March 2007 Wedding

Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Nebraska

Hello all!! I am just beginning to look into a beach wedding for March 12, 2007. I have been searching for condos for my guests (about 20) with the help of this forum...what a wonderful wealth of information to stumble upon!! The Shangri-La and Sunset House are at the top of my list for the moment. I have a few questions for anyone who may be willing to help: What are the rules on marrying on a public beach - must I have a planner and permission, or may I marry there with the help of an officiant only? I am really trying to stay away from a planner due to a limited budget (I'm a teacher, he's a bartender) and the desire to pull it all together on my own. My fiance and I hope to visit Grand Cayman for the first time during Pirates Week and will likely be scouting out venders and venues at that time. Are there any great suggestions for beaches to marry on? Smith Cove looks amazing from pictures, are there others you would recommend? Is their a Catholic priest you might recommend for the ceremony (more for a blessing than a mass)? I have gathered awesome ideas from this site for photographers (though we'll be bringing a dear friend for that job), florists, cake designers, etc. Are there any good places for renting chairs? Any help you could give me would be very much appreciated!! spin

Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:28 am Post subject:

First Let me congratulate you on your engagement and wedding Destination choice. March 12, 2007 How exciting! Very Happy

The Shangri-La is beautiful. I would also look into the SPECIAL RATES button above, to help with the comparing of pricings for you and your guests. Some of these places may even let you marry on the premises, or are located on the beach, which will make for easy transportation for you and your guests for your ceremony. Cool

You may marry anywhere on the beach with whomever you choose to be there...The only requirements are the bride groom 2 witnesses and the officiant. There are Procedures and RULES posted here int he wedding forum, you can take a look at as well.

palm

Pirates Week is a great week to visit, There will be many festivities and people visiting the island. pirate

All of Seven mile beach is beautiful. There are many areas to chose from and marry on. Do you want it to be close to your reception site? Will your reception be on the beach or at a restaurant or hotel? Remember you and your guests shuffling from one point to another can get hectic. So having your wedding close to the units or your ceremony and reception in the same spot will help with this. Wink

(Not everyone chooses to do this, which is fine as well, You may want to provide transportation services. Elain's Taxi is a very dear person, who assisted in transportation for our wedding guests for to and from the airport, the rehearsal dinner and day of the wedding.)

palm

Smith Cove is amazing and works well if your reception is at the Grand Ole house. Though this is a Cove and not a very large soft beach area.

rose

You can order flowers from Celebrations and have then delivered day of the ceremony, and have your bridesmaids do the decorating if need be.

palm

As for the cake depending on where your reception may be, The Wharf (which has outdoor and indoor dining and beach right next door), Grand Old house (No beach but beautiful pier overlooking the ocean), Hyatt (Have the outdoor dining experience right on the beach),any of these can easily create your wedding cake for you. Foster's Supermarket designs cakes as well. They will be the cheapest way to go.

palm

If you decide to marry on the beach close to the Condo Units I would suggest contact Heart of Cayman or Celebrations for chairs.

Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:37 am Post subject:

The Rules for Getting Married in Cayman can be found at the bottom of Wedding?Anniversary?Honeymoon?Groups-Forum. The last entry.

Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 4:58 pm Post subject:

Welcome to the forum, jules Smile

,

I'll second Michelle's congratulations for your upcoming wedding, and for choosing such a great destination!

Michelle is our Wedding Consultant, so she is in the expert on all the details that you ask about and who to contact, but I'd just like to say a word about your hotel choices that you say are on the top of your list. Shangri-La would be wonderful, especially if you can have the place to yourselves........I think they can hold 16. You have to remember, that if you do have the place to yourselves, they don't provide breakfast, and you'd be on your own for all meals. They are pretty remote, too, so your guests would definitely need rental cars.

Now, I would have to discourage you from having your guests stay at the Sunset House. The Sunset House appeals mostly to avid divers......the rooms are very simple...very small... and depending on which building you are in, questionable condition. I have stayed there four or five times, although only for a night at a time, so maybe we were housed in the worst rooms. There is no beach there......just ironshore. I can't imagine that your guests would be happy there, unless their focus is diving, which I doubt, since they are coming to attend your wedding.

Please look at the

feature that tells about the different properties that are recommended by Joe and the Cayman Activity Guide. You will even receive discounts for being a member here at almost all of the places (except the Shangri-La, cause the prices are already so low).

If you are going to have part of your group stay at the Shangri-La, I would suggest the others stay at the Marriott Courtyard. It's not all that far away. There is even a public beach across from that hotel so I wouldn't think that there would be any problem getting married there!

I would also have to say that I think that wedding planners are willing to handle weddings of any size.....maybe it wouldn't be too expensive.....and wouldn't it be nice to know that someone else was handling things in case some last minute surprises occur, like usually happens!

Check it out and keep asking more questions.

Char

Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Nebraska

Thank you for all of your help thusfar!! I'm sure I'll have more questions in the near future, but it's great to have so many questions answered already. My fiance and I just finalized our wedding party tonite and met with our caterer for our home reception back in Nebraska. It's all so very exciting!!! I'll keep you updated as things start falling into place. Again thanks for the help!

Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 10:07 pm Post subject:

Hi jules -

Congratulations on your special day! I can't urge you strongly enough to select from our highly recommended properties for your most special occasion. I have gone to painstaking lengths to assure our members of only the most highly valued properties on the island, all at special discount rates or with perks for our members.

Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Nebraska

I'm making some progress!! I successfully booked the entire Shangri-La Bed and Breakfast for my wedding party in March. Your recommendations have made me feel very secure in making this big decision! Now if only March could come a little sooner!

Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:53 pm Post subject:

Wow! Good for you! That should be wonderful!

Char

Posted: Mon Sep 11, 2006 9:14 am Post subject:

I'm so happy for you. Its a great feelingn to get the ball rolling. spin

Please keep us informed. We look forward to working with you in planning your special day. clapping

Newbie Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Nebraska

Does anyone have any suggestions for an officiant? Ideally, I would like to find a Roman Catholic priest to say the wedding, but usually they are unwilling to marry people outside of the church setting. Any ideas?

My fiance is more than thrilled that we will get to experience Pirates Week as part of our stay! Jump

What Pirates Week events should we be sure to see?

Your input, as always, is greatly appreciated!!

Posted: Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:46 am Post subject:

Hi Jules. The officiants I was able to make contact with are

Reverend Crawford [This is whom I used]

office:(345) 949-7923

cell:(345) 916-7513

Miss Francine Jackson [she is adorable]

weddings@candw.ky

(345) 949-8677

Mr. Maghoo [also a popular pick]

I would suggest to give a call to Celebrations, Special Events Division

Office: (345) 949 2044 Fax: (345) 949 6947

Website: http://www.celebrationsltd.com

I am sure they will have someone to meet your needs.

or I suggest as your Shangri-La Bed and Breakfast contact. I am sure they also will give you some suggestions. The more info and input you have the easier to be sure you made the right choice.

I immediately fell in love with Reverend Crawford when researching. My husband is not Catholic thus my decision with a reverend, as well. You will be legally married when married by an officiant. (But on a side note: you are able to work with your priest from your parish and be bonded religiously as well!)

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