Honeymoons & destination weddings

What was it like?  How was your experience with the venue/coordinator/flowers/photography?  We’re already booked in but am keen to get feedback from as many people as possible.

Thanks girls!

Hi there – we booked in our wedding for next April at the Westin and there have been a few bumps. I think the biggest issue is that everything is on “fiji time” but at the end of the day, not answering an e-mail for a week really isn’t acceptable. I have started ringing them and then sending a follow up e-mail which seems to be working.

Venue – at this stage we’re getting married at the westin waterfront and our reception is at the coco palms.

Flowers – haven’t really started on this but there doesn’t look as though there’s much choice other than maroi flowers.

Photography – I’m a bit of a photographer and am really fussy about photos and didn’t like any of the Fiji based photographers I saw online until I came across this guy: http://www.tokmanimagez.com/ who we have booked in.

Have you organised hair and make up yet? That’s my next challenge!

Good luck with your wedding!
Sheena

Hi Sheena…….snap!!  We are getting married in April as well – Easter Thursday, when’s yours?  We have chosen the Westin beachfront option as well and then are going round to Flying Fish at the Sheraton for dinner (there will only be 10-15 of us).

Would love to hear more about your plans – how exciting!

Suse

Hi Poppet,

I have also booked my wedding with the Westin/Sheraton but for September. We are getting married in the chapel, still deciding which location for the reception. We are going over for a sticky beak at the end of Jan so will let you know how they shape up in real life! I have had a similar experience with returning emails as sheena has had. I find phone calls are best received and if all else fails i resend original email and get a pretty quick reply.

I decided on Tokman Imagez instead of the photography that was included in the package as I wanted a professional. From friends that married there a couple of years ago those provided with the package are often not professional and I want some nice memories from the day. But we are having somewhere near 50 guests so i suppose it depends what you want from your photos.

I am aksing for frangipanies for my flowers. From my photography research they seemed quite a common choice and I just love them anyway.

Advice i got from friends that got married there was to stay on top of them and double check everything when you get there. I think if you are clear about what you want then they are usually pretty accommodating.

Good Luck!

Hi ladies,

My Dad is in Fiji at the moment organising everything – I am living in Europe at the moment and Dad is from Fiji so he’s got a bit of inside knowledge!

My wedding is on April 23, we’re having our reception at the coco palms because weather wise it can be a bit unpredictable around that time of year and there is the option of going undercover there without having to rent a marquee as a backup. Poppet – the flying fish is amazing but our party was just too big.

As for flowers, I think the sheraton recommends maroi but my mother is obsessed with tadra flowers – I think they’ve done weddings for family friends.

It’d be nice to hear from people who have already been married at the westin/sheraton to find out what their experience was like!

Sheena

Hi Sheena!  I think we need to chat offline but I’m not sure how to PM you or even if that is available on this site.  How on EARTH did you manage to secure Easter Saturday??  I went through no end of trouble trying to get that date (as apparently public hols are difficult to get married on in Fiji)…..so wound up going with the 21st (Easter Thursday).

If you are using Tadra Flowers are you requesting that your wedding package be adjusted accordingly?

It would be good to chat offline as I need you to pick your dad’s brains for me….since he’s got all the inside info

We should catch up poolside for a champagne!!

Erin….so if you are using Tokman Imagez are you also requesting that your wedding package be adjusted accordingly (eg reduced to remove the cost of the package photographer)?

Great to get some dialogue going here gals – it’s our year!

Hey Erin – it’d be great to have a chat to you too.

You can e-mail me at spn.pillay@gmail.com - I will likely respond at odd times because I live in the netherlands!

Re the wedding package I got a breakdown of the prices and chose what we wanted so I can send you that info. Re flowers I didn’t really like anything tadra had in the end so I am back at square one. I think the problem is that I don’t really like tropical flowers and they just don’t look as nice.

I think you’re clever getting married on the Thursday – you avoid the 10% public holiday surcharge on everything even though the saturday is not a public holiday!

We should absolutely catch up for a cocktail by the pool whilst we’re in Fiji!

Hi Erin!  My email is susandanford@yahoo.com.au – ping me and I’ll get a three way email going between you, Sheena & me.  United we stand!

Hi

I am also getting married at the Westin this year – in June.  I’m also using Tokman Imagez for the photographer – i think their portfolio looks great and I have heard good things about them from family friends.  I would be keen to hear from you girls about your choices for music at the reception and also what you’re doing for your wedding cake.

Thanks

Heidi

Hi ladies,

I am also getting married at The Westin in June 2011. I have booked the Bliss Package which includes photography. Do you know anything about their quality of photography as I have noticed a few of you have booked some one else?