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My fiance and I are discussing the idea of having a destination wedding in the Caribbean. Anyone out there do this? Pros? Cons? Suggestions? Warnings?

I'm afraid that I have absolutely no useful feedback at all. Although I would suggest that if you're going to do this, you should definitely take your fiance with you. It's easier that way.

I told you I had nothing useful.

All I know is that a Caribbean wedding isn't complete unless I am invited and my room plus flight are paid for

Destination weddings are wonderful, in terms of providing scenery, food, and entertainment. However, they do tend to exclude others who cannot afford the travel expense from attending your wedding.

I know this isn't your first, but is it your fiancée's first wedding? She might wanna invite a lot more people than the select few that'd be available to make it to the wedding, and the destination wedding could be a problem.

Either way, have fun planning the wedding, and, yes, wherever it's held, make sure she's included.

I'm not married but I'd say if you're planning on having a small wedding with just family, it's cool......but if you plan on having alot of people you have to think about the cost for your guests. $1000.00 to $1500.00 per couple (at least) roundtrip plus hotel plus a gift is alot of money. I'd also ask who you're inviting and see what they say.

Hey JH, great idea.

I live in South Florida and did something similar. My wife and I were married at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Resort in Jamaica. This is an all-inclusive resort, so guests don't have to spend money on meals, tips, drinks and activities. And as much as my friends drink, this worked out nicely. The actual wedding ceremony and reception took place on a 120' custom yacht that we rented. The reception and dinner aboard the boat was fully catered and the yacht trip lasted 5 hours. It was very cool. The resort will offer group rates for guest rooms, so they are more affordable. All of our friends that came had a great time and we partied for days. We stayed there for 7 days and when we returned to Florida, my wife and I rented a beach house on Captiva Island for a week, so we could have some alone time, if you know what I mean.

Don't worry about those friends that complain about the travel expenses, like REDEEMEDSKIN. You don't want those cheap bastards there anyway; always complaining, whining, etc...

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:I know this isn't your first, but is it your fiancée's first wedding? She might wanna invite a lot more people than the select few that'd be available to make it to the wedding, and the destination wedding could be a problem.

It's not my first. It's not her first. We know a lot of people may not be able to make it. We're focusing on just "us" and maybe a few close friends and family members.

SkinsFreak wrote:Hey JH, great idea.

I live in South Florida and did something similar. My wife and I were married at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Resort in Jamaica. This is an all-inclusive resort, so guests don't have to spend money on meals, tips, drinks and activities. And as much as my friends drink, this worked out nicely. The actual wedding ceremony and reception took place on a 120' custom yacht that we rented. The reception and dinner aboard the boat was fully catered and the yacht trip lasted 5 hours. It was very cool. The resort will offer group rates for guest rooms, so they are more affordable. All of our friends that came had a great time and we partied for days. We stayed there for 7 days and when we returned to Florida, my wife and I rented a beach house on Captiva Island for a week, so we could have some alone time, if you know what I mean.

Don't worry about those friends that complain about the travel expenses, like REDEEMEDSKIN. You don't want those cheap bastards there anyway; always complaining, whining, etc...

I hear ya. What we were thinking about doing is staying at the resort with our friends for 3 or so days, they going off to a resort by ourselves for a week or so.

SkinsFreak wrote:Hey JH, great idea.

I live in South Florida and did something similar. My wife and I were married at the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Resort in Jamaica. This is an all-inclusive resort, so guests don't have to spend money on meals, tips, drinks and activities. And as much as my friends drink, this worked out nicely. The actual wedding ceremony and reception took place on a 120' custom yacht that we rented. The reception and dinner aboard the boat was fully catered and the yacht trip lasted 5 hours. It was very cool. The resort will offer group rates for guest rooms, so they are more affordable. All of our friends that came had a great time and we partied for days. We stayed there for 7 days and when we returned to Florida, my wife and I rented a beach house on Captiva Island for a week, so we could have some alone time, if you know what I mean.

Don't worry about those friends that complain about the travel expenses, like REDEEMEDSKIN. You don't want those cheap bastards there anyway; always complaining, whining, etc...

So if your Best Man or a family member couldn't afford a 7 day Caribbean Vacation for your wedding, you'd call them a "cheap bastard"???

SkinsFreak wrote:Don't worry about those friends that complain about the travel expenses, like REDEEMEDSKIN. You don't want those cheap bastards there anyway; always complaining, whining, etc...

I hope that comment isn't implying what I think you're implying, SkinsFreak.

After all, everyone knows "cheap bastards" stay at Ocho Rios, cause they couldn't book Negril, right?.

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:

SkinsFreak wrote:Don't worry about those friends that complain about the travel expenses, like REDEEMEDSKIN. You don't want those cheap bastards there anyway; always complaining, whining, etc...

