All that Glitters isn’t Necessarily Gold
Welcome to our third in a series of blogs highlighting All the Best Weddings & Celebrations Pintrest Boards. If you love bling then our board "All that Glitters" is for you!
Do you want your wedding to be all glitz, glitter, shine and glamour? Take a look at this board and you'll see that all that glitters is not necessarily gold. It's silver, blue, pink, purple. It's metallic, glitter, sequins, and crystals. It's on your fingers and toes, your feet, your dress. It's in your hair, draping your table, on your stationery, and in your food and drink.
These photographs show how some former All the Best clients incorporated "All that Glitters" into their event.
Sandals Carlyle Montego Bay, Jamaica
Our last stop on the tour of the three Sandals Resorts in Montego Bay, Jamaica was the Sandals Carlyle Resort. This is the first property that Sandals owner and CEO Butch Stewart purchased and the second one to be branded a SANDALS property. It is a small yet charming resort that is big on value and service. The ride from airport to resort is about 15 minutes (see blog post on Sandals Montego Bay for detailed travel information).
We arrived to a warm greeting, a platter of delicious chocolate chip cookies on the entrance table, and a tray of iced cold rum punch. The hotel has 52 rooms all with 24 hour room service. The building does not have an elevator.
The large refreshing pool includes a hot tub, floats, lounge chairs, fluffy towels, umbrellas for shade, and pool side food and beverage service.
The grounds are well landscaped and include outdoor pool table, tennis court, sand court for volleyball, and a shuffleboard court. There are plenty of places to sit and relax while sipping a cocktail or enjoying a snack or meal from Nibbles garden-side grill (under the purple roofs on the map below).
The hotel includes a great gift shop with prices that are comparable to those on the "hip strip." One of the gifts I noticed was a "beach time" clock that could be customized with a photo from your stay.
The resort does have a gym and a spa. There is a plan to expand the spa including a new salon for hair and make-up and an outdoor spa treatment room in the garden. I can attest to the magic fingers of their massage therapists. We each got a brief shoulder/neck rub prior to our departure. I could have stayed there all day........
This is an excellent property for those who want an entry level to the Sandals Luxury Included experience. You can stay here and still play and eat at Sandals Montego Bay and Sandals Royal Caribbean. Free shuttle service is available between all three resorts.
Check out the "Family Board" highlighting those guests who have stayed at the resort at least 35 nights. Choose this property and by the end of your stay you'll feel like one of the family!
White on White Wedding Decor
The ATB Pintrest Board "All Dressed in White" is devoted to predominantly white wedding ceremony and wedding reception decor. Over the years All the Best has had several clients who have gone with white with various accents for their wedding decor. It's an elegant look that shouldn't be limited to winter weddings.
BethAnn used white with blush pink and chocolate brown accents to create an elegant look to her beach themed wedding to Billy. Photo courtesy of The Artist Group.
The 2012 Knot/Bump party was decorated by Kate Duffy of Katydid Signature Events and Floral Design. It featured groupings of white calla lilies, white roses, and white hydrangea all at varying heights with soft white votive candles. Photo courtesy of John Arcara Photography.
Sandals Royal Caribbean – Montego Bay, Jamaica
Our next tour was of Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This resort is a 10 minute ride from the airport with no airplane take off noise. All the airport and check in info from our post on Sandals Montego Bay applies to this resort.
This resort has many features including a private island with clothing optional beach which is clearly labeled that you're heading that way. The island features Thai food at the Royal Thai restaurant. Reservations are required as it only seats 80 guests at one time. You can rent the entire island for $5,000.00 + Food and Beverage, etc. It is a 5 minute boat ride from the main resort. Shuttles run all day. There are architectural drawings showing the private over water bungalows that will be built in the water off the private island. Cabanas can be rented on the island for $125.00 per day and include a Cabana Concierge. Red Land spa treatments are available on the island too.
A new two story 14 room butler suite building was built in 2014. FREE Wi-Fi is available at ALL Sandals resorts for every level of room. There are currently nine levels of Butler suites and two levels of Club Sandals accommodations. The rest of the rooms are all entry level. Your best value is the Beachfront Grande Luxe Room (GB). Some rooms have separate showers and tubs. In others they're combined. If you want the separate shower - make sure you tell your travel professional when making your reservation.
There are 3 beaches and 8 restaurants (including Royal Thai) at this resort.
There are 3 swimming pools not including the Crystal lagoon for the Butler level suites in the St. James, Clarence, and Buckingham buildings.
We were there in the afternoon and found it very quiet at the resort even though it was relatively full. It was hot so most guests were in the water or in the shade enjoying a cold adult beverage. I really liked this resort. The beaches were beautiful and the rooms, regardless of price point, were well appointed. I was really jealous of the guests on the private island. In and out of the water, relaxing in hammocks in the over water gazebo. Definitely wishing it was me.
Sandals Montego Bay Resort – Jamaica
Jamaica is home-base to Sandals Resorts. It's where Mr. Butch Stewart got started with the purchase of his first property, Sandals Carlyle in Montego Bay. Montego Bay is home to three SANDALS properties - The Carlyle, Sandals Montego Bay, and Sandals Royal Caribbean (with private island). There are also properties in Ocho Rios - Beaches Ocho Rios (a family resort), Sandals Grande Riviera, and Sandals Royal Plantation (an all butler suite resort also home to Villa Plantana). Two more in Negril - Sandals Negril and Beaches Negril. The ninth resort in Jamaica is Sandals Whitehouse. I haven't had a chance to visit the properties in Negril, however, I have been to the other seven.
