Secrets St James/Wild Orchid Weddings 2012/2013

[LisaJoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pzl101 

Hi Ladies,

 

Is there a direct email or contact for the wedding coordinator or did you just fill out the Wedding Inquiry form online? I think we've settled on a date (!!!) and am wondering how long it will take to get an initial response.

 

Thanks!

 

Once you complete the form, they will contact you. Basically, you figure out how you want your wedding to look. They will email you decor/flower/cake/location options. Two months prior to your wedding, they email you a form asking what you would like to do, how you would like your wedding to be. That's it!! They flowers are provided by Tai Flora. Go to their website and see what you like. Send them a picture and you will receive a quote. Negotiate with the price. Make the bouquet yours. I had them remove some flowers and reduce the cost. I LOVED my bouquet. I think i uploaded a picture on my profile.

Simone Clarke-Kirlew & Rocio Graham

Wedding Coordinators

Secrets Wild Orchid & Secrets St. James

Lot A59 Freeport

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Tel.: (876) 953-6600 Fax: (876) 940-9710

[email protected]

[LisaJoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pzl101 

fireworks sound awesome! but i think i may do sky lanterns!

 

We were there for 4th of July. Let's just say....fireworks were not that impressive and that was the 4th. I wouldn't bother with fireworks. The 10 days we were there about 10 weddings occured. To be honest, everyone went simple. There were barely to no decorations used. No fancy steel drums or soloists. No fireworks yet each wedding was intimate in its own way. One couple had a band and actually held their small reception in the Wild Orchids gazebo. I was not that impressed with the money I know they spent. It's hot and muggy especially if it rains close to your wedding time. Otherwise, the weather is great. We reserved a table at the Bourdeaux Restaurant (French) where romantic lighting and music was offered. The food was fantastic!!!

[LisaJoy]

Alexisinjamaica did an outstanding job on her decorations. If you have the money to spend, her wedding looked beautiful!!!

[pzl101]

Originally Posted by LisaJoy 

 

 

Once you complete the form, they will contact you. Basically, you figure out how you want your wedding to look. They will email you decor/flower/cake/location options. Two months prior to your wedding, they email you a form asking what you would like to do, how you would like your wedding to be. That's it!! They flowers are provided by Tai Flora. Go to their website and see what you like. Send them a picture and you will receive a quote. Negotiate with the price. Make the bouquet yours. I had them remove some flowers and reduce the cost. I LOVED my bouquet. I think i uploaded a picture on my profile.

Simone Clarke-Kirlew & Rocio Graham

Wedding Coordinators

Secrets Wild Orchid & Secrets St. James

Lot A59 Freeport

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Tel.: (876) 953-6600 Fax: (876) 940-9710

[email protected]

thanks for the info .... I filled out the form and emailed them too. I have no clue on how the process works or what steps to take. I definitely have an idea of what and how I want the wedding to look ... but I guess first my FI and I have to make a final decision on where to have it? I emailed a couple of places to do a comparison but Secrets is def our top choice.

 

Once we decide, we have to put down a deposit to reserve the date ... and then we don't hear back from them until 2 months prior??

[pzl101]

Originally Posted by LisaJoy 

 

 

 

We were there for 4th of July. Let's just say....fireworks were not that impressive and that was the 4th. I wouldn't bother with fireworks. The 10 days we were there about 10 weddings occured. To be honest, everyone went simple. There were barely to no decorations used. No fancy steel drums or soloists. No fireworks yet each wedding was intimate in its own way. One couple had a band and actually held their small reception in the Wild Orchids gazebo. I was not that impressed with the money I know they spent. It's hot and muggy especially if it rains close to your wedding time. Otherwise, the weather is great. We reserved a table at the Bourdeaux Restaurant (French) where romantic lighting and music was offered. The food was fantastic!!!

so you had your dinner reception at one of the restaurants instead of at the beach? you were able to reserve the whole restaurant?

[pzl101]

Originally Posted by LisaJoy 

 

Alexisinjamaica did an outstanding job on her decorations. If you have the money to spend, her wedding looked beautiful!!!

I agree! I keep going through her planning thread because it was so detailed! great advice and so helpful....

[pzl101]

oops, sorry LisaJoy, nevermind, just realized you explained about your dinner in another thread! there is soooo much information here! I'm getting confused about what I'm following! haha

 

thanks for your help and i'm sure i will have more questions about Secrets!

Originally Posted by pzl101 

so you had your dinner reception at one of the restaurants instead of at the beach? you were able to reserve the whole restaurant?

 

Originally Posted by LisaJoy 

 

 

We were there for 4th of July. Let's just say....fireworks were not that impressive and that was the 4th. I wouldn't bother with fireworks. The 10 days we were there about 10 weddings occured. To be honest, everyone went simple. There were barely to no decorations used. No fancy steel drums or soloists. No fireworks yet each wedding was intimate in its own way. One couple had a band and actually held their small reception in the Wild Orchids gazebo. I was not that impressed with the money I know they spent. It's hot and muggy especially if it rains close to your wedding time. Otherwise, the weather is great. We reserved a table at the Bourdeaux Restaurant (French) where romantic lighting and music was offered. The food was fantastic!!!

[LisaJoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pzl101 

thanks for the info .... I filled out the form and emailed them too. I have no clue on how the process works or what steps to take. I definitely have an idea of what and how I want the wedding to look ... but I guess first my FI and I have to make a final decision on where to have it? I emailed a couple of places to do a comparison but Secrets is def our top choice.

 

Once we decide, we have to put down a deposit to reserve the date ... and then we don't hear back from them until 2 months prior??

 

Secrets requires a $100 deposit to reserve a date. Shortly there after, they email you information (music, decor, locations, cake, flowers, etc. costs.) so you may review your options. You can email and ask all the questions you want during your "waiting time." Two months out, they contact you and get your decisions on decorations, music....everything. Trust me, its weird to not do anything during that time frame except wait. LOL A lot of brides do DIY projects during that time to eliminate costs at the resort. You have to take into consideration transporting your stuff to the resort then back, the costs for additional luggage. You can rent a musician, band or bring an Iphone/CD with a docking station OR rent the sound system for an hour. When you arrive, they have a scheduled meeting for you and the wedding team. At that time, you hand over your outfits to be pressed and any other items relating to the wedding. They take it from there and set it all up.

[pzl101]

Originally Posted by LisaJoy 

 

 

Secrets requires a $100 deposit to reserve a date. Shortly there after, they email you information (music, decor, locations, cake, flowers, etc. costs.) so you may review your options. You can email and ask all the questions you want during your "waiting time." Two months out, they contact you and get your decisions on decorations, music....everything. Trust me, its weird to not do anything during that time frame except wait. LOL A lot of brides do DIY projects during that time to eliminate costs at the resort. You have to take into consideration transporting your stuff to the resort then back, the costs for additional luggage. You can rent a musician, band or bring an Iphone/CD with a docking station OR rent the sound system for an hour. When you arrive, they have a scheduled meeting for you and the wedding team. At that time, you hand over your outfits to be pressed and any other items relating to the wedding. They take it from there and set it all up.

I heard back from Lisa, the Wedding Manager - is that who you worked with? She sent a bunch of attachments with pictures and descriptions so we just have to go through it and see if we like what they offer.

 

Are there multiple weddings a day at Secrets? I was under the impression they only did one per day but she listed 2 times (11am and 2pm) for my 1st choice date and then 3 times (11am/2pm/4pm) for 2 days before and after my preferred date.

 

Does that mean someone already has the 4pm slot for my date??

 

We are having maybe 24 people (including the 2 of us) so we may just bring a docking station - they said to rent their sound system is $180/hour with a minimum of 3 hours! 

[LisaJoy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pzl101 

I heard back from Lisa, the Wedding Manager - is that who you worked with? She sent a bunch of attachments with pictures and descriptions so we just have to go through it and see if we like what they offer.

 

Are there multiple weddings a day at Secrets? I was under the impression they only did one per day but she listed 2 times (11am and 2pm) for my 1st choice date and then 3 times (11am/2pm/4pm) for 2 days before and after my preferred date.

 

Does that mean someone already has the 4pm slot for my date??

 

We are having maybe 24 people (including the 2 of us) so we may just bring a docking station - they said to rent their sound system is $180/hour with a minimum of 3 hours! 

 

Lisa-Marie was a point of contact however Simone and Rocio will also be working with you if you proceed with Secrets.

Yes, there are up to 3 weddings a day. The day we were married, we were the only couple. We went with 4pm, the best time slot in my opinion. Most people are off the beach getting ready for dinner compared to earlier in the day.

We rented the sound system. Brought a CD because I was worried the Iphone may skip, freeze, etc. It went perfectly! I provided them a list of songs and had the songs in proper order. They made sure the correct song played for me walking down the aisle as well as for our first dance.

If you are using the gazebo location, it will be crowded for 24 people plus minister, photographer. Just an FYI. You can go with a beach wedding which is what we original wanted. Lisa advised it was not that private because of people on the beach and in the water. From observing while there 10 days, I think it would have worked out well! Since we only had a total of 8 people, the gazebo ended up being perfect for us. There is the beach casita as well. Not that private since its right off the pathway and near a pool but it works. You can decide once you arrive which area you prefer but I'm sure you'll know prior to arriving what you'd like. If you have the money to rent decor or DIY, the beach wedding would be awesome. Out of all weddings while we were there, everyone was married in the gazebos. There are two options, one on the Wild Orchid side and the other on the St. James side. We choose the WO side since our room was in the Preferred Club and it was more private since that beach is solely for PC members. The St. James beach is where the pool parties are at. It wasn't our thing but if that's what you are looking to do...that is your area.