UPDATED ROSE HALL SUITES THREAD 2012-2014 BRIDES :)

[Julia28]

photographer:  might hire who they have at the resort for 36 pictures (ceremony and after ceremony photo session)

video:  I hear what they do at the resort is cheesy and I wont pay for something I dont like, so I really dont know what to do about that

makeup and hair:  I am lucky that I have my cousin who is a hairdresser and does beautiful makeup so I wont be using the salon

florist:  definitely going to go through Tai Flora unless I hear of anything better that has gone to this resort before and is trustworthy

 

what are you doing for all of that? 

 

Did you hire their steel drum band?  If so, for the ceremony or the beach party? 

[Julia28]

I was curious...you mind telling me which travel agency you went through?  I usually go with flight centre but I dont know that I want my group to go through them.  Just curious since we both live in the same area if you have anyone you may recommend?

[Kassi22]

We hired an external Photographer (Misha Earle, found references for her here online), Video I'm not bothering with, will just have a family member do it with one of our cameras. Hair and Makeup I'm getting Rashel Edwards (external) as I hear she is incredible. I really had a hard time with that though as the cost is $$$.. but just bit the bullet and hired her. For flowers we are staying with Taiflora, I hear they do a good job, but can be pricey...but flowers are pricey in general. I have heard of other floral vendors but I have heard good and bad reviews, so I didn't want to risk it. I have sent my information to Tai, but they are so SLOW on getting back to me with quotes.. a little frustrating. I know its a ways a way.. but I want to know if they can do what I want, and the price so I can budget for it and purchase things I need  that they can't supply. argg..

 

One thing I don't like is Iberostar charge Vendor fees for anyone you use that's not the hotels. Tai you don't have to, but I will for the photographer and Makeup/Hair. It all adds up!

 

I will definitely be getting the steel pan band. I have not decided though if we will just have them for the hour cocktail hour, or if we will have them for the ceremony, toast and cocktail hour (2 hours), but that was one of my must haves. Have to have that Caribbean feel! We are having the ceremony on the beach (most likely) and then cocktail hour there as well.. unless when I get there I find it really windy (heard people say this).. as then I may move the cocktail hour to the lazy river area. Choices.. choices!

[Julia28]

I will definietly look into Misha Earle!  Im going to email her for pricing.  I agree with the videography; I will have a family member do the same thing. 

 

I was going back and forth with having the steel pan band for the ceremony or afterwards at the beach party; I really want them for when I walk down the aisle so I think I will be doing that.

 

I dont think we are doing a cocktail hour; though I would love to, I am not sure yet that its in the budget....well see   Are you going to have appetizers at your cocktail hour along with drinks?

 

Also, what is the difference between national open bar and international open bar?  (I assume national=wine and beer and international=all that good stuff like rum, vodka, etc). 

 

For the semi-private dinner, do you have any idea if you have to pay extra for alcohol?

 

You have been very helpful; thanks so much!  Im much less stressed after talking to you!

 

Julia

[Kassi22]

Ahah. No problem. Glad I could help. You are asking all the same questions I had!!

 

We are going to have the DJ for the party on the beach later in the night (for anyone who wants to dance) and I think the fire dancer for a quick show. Will do the steel pan band for ceremony/cocktail. I love steel pan! I wouldn't mind the reggae band, but there a little steep in price so we don't think we will get them. ($1000 an hour.. eek!)

 

Cocktail hour we will be doing food. I was debating on which one, but we think we will just do the cheap one as people will be eating dinner right after but we wanted something for people to just nibble on while they wait for us to get pictures done. You don't have to have food, you can just have drinks as far as I'm aware.

 

Their difference in the bar...

 

National Bar =

 

Soda: Cock & Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite

Beer: Red Stripe and Red Stripe Light

Rum: Appleton White and Gold and Coruba Dark

Tequila: Rosite, Portoneva

Whiskey: House Whiskey

Vodka: House Vodka

Gin: House Gin

Brandy: House Brandy

Others Campari, Oporto,

Liquors: Various House, House Amaretto, House Whiskey Cream, House Rum Cream

Wine: Red, White and Dry Martini

Sparkling: Torrse de la Vid

Cocktails: Tropical Cocktails (Punch, Mai-Tai, Zombi, Daiquiri, Mojito, Pina Colada, Blue Hawaii, Margaritas)

 

Interntational Bar is the above... plus

 

Beer: Heineken

Rum: Appleton Special, Malibu, Capitan Morgan Gold, Appleton Reserved, Appleton VX

Tequila:  Cuervo Gold, Sauza

Whiskey: Johnnie Walker E.R, Ballantines, Bourbon Jim Bean, Canadian Club, Jack Daniels

Vodka: Smirnoff, Stoli, Absolut

Gin: Gordons, Beefeater, Bombay Sappir, Tanqueray

Brandy: Presidente, Veterano, Fundador

Others  La Ina, Dry Sack

Liquors: Sambuca, Ammaretto, Kahlua, Baileys

Sparkling: Freixenet Carta Nevada, Corte Real Brut

Cocktails: Cosmo, Manhattan, Kir Royal, Bloody Mary, Dry Martini, Apple Martini

 

As for dinner, I was told they have basic bar with dinner .. no extra fee.

 

[Julia28]

Omg your amazing!!!  Thanks for that

 

What travel agency did you go with?  We both live in TO and I dont know if I should go with Flight Centre like I usually do. 

[Kassi22]

Travel agent...pffft. That's one thing I can't help with.

 

First, for our wedding we went with iTravel2000. TERRIBLE. If I could back out, I would.. but its to late.. I have had to literally stay on top of them for everything.. I had friends that went to them as well, and before I knew it was iTravel they asked me "did you have any issues with your TA" and I asked why, and they explained who they where with and I told them to RUN. They did.. as they where just getting started...they ended up going with a friend of there family who has been fantastic apparently, not sure what company though... sorry.

 

Second, for our honeymoon we decided to go somewhere new.. so we tried Flight Center.. arg!! Not much better... not as bad, but just crap customer service, emails that go into black holes.. very annoying. Nothing bothers me more then emailing someone something, and not hearing anything at all for a week, or two, or three... not even an acknowledgement of "I'm looking into it" .. nothing.

 

If I where you, if you don't personally know a good TA... find one!! Get references from someone. If I had my time back I would have looked harder as its stressful trying to organize something like this when you have to be on top of them and fix their mistakes.

 

There are some 'Destination Wedding' travel companies around the city as well, but I opted out of that as I refuse to pay someone $1000-$5000 to help book travel and figure out wedding details (that a TA will do for free, and you and the WC do for free).

 

Ahah.. Sorry to vent, but that was the one thing about this whole wedding planning that drove me off my rocker!! ahahah. So take my advise, and pick your TA carefully!

[Julia28]

WOW!!! I am not happy with Flight Centre generally so thats why I asked you.....Totally going to do my research.  Thanks for your honesty   Have a great weekend...weather is supposed to be awesome.

[Laura2013]

Just wanted to post that we finally decided on a travel agent. Well we had one, but found we were finding better rates on our own. After doing over 2 weeks of researching and monitoring online rates we called a few travel agencies, most were ones I read excellent reviews on this site about, to see what they quoted.  

 

Just figured I would share because I know what a pain finding good rates is.

[Julia28]

Too bad its in the States or I would have jumped on that!  It is difficult to find someone you can trust to find the best rate for your group.  This I think will be my most challenging thing to do.  Wish I had a trustworthy agent!  Ill keep searching