We were married at Sandals MoBay (Montego Bay, Jamaica) on October 2, 2000. They do take care of everything literally!
Most everything can and should be set up through 1800SANDALS before you go including the purchase of your photo/video and hair appt etc. My travel agent did absolutely didly squat after getting my deposit. I called sandals myself and arranged everything and searched message boards and called other travel agents for info and answers to my questions. I had sent my paperwork in immediately after booking in February 2000 and was worried to death that I had missed something. Well ladies, they don't process your paperwork until about 6 weeks before the wedding regardless of how early it is sent. I received a call the week before Labor Day (August 2000) telling me that I would have to use my former married name on the marriage documents because it was not specifically stated in my Divorce Judgment. Luckily, I know the Judge and we just retyped the Divorce Judgment and added wording to use maiden name and got the document recorded. We happened to be going to Miami for Labor Day and hand carried the certified Amended Divorce Judgment to the Sandals office. Not the easiest place to find without directions. We met Lisett in the wedding department who was very nice, friendly and couldn't have been more helpful and left the info for Lisa who was handling our paperwork. Needless to say all went well.
We arrived at Sandals MoBay, Saturday, September 30, 2000 around lunch time after leaving New Orleans at 5:00 A.M.. Marcus was getting our rooms and we were sipping our complimentary champagne, checking out our complimentary gift pack of suntan lotion, etc. and wiping our brow with the cool hand towel provided, I went around the corner to the reservation desk manned by Christopher, and made my appointment to met with the wedding coordinator, Lyra, on Sunday (the next day). I also had my date book and made our dinner reservations for the entire week because certain restaurants are closed on certain nights. (I could always cancel later if our plans changed) I was able to plan out our entire stay.
We were in an older part (I believe Almond Block) behind Tokyo Joe's after having been upgraded from Premium room to Ocean Front. Room was clean and air conditioner worked great, but the room was a little dated, however, we didn't spend a whole heck of a lot of time in it, and any way and why ruin a whole vacation simply because the room doesn't look like one from the Ritz Carlton? My Aunt paid big bucks and upgraded to one of the cottages at the opposite end of the property and although her room was much nicer, I would not have been happy spending lots of extra money just so the room would looked pretty! Plus it was very far from the restaurants and main activity. (we like being where the action is)
Upon meeting the wedding coordinator, first thing she said was that although my time said 4:30 PM in Jamaica that means 4PM and offered to also change my time to earlier in the day. We thanked her, but stuck to our 4PM time. We then picked out flowers by looking at a large photo album containing picutes of former brides and their bouquets from past weddings and I also ordered an extra smaller bouquet for my Aunt, who was my Matron of Honor, ($45 for an extra bouquet and $15 for a boutonnière for my Aunt's escort). We were giving our wedding announcement cards. You only get two, but we were told to feel free to make copies. We picked out type of cake (chocolate, vanilla or fruit). We didn't know she was referring to batter. Don't pick fruit b/c this is NOT fruit filled, but a puree' fruit batter cake and if you happen to forget and think that it's fruit filled, it's not bad actually because it is a rum fruit batter. We also picked an alternate location for reception in case of rain (Tokyo Joe's), otherwise they were to set up near in the gazebo in the gardens behind the almond block. Which was directly behind our room! There was a curio in Lyra's office with wedding stuff that you could purchase, I'm guessing, if you forgot something, but we weren't offered anything nor did we need anything, but typical wedding items.
On the day of the wedding I was nervous and had a few mimosas. Lisa, at the bar was funny, she wanted to give me the whole bottle. Actually, the whole time we were there the drinks were delicious and tasty, but didn't do a thing for me and I was trying my darndest to feel good. Only time I really got a little buzz going was when we were drinking rum on the rocks later in the week!
I went to my hair appointment at
2PM with my veil. (I had booked this through the 800 number and paid ahead of time for this and also our 24 photo package) At my meeting with the wedding coordinator, she gives your written confirmation of your hair appointment. Make sure you take
the paper that the wedding coordinator gives you to this
appointment (unless you make these arrangements on your own). I really didn't
like the way she was fixing my hair at first because I have a perm and she was blow
drying my permed hair straight and then took this antique curling iron (not the electric ones
we are used to seeing) and proceeded to curl my hair. (it's a wonder my hair wasn't burnt!) I would think that they do French twists real well. They
used lots of hair
spray and my hair didn't move! I definitely don't wear it that way but
after I got the video and photos, wow, I really looked pretty darn good and am
very grateful that I didn't make an idiot out of myself and say something to
her or go to my room and change it (which I have been known to do). They do
have a bunch of books with up dos that you can choose from, but they don't
suggest it, so if you want to look, you need to mention it. I do wish that I had brought a cake
topper for my cake and had them use it...Charles keeps saying that too after
the fact. And I also wish that I had brought candles to do the unity candle ceremony.
Anyway, back to the wedding. I then went back to the room and started my makeup while Charles was getting dressed. At 3:30 Rev. Grenyion came and verified who we were by asking us what our father's names were and what our occupations were, etc. My Aunt came and helped me into my dress. Then Lyra, the wedding coordinator, came to get us and had our flowers, which mine were pink roses and purple orchids (my bouquet was had 1 dozen of each, (she had already taken care of the guys outside with the boutonnières), and our "Just Married" T-shirts, which I didn't know she brought…I saw them when I returned to the room later.
