I have worked at Atlas Travel for eleven years now and over that timeframe, I have had the wonderful opportunity of planning many destination weddings and honeymoons. It is always very rewarding to play a part in planning such a memorable occasion. The day finally came when I got to plan my own wedding and I knew exactly where I wanted to get married at…Grand Lido Negril, a SuperClubs Resort.

I had dreamed of getting married at Grand Lido Negril ever since our first stay there. Jamaica was the first vacation destination that I had traveled to with my significant other, Norm, and after our first visit to Grand Lido, we were hooked. Just about everything that you can eat, drink, and do is included in one simple upfront price. And tipping is not permitted. So, once you are on vacation, you can immerse yourself in true luxury and pampering and just enjoy the tropical paradise that you get to call home for several days!

I fell in love with Grand Lido Negril for so many reasons, but the most important of them all is just being able to share precious moments together that make for memories that will last a lifetime. You can easily enjoy lounging in your beachfront junior suite, relaxing in your jacuzzi, stepping out of your room onto the most beautiful seven mile stretch of beach, snorkeling in some of the calmest pristine blue waters, or simply ordering gourmet cuisine and bubbling champagne right to your room twenty-four hours a day; but all of this is so much nicer to enjoy with the one that you love!

We traveled there year after year, getting to know the familiar faces that treated us like a king and queen every day. On our third visit to Grand Lido, Piacere (the friendly staff at the French restaurant), assisted Norm in planning an incredible evening as usual. However, the evening turned out to be far from usual. Norm had asked me to marry him as we sat at a candlelit table for two, listening to the world-class pianist. With tears softly rolling down my face, I graciously accepted and we went on to have a lovely evening, dancing the night away in the disco.

On our fourth trip back home to Grand Lido, we were to marry! Planning the wedding was stress-free to say the least. All that we had to do was to pick a date and time, send out the proper documentation to process our marriage license, and choose any extra amenities to help make our day perfect.

Everything seemed just right. We were able to take advantage of the SuperClubs Ultimate Upgrade, where you pick your resort, pay one low rate, and get the best room or suite available. We ended up staying in their Luxury One Bedroom Suite with not one, but two jacuzzis (one in the bath, as well as one on our private patio). It was a great room to host a party afterwards since we also had a living room, dining room, and stocked mini-bar.

When you stay at Grand Lido for five nights or longer, weddings are complimentary. The complimentary Lido Nuptial Package includes the personal services of a resort wedding planner, wedding cake, a non-denominational minister, marriage license, bouquet and boutonniere, champagne upon arrival, and a honeymoon breakfast in bed with mimosas. You only pay the government and administration fees for stays less than seven nights.

The day after our arrival, we met with the Wedding Coordinator, Sophia Haughton, who was a doll. Normally the wedding coordinator will walk you throughout the property and will show you the many locations that are perfect for your fairytale wedding. Since we had been to the resort many times and were familiar with the property, we simply sat down with Sophia and told her that we already knew that we wanted to get married at the seaside-wedding gazebo surrounded by brilliant blue skies and crystalline waters. And then she simply went over what to expect the day of the wedding. She took care of everything from the minister to the floral arrangements to the wedding cake. We opted for the private Limousine transfer from the airport to the resort, upgraded our flowers to lovely orchids and roses, scheduled our complimentary manicure and pedicure, set up salon time prior to the wedding, and had received one of the photo wedding packages as a gift. Just a tip for the bride-and-groom-to-be: It is always good to book your photographer or videographer in advance.

Sophia is there to answer any question that you can think of before or after you arrive at the resort…She told us about the many additional services and amenities that are offered to help personalize your wedding. If you would like to further enhance the complimentary Lido Nuptial package, you can add-on one of the Wedding Bliss Collections such as the Sun and Sea Wedding Package. This package includes your ceremony set on a white-sand beach at sunrise and ends with a romantic newlyweds massage at sunset, followed by a wedding-night champagne and truffle turn-down for the two of you. It also includes a half-hour of professional photography service, a complimentary Polaroid camera to capture your own favorite shots, and a “Memories” photo album where you get to choose your photos that you would like to have included in your cherished keepsake. You can even have a butterfly or dove released after your ceremony. The options are just endless!

Norm and I were married on 4/22/2006, a day that will be remembered and cherished forever. It was filled with beautiful blue skies, a ton of smiles, and precious memories! It was everything that we dreamed of--perfected by the staff at Grand Lido. After we got home, we shared the wonderful news and the countdown began for the next vacation and anniversary trip. It’s a good thing that they also offer vow renewal!