large group so we want to have a private reception area. Has anyone received information about where they can hold private receptions?

 

Looking forward to planning with all of you over the next couple of months

[justchrissy]

I'm considering this resort for my wedding in Nov 2013. I would love to hear about your experiences with Sandals. It doesn't appear that as many people book with Sandals as some of the other resorts on this site so any information would be helpful. I'm thinking the same thing about a 4 pm wedding vs paying $600 for the twilight hour. From reading on the website, I get the impression that the reception is a hour long cocktail hour type reception. Do you all know if a reception for maybe 3 hours or so is a option. Did you all choose a per designed wedding package. The BB package appears to be a awesome deal depending on how much would have to be added for larger parties. Has anyone inquired about a outside photography company? Do they allow that? Their packages seem pretty costly. Any feedback is appreciated & happy planning ladies!!

[justchrissy]

Your day is coming soon!! I'm sure you are excited. I believe with 10 rooms booked, the bride & groom get a room upgrade for the length of their stay....IF I READ RIGHT!! IT'S ALOT OF INFO;) I look forward to hearing about your experience!

[emilyj]

I'm considering this resort for my wedding in Nov 2013. I would love to hear about your experiences with Sandals. It doesn't appear that as many people book with Sandals as some of the other resorts on this site so any information would be helpful. I'm thinking the same thing about a 4 pm wedding vs paying $600 for the twilight hour. From reading on the website, I get the impression that the reception is a hour long cocktail hour type reception. Do you all know if a reception for maybe 3 hours or so is a option. Did you all choose a per designed wedding package. The BB package appears to be a awesome deal depending on how much would have to be added for larger parties. Has anyone inquired about a outside photography company? Do they allow that? Their packages seem pretty costly. Any feedback is appreciated & happy planning ladies!!

Hi Chrissy, I received the wedding extras document from Sandals and they do offer a 3 hour reception for $75 per person. A seated dinner, open bar, and some other things are included. Let me know if you would like me to e-mail the document. I am considering Sandals also but I am trying to get more info in the photography issue.

[Marymack]

Hi ladies....yes you can bring a photographer with you as a guest.They must stay 3 days as well.My TA is a Sandals certified professional and the photographer I'm using is a former sandals bride herself.If you have more questions go to fans who love sandalsweddingmoons.My TA Leslie and another lady Jody will answer any questions posted...This is on facebook....

[Marymack]

From what Leslie tells me everything is kinda expensive but you can bring a lot of decor and silk flowers down with you... Hope this helps....

[valaug]

Hi Sandals GR ladies! Oh my gosh, now that my wedding date (March 2, 2013) is getting closer, we are getting a lot more of the details in place. We are taking the $500 credit and customizing our own package. We are paying $50/person for a "reception dinner" which includes plated dinner, open bar, cake (I think??), champagne toast, and venue for 2 hours. Then we are spending the $500 credit on flowers for my guy and me, rose petals for the aisle (a splurge at $250 but I think it will be beautiful), and table linens. Going with the Seaside Serenade linens, cake, and red roses for bouquet.

 

Since we have a group of 22 people (including us) staying at Sandals, we get a free rehearsal dinner, free hot/cold apps cocktail hour, free room upgrade, a mani/pedi for me and 35-min massage for him, and some other random goodies (this is all for groups of 10 couples or more). Also I think all brides/grooms get the free white-glove celebration dinner in one of the restaurants with champagne, honeymoon breakfast, decorated room, etc.

 

We just had our phone call with Deidra. She is very nice, but yes, definitely a sales person! We had already decided we were going to say "no" to a lot of the extras - we are not doing any table centerpieces, reception music, or photography. We don't have bridesmaids or groomsmen, we're not doing a twilight ceremony, we don't need any "reception touches" or "ceremony touches" or anything like that! I'm sure it was a disappointing phone call for Deidra, but hey, we are blowing our budget on staying there for as long as we can afford! Once I told her that, she pretty much backed off. However, there are TONS of "add-ons" that you can choose to really balloon the overall budget if you so please!

 

For our wedding DIY, we're bringing some shell candles to put on the reception tables (we'll set that up ourselves and skip the $250 "setup" fee), some welcome bags (they are just nice bags from LL Bean with nothing in them so that people can use them for dirty laundry, whatever), and we're going to organize either golf outing for guys and spa for girls or else some other Island Routes adventure for the guests. We are bringing a photo mat/frame guest book with a great personalized map of Jamaica from Etsy, and our TY cards will be from Etsy as well, with personalized starfish word art. Our STD postcards were from Etsy as well - apparently I am addicted, lots of good stuff to find on there!

 

Hope this info-sharing helps - any other 3/2/13 brides out there? I'll be at the resort from 2/27/13 - 3/8/13. Any tips or anything I'm missing? Anything you're doing or bringing with you that Sandals doesn't offer?

[justchrissy]

Hi Chrissy, I received the wedding extras document from Sandals and they do offer a 3 hour reception for $75 per person. A seated dinner, open bar, and some other things are included. Let me know if you would like me to e-mail the document. I am considering Sandals also but I am trying to get more info in the photography issue.