This blog will focus on Sandals Montego Bay. You will need a passport to visit Jamaica. I left Newark Liberty Airport on a direct United Airlines flight of about 4 hours. PLANNERS NOTE: Be very mindful of the size of your carry-on luggage. The regulations changed in June 2014. My bag was taken from me at the gate because it was about 1" too long. Check your airline's website for their regulations for carry-on luggage.
Before landing each passenger is given an immigration card to complete (bring a pen). Upon landing follow the crowd to immigration. Present the completed card and your passport (they're going to give you the stub back - DON'T LOSE IT) and then head to baggage claim to pick up your luggage. From there proceed to the SANDALS lounge to check in. An attendant will take and tag your bag according to resort and level of room category. It's the last time you'll touch your bags until they are brought to your room at your chosen resort. The lounge is air-conditioned with clean bathrooms. There will be complimentary cold beverages (adult and non-adult) available while you wait. Once they announce the shuttle to your resort you'll be asked to identify your bag(s) for transport to the shuttle. PLANNERS NOTE: All Sandals and Beaches Resorts have a no tipping policy (except for Butlers and Nannies) once on property. Prior to getting to the property you should be prepared to tip the baggage handlers at the lounge who take your bags to your shuttle and your shuttle driver as neither are SANDALS employees.
Sandals Montego Bay Resort is about 15 minutes from the Montego Bay airport by SANDALS provided shuttle. Upon arrival you are greeted with cold towels and drinks. Someone else takes your name and escorts you to the proper check in location. You might notice that the resort entrance is across the street from the airport departure runway. As the planes take off all the employees wave good-bye. While concerned at first the sound didn't bother me after the first 15 minutes. They don't take off all night and you might not even hear the first one in the morning depending upon room location.
Once checked in and a credit card is left of any incidentals (purchases at the gift shop, spa appointments, etc) you will be escorted to your room. At the room you will be given a brief tour of all the amenities including blow dryer (check the closet) and stocked refrigerator. If you didn't call ahead with requests now is the time to speak up about what you'd like to see in there during your stay. I was given a Oceanfront Honeymoon Walkout Club Level Room (category WW) in the Almond Village. A few steps away from my patio door was a hot tub and deck overlooking the ocean that was very peaceful. The room was spacious and well appointed. A plate of chocolate chip cookies greeted me along with a fridge full of bottled water, juice, beer, wine, and champagne.
The Sandals Montego Bay resort is the ONLY Sandals resort with a chapel on property. If you want a destination wedding with a true Catholic ceremony, one that will be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, then this is the resort for you! There are many other locations on the property for wedding ceremonies and receptions including the beach and various patios. On site wedding coordinators will help you with every detail including the official paperwork for your marriage license!
Our first evening the group met for dinner at Cucina Romana. The service was excellent and the food delicious. Several in our party ordered more than one appetizer, more than entree, and more than one dessert. Go for it! It's all included. The restaurant is located upstairs and there is no wheelchair accessibility. If your table is by the windows you have a beautiful view. There are eight dining options onsite not including a weekly resort beach party that included a Caribbean BBQ buffet, rousing entertainment, and games on the beach. You can make reservations for candlelight dinners on the beach or pier at an additional charge. Our 2nd and last night in Montgeo Bay we ate at Oleandar.
The next morning after breakfast at the Bayside Restaurant (buffet with made to order egg station) we toured the property which includes entry level rooms in the Oleander Building with views of the garden, dining terrace, pool deck or tennis courts (category DL) all the way to the Beachfront Hideaway Prime Minister's One Bedroom Butler Villa Suite (category PM) which includes transportation by private luxury car from the airport literally to the door of your villa. The amenities at this villa are amazing including a balcony so big you could host a cocktail party on it. PLANNERS NOTE: No matter what category your room is you're still enjoying the same beach, the same swimming pool, the same food, the same entertainment, the same drinksm and the same water sports as everyone else.
The beaches at the resort are all soft white sand with Caribbean blue water. There are private raised thatched huts with beds to rent that can include breakfast and lunch service. There are several piers for private candlelight dinners or wedding ceremonies. An item that is unique to Sandals Montego Bay is a round orange "raft" that had a mesh bottom. They were quite comfortable and couples were in and out of them all day. You can see one in the background of the photo above. There is also a gym and a Red Lane Spa. I can attest to the magic fingers of their massage therapists. Book before you go if you can!
BTW - if you've never done scuba diving but want to try - they will teach you. Certified dive instructors are on staff and single tank dives for certified divers are included. While lounging at the pool I saw an instructor take a guest one on one for instruction in the swimming pool because the guest was having a panic attack while trying to breathe with all the equipment underwater. The instructor was very patient with the guest and after about 20 minutes got the guest to the point where he was comfortable and ready to join the rest of the group. I can still hear the instructor saying "are you with me mon?" to the guest.
If you're looking for honeymoon or destination wedding resort with beautiful beaches and ease of access from the airport then Sandals Montego Bay could be the resort for you! ASK ME for details.