Wedding Photography
Reprinted from www.TripAdvisor.com
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147344-d263015-r107503745-Sandals_Grande_St_Lucian_Spa_Beach_Resort-Gros_Islet_St_Lucia.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT
We had an absolutely magical experience in St. Lucia!! Please do not read the negative reviews and let them sway you in any way. Please go and experience the resort and the island for yourselves, I promise you will not be dissapointed. Trust me! :o)
ARRIVING IN ST. LUCIA (5/2 – 5/7): Make sure you bring a pen with you. When you arrive in Customs it’s going to be a little chaotic, everyone has to fill out papers before you’re allowed out of the airport, and you don’t want to be the one person running around asking everyone for a pen……..*blushing*. They will not provide one for you. We had a private car transfer from the UVF Airport to the Sandals Grande resort. It’s an hour and a half drive. (Well worth the money!) Or take the helicopter transfer if you can. The roads are still damaged from the hurricane, so the ride will be rough getting up to the resort, but the views on the way are absoultely stunning.
ARRIVING AT THE RESORT: Once we arrived, we were greeted with champagne and cold towels. This was great because it was so humid, and after a long drive, a nice cold glass of champagne was nice. We only waited in the lobby for about 5 minutes as we chatted with another couple waiting to be escorted to our room.
OUR ROOM: We booked the Grande Premium Lagoon room (4316). We loved our room! we were on the top floor, corner of building 3 which is the Rodney Bay building. Because we were in the corner room, we had a view of the lagoon pools, the oceanview, as well as beach view. Standing on our balcony we could look forward and see all the way out to the Atlantic Ocean, and then to the side of the balcony we could see the beach! It was so awesome to have the best of both worlds. We had no reason to want to upgrade to a higher leverl room, because our’s was perfect and besides you will not be spending alot of time in your room at all.
THE FOOD: AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! We loved every minute of it. My husband and I enjoy working out and staying fit, but on this trip all of that went out the window! We ate so much, and everything was delicious. We particularily enjoyed Bayside. This restaurant has a to die for spread of a buffet. If you like to eat and get full, go to Bayside! We also enjoyed the London Pub, Josephines Cafe, and the Resort had a Beach Barbecue night which was awesome. Please try not to get too jealous when I say this Chocolate Lovers, but there was a Chocolate Buffet on one night…………*drooling* :o) Fantastic! We did have reservations for Toscanini’s one night, which I heard was also very good. However, this particular night was the same night as Jazz Street Party in the city, so we caught a taxi off the resort and enjoyed some local street food which was soooo good. You have to try the local jerk chicken and steamed fish.
THE DRINKS: Whatever you do, make sure you see Bartenders Peter or Francis and order the BBC (Baileys, Banana, Coconut) We had this drink all day every day! Alcohol is always available to you anytime of the day. The local Piton Beer, Rum Punch, and BBC’s were our favorites while we were there.
THE RESORT: Simply Beautiful! Everything about the resort is wonderful. If you enjoy more quiet, private and peaceful nights, there are plenty of places for you to go on the resort. If you want to party with the the other vacationers in the hot tub, there is a place for you too! We enjoyed a little of both. We met alot of nice couples at the resort, and everyone was so friendly. We were also there during the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, which we had Karen Smith come to the resort and perform for us which was awesome! They play alot of games at the resort also, (Newlyweds Game, Dance Competitions, Bingo, etc. whatever your pleasure they have it) Do take some time to go off of the resort and visit the local towns and villages, we really enjoyed meeting the locals and learning the history of St. Lucia. Take lots of pictures too! One excursion I will highly recommend is the Soufriere Land & Sea Adventure. This was our favorite excursion. You get to cruise on the sea, visit the town of Soufriere and mingle with the locals, we visted the Mineral Springs, The Botanical Gardens, we went shopping, snorkeling, and we ate at a local restaurant which was really nice.
OUR Wedding Photography: We got married on May 6th, 2011. I highly recommend asking for Jenna Samuel as your wedding organizer. She was AWESOME! She made my day so special. She was always kind, helpful, professional, and patient with me. :o) I also recommend getting your hair and makeup done by Pattie in the Red Line Spa. She did a fantastic job on my both my hair and makeup, I received so many compliments from everyone. When she handed me the mirror after she was done to see myself, I almost broke down crying with happy tears. Again, ask for JENNA & PATTIE! For wedding pictures, I HIGHLY!!!! recommend paying the $500 for the videography dvd’s of your wedding, these are memories you will always have with you. But I would not purchase the Sandals picture package, it is way overpriced and the quality is not the greatest.
WEDDING PICTURES: Bill Bill Bill!!!! You need to book Bill Mortley for your Wedding Photography. Here is the link to his website and his Facebook page:
Bill took us off the resort directly after our wedding, and we went to 3 different locations throughout the island. Our photography session was a well worth it 5 hours all over St. Lucia in the most amazing places you could visit. We went to a quiet beach, a cool lighthouse location overlooking the sunset, and a quaint restaurant location which seemed to be in the middle of a beautiful rainforest. You can see my pictures on his Facebook page titled ~ Deetria & Jason. He will also feature your wedding story and pictures in the local Travelers magazine. Great Price, Great Quality Pictures, and Great Photographer to work with!!! :o)
WHAT TO BRING TO ST.LUCIA: Pack light! Women – Sundresses, bikinis, and a nice dress & heels for restaurants that require “Elegant Evening” wear. Men – White linen shirts & shorts, and a nice outfit for the restaurants that require slacks, long sleeves and closed toe shoes.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions or need advice! Most of all let loose when you go to St. Lucia and HAVE FUN!!