I hope that comment isn't implying what I think you're implying, SkinsFreak.

After all, everyone knows "cheap bastards" stay at Ocho Rios, cause they couldn't book Negril, right?.

I was kidding.

And yes, Negril is a little better than Ocho Rios. But my friends and I wanted to golf, which they have at Ocho Rios. It worked out great. The ladies would go to the beach or spa, or something, and the fella's would head out for a round of golf and a few cans of 'swing oil'. We would hook up later with the girls for lunch and endless drinks by the pool or on the beach. I remember I drank so many Margarita's during that week, the skin on my lips and tongue were burned raw from all the salt. (Maybe one day in 'Smack' I'll share my wife's remedy for that. )

Not everyone stayed for the whole 7 days. Some did, but some went back after 3 days.

I will say this, however. If any of you ever have the chance to do something like this, even going as a guest, DO IT! If you're single and can bring a date, even better. You'll be tapping that thing all week, guaranteed! It was very cool for everyone. When you're at a wedding, everyone is happy, in a good mood and ready to party. Many of our guests just planned this event as their summer vacation. We told them not to get us a wedding present, just coming meant more to us than some lame thing you'll probably never use.

One tip, though. Your fiance has to want to do this. A wedding is all about the bride and her mother, period. I wanted to register at Circuit City, Boat World, Sam Ash, Best Buy and Golf USA. I quickly found out that this is NOT acceptable.

ANT7088 wrote:So if your Best Man or a family member couldn't afford a 7 day Caribbean Vacation for your wedding, you'd call them a "cheap bastard"???

Again, it was a joke.

Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the wedding. So if you're a family member or the best man, you're in! The cost of a wedding these days can be pretty steep. My wife and I looked at the 'costs' for every possible type of wedding, (that part really sucked BTW), and found out that this kind of trip compared favorably, in terms of overall cost, to a traditional wedding and reception. Ok, maybe an 'upscale' type of wedding, but it was well worth it.

Tip for JH.

After reading your "Head To Head Competition" thread, you may just want to stick with a beer! Ha!

Kidding.

SkinsFreak wrote:Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the wedding... The cost of a wedding these days can be pretty steep.

Man, you got lucky. More and more couples are now paying for their own weddings. For TRO and his bride, such was the case. The good part is, we got to call all the shots.

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:Man, you got lucky. More and more couples are now paying for their own weddings. For TRO and his bride, such was the case. The good part is, we got to call all the shots.

I'm a firm believer that, traditionally, the parents of the bride and groom will insist on paying for the 1st wedding and the rehearsal dinner. Once you have 2, or more, the cost of the wedding should be on the couple IMO.

We're tackling the cost of this one, obviously. The idea of a destination wedding was actually suggested by my intended best man (and his wife). They got married on a cruise. I don't want to do the cruise thing, but the caribbean sounds appealing.

I know a lot of my friends will not be able to attend due to restrictive costs. For those folks, we're gonna have a big blow out party at our local bar upon our return.

Justice Hog wrote:

REDEEMEDSKIN wrote:Man, you got lucky. More and more couples are now paying for their own weddings. For TRO and his bride, such was the case. The good part is, we got to call all the shots.

I'm a firm believer that, traditionally, the parents of the bride and groom will insist on paying for the 1st wedding and the rehearsal dinner. Once you have 2, or more, the cost of the wedding should be on the couple IMO.

We're tackling the cost of this one, obviously. The idea of a destination wedding was actually suggested by my intended best man (and his wife). They got married on a cruise. I don't want to do the cruise thing, but the caribbean sounds appealing.

I know a lot of my friends will not be able to attend due to restrictive costs. For those folks, we're gonna have a big blow out party at our local bar upon our return.

Good luck, JH. Let us know how it all goes and maybe post some pictures.

Swept Away in Negril is very nice. No TV's in the rooms - not that there is a need for any.

Good luck.

Ambergris Caye, Belize

http://www.journeysendresort.com/weddings/index.asp

There's a Travel Inn near Walsall that would do you a fine cooked breakfast, and has a trouser press for the honeymooning couple.

Can't say fairer than that.

The most romantic and beautiful place in Jamaica is Port Antonio IMHO. The others mentioned above are (nice) tourist traps. .

But the best place to spend time close to the sand in the Caribbean with a loved one is Nevis (as in St Kitts and Nevis). Look it up.

Seychelles, Maldives, and French Polynesia are nicer though but they are in the wrong oceans.

Mambasa Kenya

Redskin in Canada wrote:Seychelles, Maldives, and French Polynesia are nicer though but they are in the wrong oceans.

Which oceans should they be in?

And who moved them?