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wedding blog + planning guide for creative weddings | inspiration for DIY Brides

Brenda's Wedding Blog is your online resource for planning your dream elegant wedding. Helping you find the "wow" in weddings.

Posts tagged wedding venues
Top 3 Locations in Jamaica for Destination Weddings and Honeymoons

Welcome to Part 2 of our series on Jamaica! So you've decided you want to book a destination wedding or honeymoon in the Caribbean, and you're excited about all that Jamaica has to offer. What's next? Well, today's post will give all of you engaged couples plenty of resources and inspiration for planning a destination wedding or honeymoon in Jamaica! If you are looking for a truly memorable wedding and/or honeymoon experience, Montego Bay has lots of options for you!

We visited several resorts that would make a great venue for a destination wedding or honeymoon. The resorts featured in today's post are all-inclusive, which makes it super easy and affordable for you and your guests! Once you arrive, all you have to think about is whether to spend the day at the pool or on the beach. You don't need to worry about carrying around cash or credit cards - you can relax, sip and snack all day!

All-inclusives are a great choice for those planning to invite families with kids to their destination wedding, as most have on-site activities for kids and some even have their own kids clubs where you can drop the little ones off early in the day and get them in time for dinner. Are you looking for a more relaxing, kid-free environment for your wedding or honeymoon? Montego Bay has adults-only properties as well as several large properties that offer adults-only accommodations in addition to more family-friendly ones. Do you know what else makes all-inclusive resorts an excellent choice for a destination wedding?
— Affordable wedding packages
— Perks based on the size of your group
— Can start your honeymoon right after your wedding without having to pack your bags

Here are just a few of the options we recommend in the Montego Bay area:

[1.] The RIU Montego Bay is a large property that is family-friendly and offers something for everyone. For those wanting a more intimate experience, the neighboring RIU Palace offers an adults-only experience with access to the RIU property. Wedding packages at the RIU start at just $600 for the couple and up to 10 guests with a minimum booking of 5 rooms for 3 nights! Yes, that's a whole wedding - ceremony (yes, on the beach), semi-private reception, cake, and the bubbly . . . Truly an affordable and elegant experience!
[2.] For a unique, adults-only wedding experience or a relaxed but fun honeymoon, the Sandals Royal Caribbean has it all! Ever wanted to get married on your own private island? Well, Sandals can offer you the next best thing! Couples can rent out the Sandals' offshore island for their wedding ceremony and reception! Even though it's just a five minute boat ride from the main property, it will feel like your own! For your honeymoon you can even book a spa treatment (or two) on the offshore island to get a truly romantic experience. With affordable packages and the option to customize your whole wedding beyond the pre-set package options, the Sandals is an excellent choice. Basic wedding packages start at $500 for up to 8 people - free if the minimum stay is met!
[3.] For those looking for more variety and a more upscale experience in Montego Bay, the Grand Palladium properties have so much to offer! The Lady Hamilton side of the resort offers a more adults-only atmosphere while the Grand Palladium Jamaica side is more family-friendly. The resort boasts 10 dining options - both a la carte restaurants and buffets, and the individual restaurants can be reserved exclusively for your wedding reception. There are multiple ceremony locations throughout the property as well, whether you desire sand under feet or a lush tropical garden. You and your guests will have endless opportunities to discover all of the fun things to do at the Grand Palladium during your stay! The Palladium offers several packages for the couple who wants to splurge a bit more, starting at $1050 for an intimate wedding experience for two.

All-inclusive resorts in Jamaica are a great option for simple yet elegant weddings. But, if you are a couple that is more into having a truly one-of-a-kind experience, stay tuned for the third post in our Jamaica series where we'll highlight a few unique venues that can be rented our for your wedding or your honeymoon! ~ Jackie
Trump SoHo New York : luxury wedding venue and hotel in Manhattan

I was recently invited to attend a fun event in NYC at the Trump SoHo New York for bridal bloggers and editors. We were able to experience Trump SoHo as a bride-to-be including everything from an overnight stay to primping to partying. It was an experience I will truly remember and I thank Dana, Nubia, Nicole and the entire staff at Trump SoHo for an amazing stay. Today I'll be sharing with you lots of photos that I took with my iPhone as well as all the details on the hotel {which is truly breathtaking}.

Before an amazing dinner, we were treated to a spa suite party experience with mini treatments including make-up and hair while enjoying yummy snacks and drinks. In the Spa Suite collection there are 3 luxury suites that offer the ultimate pampering experience. Two of the suites feature private treatment rooms, and one includes a private sauna for two. All suites feature bathrooms with 32-inch deep Jacuzzi tubs, hydrotherapy jets in oversized showers, a stocked mini bar with healthy snack options, an in-room yoga mat, and a private entrance to the 11,000-sq-ft spa. This is perfect for the bride and her bridesmaids as they get ready for the wedding or are having a fun girl weekend getaway.

After getting beautified, we were able to get into the Rent the Runway dresses we selected. Since my baby bump was a bit bigger than I thought, my back-up size dress still didn't quite fit. But, I came prepared and brought my own black dress along for the event. We all then went to dinner 46 stories above New York's majestic skyline in the glass-enclosed SoHi that overlooks the Hudson River. Words cannot even describe the views from this venue space {and the stunning ceiling treatment that can be color changed - see above photo}. And, being there to see the sunset was absolutely gorgeous. This is the perfect place for a reception that can accommodates up to 80 people for intimate weddings or 150 for receptions. It's also an ideal location for cocktails to be served before heading into one of the other event spaces for your reception or even the after wedding party. Trump SoHo NY boasts more than 12,000-sq-ft of elegant event space. All events are planned with the assistance of the special events team and in addition to SoHi, the other venues include the 3,894-sq-ft SoHo Ballroom, the 2,224-sq-ft Hudson Square, and the 1,026-sq-ft covered Spring Terrace.

And, while we enjoyed an amazing dinner, cocktails {mocktails for me} and yummy mini desserts - we were able to make our own wedding bouquet with the help of Flowers of the World. Here's the creation I came up with - I call it my shabby chic bouquet :)

After the dinner we were able to enjoy a night stay in a luxury deluxe guestroom. Each of these guestrooms feature Fendi Casa furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows. The next morning we enjoyed a lovely breakfast spread in a penthouse suite and as were were led up the suite, we received a tour of a few other suites that are available. What AMAZING views!!!!!

I hope to one day return to Trump SoHo New York - and if you are looking for the perfect wedding location for your wedding, do consider Trump SoHo. Not only, will the event team take care of everything for you, but the entire staff at Trump SoHo New York is super nice and always ready to help in anyway they can if needed.