Atlantis Bahamas Wedding 2013/2014

[soon2bmrschin]

Hello past Atlantis Brides and Brides to be! I am getting married at Atlantis 6/14/14 and have some tips on this site to be very helpful. Overall the latest threads have decreased with few recent posts, I was hoping to re-ignite the dialogue! I am looking for ideas for a casual Rehersal Lunch followed by a laid back "Welcome Happy Hour". Anyone with ideas or previous experiences with outdoor bars for happy hour, and good lunch ideas. (Lunch would be about 15 people, HH about 50). Also, looking for the latest in hair and makeup. Anyone with recent experiences with the Spa on site. Past reviews weren't that glowing! I am bummed to learn that Matthew Sweeting is not available for my ceremony. I have blindly choosen Rev Grant, there is no feedback either way on this guy??? Anyone? For DJ, Stephen Bain was almost impossible to get in touch with and slow to respond to emails. I had no interest in persuring him following his lack of professionalism. I am going with one of Jose Ageeb's partners (Josse himself wasn't available, but he has two partners), he was so comfortable to talk to, seemed very professional and responded in a timely mannor to any request/email. Has anyone worked with his partners? Looking for food recommendations....going to do stations. Martini Potato Bar is a must. Help a fellow bride out!

[Tia Maria]

Sounds like we are on the similar page, i have also booked Jose Ageeb, for the same reason his response time was fabulous.

I am planning a rehearsal dinner/welcome party at a local restaurant off Atlantis property.. it was costly for the transportation but the location seems relaxed and the pricing was much easier.

Jose will be handling the welcome party and the reception is being handled by his partner Ken.. He is also handling alot of other things for me, like lighting and transportation, and he found a makeup artist and hair stylist for me.

I did get the spa experience on a past visit to Atlantis and enjoyed it, pricey but enjoyable.

[soon2bmrschin]

3 1/2 months to go!

 

We are having Ken as we'll for our DJ! Jose is also setting up a steel drum band for happy hour and sound system for the ceremony. (Note that the atlantis will nickel and dime you for everything! They will charge you ampage/electricity fees for all of his equipment)

 

I have settled with Apryl Welch for my hair, planning a trial for the day before the wedding.

 

Good luck with your big day!

[soon2bmrschin]

Now a happily married woman, I wanted to update any future Atlantis Brides.....

 

Almost a near perfect experience!  A few small things here and there but nothing that took away from the experience.  My wedding coordinator was Cynette, I cannot say enough good things about her.  She was awesome!  Had great ideas/suggestions.  She was well organized and professional, I truly felt she was working just for me!  As the festivities came and went, they flowed almost effortlessly!  I felt very little stress in the whole process.  I think one thing that made a huge difference, was a quick site visit to the resort about 4 months prior, where we saw the venues and met with the vendors.

 

Vendors:

 

DJ Jose Ageeb- We had one of his partners, Kenny.  Jose coordinated everything and again was very organized and professional, all around a great guy.  He was very quick to respond to any e-mails and always willing to chat on the phone!  Kenny came with a side kick, MC type guy, they kept the party going all night long with music that kept the crowd happy.  They followed my song list as directed, and I had them fill in the blanks.....

 

Hair Apryl Weech-So happy I found her!!!  She came to the hotel for a hair trial 2 days before.  Day of she did myself and three bridesmaids hair!  I LOVED MY HAIR!  I have never had so may compliments, and my bridesmaids hair was fantastic as well!  She was professional, easy going and very personable!  Highly recommend!!! 

 

 

Wildflowers- I worked with Natalie and met her when we did a quick site visit.  The flowers and decor were beautiful.  I all honesty, I didn't pay attention to a thing other then walking down the isle and my husband during the ceremony.  I later saw in pictures, how pretty the flower arrangements turned out!  Doing the site visit was a key piece for me, I really felt like I was able to lay out everything just how I wanted. I feel like I got talked into one or two things, that in the end I didn't need.  (we were in fathoms for the reception, recommended a bookcase with accesories to hide a bench-NOT NEEDED).

 

Photography Heather Carey- She was awesome!  Such a great woman to work with,  again very professional and organized.  My pictures turned out great.  She took charge the day of and got all the pictures taken that I wanted, made sure I didn't get bogged down with endless family and bridal party pics, (I made it clear I didn't want this) she just wisked us away quickly from the crowd.  She really knew the resort well and where all the good spots were. She even put up with a drunk bestman!

 

Pre-wedding lunch with bridal party and parents was at Olives inside the casino, they had a private room.  Service and food were excellent.

 

Ceremony was at Royal Overlook

Reception was at Fathoms

They are literally right on top of eachother, and made for the perfect transition from ceremony to reception.  Guests didn't have to walk across the massive resort to get from one place to another.

 

The few small things that stood out as "going wrong"

-We didn't bring a cake knife, when it came to cutting the cake, after a brief delay looking for a cake knife.....we were told by the wait staff, "well you didn't provide us with one", we ended using a butter knife!

-I brought personalized toasting glasses, for my husband and I, they were cleared and had dissapeared from the table by the end of the night....

-I asked for two pieces of cake to be saved to take "to go", there were no "to go" containers to transport any leftovers

[SuchALady777]

I'll Have to contact DJ Jose. How were his rates?

[soon2bmrschin]

I don't remember the exact breakdown, but I remember him being about $300 cheaper then the DJ that would have been provided by the Atlantis. I paid $1900 for 4 hours of DJ, 1 hour steel drum band, sound system for the ceremony.

 

Jose warned me that because I was using and outside DJ, the Atlantis would charge me an electricity fee, for what they used. Something ridicolous! However, I lucked out and never got charged for it. If I had been, the price for the resort DJ and Jose would have ended up being the same.

[SuchALady777]

Thanks guys for all the great info