Sandals Grande Riviera- April 2015 :)

yogahhh · November 17, 2014

Looking for other brides that had their wedding at SGR....

We are booked, and I have my call with the coordinator next week

Plan on just sticking with the basic package, and adding a structure for the beach, a band for the reception portion, a few décor touches (pink paper lanterns!!!) and photography.

Here are my questions

1) Notarized Birth Certificate- my pre-planner seems a bit flakey, and I am worried we are submitting the wrong thing. Believe we can notarize photo copies of our original BC, and just hand carry the originals when we travel?

2) How do the photography packages work? I am ok with just 48 pics (only will be use and parents so don't need a whole lot!). I am assuming they take a bunch, then you choose which you want to buy? Can you add extra prints after the fact and pay per picture?

3) Reception- I only want to take advantage of the 30 minute reception and hire a calypso band for that time. Then, the 5 of us will do dinner at one of the 15 restaurants on site. I think its silly to spend the extra $$$ when we are at an AI!!!! Thinking of having the reception at the Bayside Café (steaks and seafood). since this is a more casual restaurant, I know we wont need an RSVP so thinking it might be an easier option. Wondering how the food there is?

4) We are not having a butler room. Will anyone at the resort steam my dress/his suit?

5) Did anyone take advantage of the $500 jewelry credit? How are the bands? I think that would be great for FI since he just wants a super clean and simple band. Save some money

I really just want a simple simple simple wedding and really excited that we found this at Sandals!!!

If anyone has examples of photos they wouldn't mind sharing, I would love to see

OH! And what about the beach? I know the beach itself is smaller (but great for sunbathing!).... are the beach weddings more secluded? I don't want a thousand people milling around

Thanks!!

shugapop1 · November 29, 2014

hi, congrats on you upcoming nuptial, i didn't get married at sgr, but did get married this past june in jamaica at sandals whitehoue

No maam, you have to send notarized copies of your birth certificates prior to arrival in jamaica, there is a address of where they will need to be mailed, they need to be mailed and cannot be faxed , the notary seal has to be valid beyond the date of your wedding. if either of you have been married, will need to sen d copy of divorce decree and all pages need to be notarized.( these are things i know because they came back as error for us for documents needed) you need to do this immediatley. once the documents are recieved, they will send you email from preplanner and wc that necessary documents are recieved to process your license.

i started out with smallest package, but when i wnet to select ones we wanted for package we paid for.. they were so awesome we ended up getting more

3. we did free wedding and added a few different things, so i did what's called modified complimentary package

i did hr long, so paid for 30 min addtional for reception, did dj fo r 1 hr(they typically play a little longer) and then we all (all 25 of us) went to restaurant on site and had dinner together(rather than pay for seated meal and still not have enough)

i didn't have butler suite at all, steam for dress is 75.00. i bought a travel steamer from marshalls for like $20.00 and took to use for clothes period and earlier that day let dress hang in shower with steam... not a wrinkle in sight. lol

4. when i booked the 500.00 jewelry credit was not optional, but use it for whatever you like, my hubby has 3 bands, one custom one that i bought and had made for him, a very nice tungsten one with woodgrain inlay(can get from ebay for 15.00(beautiful) we took that one instead of custom one, althogh we have insurance on our rings, wanted to make sure even if fell in water, we wre good.