The sea was a little choppy (there was a hurricane off the coast of Mexico) and the waves were crashing onto the Gazebo (which was dramatic and beautiful but also wet) so we were given the choice of getting married "beside" the gazebo or in the Chapel (which they charge an extra $200 for its use). The Chapel is adorable and has ceiling fans, which circulate the air, and is very comfortable and the pews were adorned with dried flowers and ribbon. Needless to say, since it was offered to us FREE, I chose the chapel! Plus it felt good to get married in the Chapel.
Don't turn in your photo sheet early; hold it until the wedding coordinator comes to your room right before the wedding. My list was misplaced for a little while because we turned it in the day before the weddng, but they finally found it halfway through the ceremony. We had to go back after the wedding and staged some of the photos.
You also give your CD's to the wedding coordinator when she comes to your room just before the wedding if there are special songs you want on your video or want to dance to. No more than 3. Make sure there is a list for each CD that states which song (by number)
DO THIS:
Luther Van dross song #3 for beginning of wedding video
Savage Garden song #4 for Bridal Dance
DO NOT list your songs like this:
1. Savage Garden "Looking for Love"
2. Luther Van dross "Love"
Reason for this is that they go by the numbers on your note, so if "Looking for Love" is song number 4 on the CD, guess what, your getting song number one from the Savage Garden CD because you listed it that way.
The little reception they put on for you is very
nice. Nicely skirted tables with floral
decoration on the main table. (the use the same decoration for everyone) We
were a party of 4 so there was enough food and champagne. I loved the hors d'oeuvres, they were great. There was light battered fried shrimp, fish
and meat stuffed pastries. Then there
was a tray that had 1/2 dozen of 6 different canapés like crab meat, caviar,
etc. Then the cake and of course, the
champagne. Being that we were set to
eat at the Oleander at 7PM it was great not to be too stuffed.
One
of our party didn't drink and I didn't have the presence of mind to order
something for them ahead of time, but the wedding coordinator is there with you
and quickly got them a lemonade. They
wait just long enough for you to eat a small plate and the cake and get you to
finish up the photos. (if you want a
piece of cake for later….I would suggest at this point you asked them to box it
up for you or something, because at this time the staff is cleaning up and you
won't see anymore cake. To get the
bottom to take home, go see Christopher, who is a real sweetheart, at the
reservations desk TWO (2) days before you leave and order it. It will be available for pickup 1 hour
before you depart at the reservation desk.
The
video and photos turned out awesome.
Charles complained when he first saw the guys and that they were a young
25 something and the photos probably wouldn't look good, but he ate those words
when we saw the video and got our photos. We bought the 24 package. You get a 5x7 free with your wedding moon
and (4) 8x10's which we didn't know about?
The guy shot a roll of 36 and the girl who assisted us we went to pick
up our photos sold us (8) of the remaining photos for $40. It is my understanding that dealing with the
guys picking up your photos you can't wheel and deal so much.
And
yes, Lyra, our wedding coordinator was absolutely wonderful and made us feel so
special. I do think that it is best to
get the last booking of the day though.
There wasn't anyone after us.
As far as the airplanes…what airplanes? I noticed them the first few hours after being on the resort, but after that….you don't unless your just looking for things to complain about…the mind sort of blocks it out! And yes, one did take off during the ceremony, we all paused (prearranged of course) and resumed without missing a beat. No problem! You hear the planes fly over and wave, but to be honest with you, you can go with it or have it totally make you miserable (especially if your a complainer and very picky). We did have one day that the water pressure was very low and my husband and I bathed in a trickle of water in the tub, but we laughed about it and within a few hours all was back to normal.
Food was great. No lobster to speak
of, but other fish and shrimp dishes here and there. Cucina Romano is
excellent! It rained when we were supposed to eat at Tokyo Joe's and they
served us in the disco. Extremely too hot and that kind of ruined it for us.
Oleander room was were we ate on our wedding nite. Nice, elegant and good food.
Of course, quick bites of "chicken on a stick" which is ever so good
from the beach snack bar is a sure bet. Simpson will take care of you there.
Beach is very big and very nice. We had "Doc" take us out on the
cataraman....nice experience. We rode the water trikes, and the sea
kayaks....lots of work there and enjoyed beach volley ball as well as pool
volley ball. We joined in with the Playmaker's scheduled activities and both
earned 2 pair of leather sandals necklaces.
We did the ½ day Dunn's River
excursion and the Booze Cruise. We felt
both were well worth the money and we had a blast. We brought our own water shoes because I had learned that they
charge $5 per pair to rent them at Dunn's River! By the way, our little underwater camera I bought at Wal Mart
took great photos!
We'd go back in a heartbeat! We'd love
to try the other Sandals Resorts.
Sandals, really has this wedding thing down pat and I'm
glad we did it this way.
Our Website is:
http://www.geocities.com/debbiebruna
Our photos are available for public viewing at
Our Photo Journal with "all" of the wedding/honeymoon photos:
http://communities.msn.com/PhotoJournalofCharlesandDebbieBruna
Please email me with any questions.
Debbie Bruna
[email protected]
My AOL instant message ID is: DebsBruna
My Yahoo instant message ID is: DebbieBruna