2013 Brides in Jamaica

[sunnymylene]

SoonCB,

yeah, we are pretty set on that time of the year due to our parents and siblings coming from overseas and their holidays...

[kristencanada]

Hey there! I just got back from a close friend's wedding in Secrets and it was amazing. The people running the show were very organized and they had a fantastic wedding; so much so that my fiance and I have now decided to get married in Jamaica! I am a picky eater and this resort had the most amazing food and my friends did not get a private dinner, but it felt like a reception as they set up special tables together with candles and flowers (they also got the free package). Beautiful, clean, fun resort with AMAZING staff.

[soonCB]

Sunnymylene- How are things coming with your pricing? I am not sure what vacations comany you are working with, but I was told that Sunwing will do a one time price match. So if the price ever goes down you wil get a one time price match. We plan on requesting a quote 60 days before travel. Hope this helps in your decision making.
 

Originally Posted by sunnymylene 

SoonCB,

yeah, we are pretty set on that time of the year due to our parents and siblings coming from overseas and their holidays...

 kristencanada! This is a great site with LOADS of helpful information! Happy planning

Originally Posted by kristencanada 

Hey there! I just got back from a close friend's wedding in Secrets and it was amazing. The people running the show were very organized and they had a fantastic wedding; so much so that my fiance and I have now decided to get married in Jamaica! I am a picky eater and this resort had the most amazing food and my friends did not get a private dinner, but it felt like a reception as they set up special tables together with candles and flowers (they also got the free package). Beautiful, clean, fun resort with AMAZING staff.

 

[sunnymylene]

Ladies,

we have settled on a resort and it feels amazing ! It's in Mexico, and we are stocked about it. Long story short, we are getting married over the New Years Holidays $$$, and are not flexible with that, and want our nephews to come (kids). Negril was our first choice and we were not willing to go anywhere else in Jamaica. All those factors in...limited choices at very expensive prices. So Mexico came in mind for its access to central america and our interest to travel there afterwards. Now the choice on the Gulf is next to unlimited for kids friendly resorts. I asked about 8 quotes for Jamaica, and 16 for Mexico. For the New Years week, Jamaica was quoted well above 2600$. Except for the Grand Pineapple at 1800$ for the second week of Jan.

 

So after 1 month of shopping for Mexico, we are going at Now Sapphire on the Riviera Cancun, price under 2060$ for our guests, great sandy beach, no tacky tropical looks, but still warm and charming, modern decor, snorkeling and diving, kids friendly, away from the commercial busy centers, but still close enough to go check it out, ruins to visits, etc... Now is in the same family as Secrets and Dreams. We are dealing with a travel agent who is a family friend, she takes this at heart.

 

If I would have known a few things I would have started shopping much earlier. 4 months earlier. Our travel agent was able to request 4 quotes a day max. They took about a week to get back to us. And if they were too expensive, we would request another 4 different and wait another week. We started to shop 11 month before our intended date of travels, right around when, flight schedules come out. So my advice is Short list 4, 8, 12, 16. So on day one you can request your first 4 choices, on day two your second lot of 4, and day 3 your third lot of 4 and so on. So, it took more time to get quotes for Jamaica as I didn't know this process. Where as for Mexico i did this plan. And it was much quicker.

 

Shop shop shop and be prepared for plan B and C ! And plan B for you plan C !

 

Once we settled on a resort. Bang everything happens in no time because that quote is only guaranteed for a certain time. 3-4 weeks. So we settled on tuesday this week. I called the resort to find if the date was available. It is. Put a deposit with the resort on that quickly to secure that date and time. In two days, one slot time wasn't available anymore. And put our travel deposit with our agent. And tell you guests to put their deposits with the allocated time. I gave my STD at Christmas, to give plenty of time, and our close circle have known this destination wedding plan for almost 2 years prior to the date !!! If someone dares saying I didn't have enough notice...well too bad.

 

I hope that helps anyone. Of course, the ladies that are remotely considering a destination wedding...probably don't know this website yet...

 

 

 

[Candace Mark]

Hi Ladies, I was so excited to see this forum.  I am getting married April 14, 2013 at Sandals Negril ...my guest traveling with family (children) are staying right next door at Beaches Sandy Bay. I have not been able to get the resort to lock in a group rate for us....So I'm trying to get my save the dates out ASAP so that everyone can book while the 65%-55% off promo is running. It hasn't been a treat. But we love the location....Any suggestions would be amazing...I never even though about having it booked through a travel agent. We have just been doing it all ourselves and working direct with the resort.
 

[melissa1017]

Just booked Riu Ocho Rios today!  So excited, we were looking at Beaches/Sandals but the price would have limited a lot of guests from coming.  Wedding date 9/14/13, can't wait to continue planning!

[soonCB]

Hello Ladies!

 

Has anyone used Dwayne Williams Photography?

[JA2012]

DO you mean Dwayne Watkins Photography? If so, I think he's prob one of the best in JA if you're looking for  photojournalist style of photography

[DivaBride2Be]

I have booked Dwayne Watkins Photography, his work is impeccable and he IS the best. They work well with Elite Media too which we have also booked. If yur thinking of booking im sure you wont have any regrets.

[JA2012]

Hi Ladies,

Just wondering if any of you are planning any outings while in JA? I am considering both a group outing with all interested guests and also just something for me and my girls? But I'm clueless as to what? I wanted to do ziplining but some of my gf's are not into anything physical. LOL! THen i was considering Dunns River but many have already climbed it. Any interesting suggestions are very much appreciated. 

And the cost effective suggestions are even more appreciated! Lol. Thanks in advance.