Secrets St James/Wild Orchid Weddings 2012/2013

[jrebecky]

Hi Ladies!  I am also getting married at Secrets St. James.  My date is Nov. 1, 2013.  I haven't done anything else with the hotel but book my wedding date and give them the deposit for the wedding package.  I got the Ultimate package.  Has anyone else gotten this package?  Just curious if  there are still alot of add-ons needed, etc.  Thanks!

[alexisinjamaica]

Originally Posted by jrebecky 

 

Hi Ladies!  I am also getting married at Secrets St. James.  My date is Nov. 1, 2013.  I haven't done anything else with the hotel but book my wedding date and give them the deposit for the wedding package.  I got the Ultimate package.  Has anyone else gotten this package?  Just curious if  there are still alot of add-ons needed, etc.  Thanks!

 

Hello! I got that package as well. My wedding isn't until April so I haven't been in touch with the WC about all the add-ons yet, but I plan to bring a lot of my decor in to save money and also because I'm a control freak. I hired an outside photographer and will use the photographer that comes with the package to take portraits of guests for the guest book. Previous Secrets brides have mentioned costs add up so I'm hoping it doesn't get too crazy once I start getting into the final planning.

[jrebecky]

Thanks for the response!  What kind of decorations are you brining?  That's are great idea - definitely looking for ways to save money!  We are interested in getting a steel drum band.  I really want one for the cermony.  But it seems really expensive to hire one, especially with there being a minimum time limit that you have to have them for.  I know a jamaican trio band is included in our package, but I would LOVE a steel drum band.  Any thoughts?

[Mimi127]

Who is your photographer and what are the prices like? I'm getting married July 13, 2013 at Secrets St. James and I'm searching for a photographer.  

I'm using Sungold. We have two photographers for eight hours which cost $2400 and they return the next day to do a couples shoot.

[alexisinjamaica]

Originally Posted by jrebecky 

 

Thanks for the response!  What kind of decorations are you brining?  That's are great idea - definitely looking for ways to save money!  We are interested in getting a steel drum band.  I really want one for the cermony.  But it seems really expensive to hire one, especially with there being a minimum time limit that you have to have them for.  I know a jamaican trio band is included in our package, but I would LOVE a steel drum band.  Any thoughts?

 

I'm bringing table linens, stuff for centerpieces (flowers, vases, candles, table numbers in frames), fabric to drape the arch on the beach with, making and bringing my own pommanders and shepherd's hooks, signs for the cocktail hour and guest book, menus, plus all of my OOT stuff. Don't ask me how I'm getting it all there because I have no idea! Haha. I think we might do a steel drum for the ceremony-- you can hire one solo steel drum for 45 minutes for $350. I thought that might be a fun way to get the steel drum since I agree with you that the jamaican trio isn't as exciting.

[jrebecky]

That's what my fiance said when I suggested bringing decorations - centerpieces, etc.  He's said we are going to have to take 20 suitcases!   I figure I'll look into how much it would cost to ship boxes down there.  Even before I thought of bringing some decor that's not included in our package I was already overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we'll have to bring down. I want to say I saw it on their website that you can ship stuff down to the hotel prior to your arrival and they will hold it for you, which makes sense.  I just have no idea how much that would cost to ship internationally. 

 

I wasn't' aware that you could get a single steel drum - that made my day!!!  $350 isn't bad!  Thanks!  I wasn't sure what the "trio" consisted of until I looked it up and watched some youtube videos.  It's cool, but definitely not ideal, especially for the ceremony. 

[alexisinjamaica]

Originally Posted by jrebecky 

 

That's what my fiance said when I suggested bringing decorations - centerpieces, etc.  He's said we are going to have to take 20 suitcases!   I figure I'll look into how much it would cost to ship boxes down there.  Even before I thought of bringing some decor that's not included in our package I was already overwhelmed by the amount of stuff we'll have to bring down. I want to say I saw it on their website that you can ship stuff down to the hotel prior to your arrival and they will hold it for you, which makes sense.  I just have no idea how much that would cost to ship internationally. 

 

I wasn't' aware that you could get a single steel drum - that made my day!!!  $350 isn't bad!  Thanks!  I wasn't sure what the "trio" consisted of until I looked it up and watched some youtube videos.  It's cool, but definitely not ideal, especially for the ceremony. 

 

Yep! I have a pdf that Secrets sent me with all the extras, and a single steel drum was one of the options. If you want to PM me your email address I can send it to you.

[semisweet]

I got married at the beachfront casita in October (the day after Sandy hit!). There is only sand, and it is in the public area. It wasn't a problem - people were very respectful and I hardly noticed that there was anyone else around.

 

We chose to have the reception in their ballroom, so we had the  cocktail hour on the patio right outside the ballroom. We loved it, but you also have the choice of having the cocktail hour and reception on the beach, as shown in some of the pictures.
 

[semisweet]

When I met with the coordinators for the pre-wedding meeting, they offered the steel drum band for $150. They said that all Secrets resorts try to offer a local music option, and since steel drums aren't strictly Jamaican, they offer a Jamaican trio instead. But since people tend to think of steel drums when they think of Jamaica, they have started offering that as well.
 

[semisweet]

I used Misha Earle and she was fantastic!! It took her some time to get the pictures up, but it was definitely worth the wait!

 

One thing you should know: if you decide to use the hotel photographer that comes with the Ultimate package, they pretty much force you to go on a 30 minute photo shoot with them immediately after the ceremony. We had a 4:00pm ceremony, so if we had waited until after the cocktail hour to do group shots it would have been too dark. We ended up doing a first look picture, then all the group shots, then went to the ceremony, then went on a photo shoot with the hotel photographer, and then a photo shoot with Misha, and then finally made it to the reception. I would recommend that if you plan to hire your own photographer, don't use the hotel's photographer at all.