Exhibition at Fashion of Weddings 2015

We were excited to be an exhibitor at this year's Make Your Day Fashion Show hosted by Helen G Events at the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort & Spa on Saturday, February 13, 2013. Thanks to all the brides, grooms and other visitors who stopped by our display table and for the kind and encouraging comments.

Looking forward to serving you in the future but if not, we wish you all the best for your upcoming nuptials. Take a peek of what we did. All flowers, decor done and stationery done by Always & Forever.

You can contact us for all your wedding planning and decor services. Email: alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com or call 876.834.9492

Wedding Trends for the Jamaican Bride

Traditionally, the word “wedding”, conjures up thoughts of a bride in a long white gown with her face covered by a veil and a groom in a black tux. The wedding ceremony is usually held in a church and may only consist of a few guests selected by the bride and groom such as family members. The ceremony is then followed by a reception, usually held elsewhere, where additional guests are invited such as friends. Reception activities include the cutting of the cake, eating, dancing, the presentation of gifts and toasts to the newlyweds and so forth. Trends have, however, developed over the years and have contributed to wedding traditions being broken. Brides and grooms in Jamaica are quite on point in keeping up with the latest trends including these highlighted here.

Show a little skin

Laced and sheer wedding dresses have always been a hot trend but brides have become more and more confident in showing off much more than a little skin. A bride should, however, still keep it elegant and classy by not showing off too much of what may be considered "for the groom’s eyes only". 

Go vintage

What better way to go than to go vintage? With the perfect theme, colors, flowers, décor, vintage-style cake and wedding dress and tux, you cannot go wrong with a vintage wedding. We just love the hanging light bulbs in this vintage set-up.

Colors Galore

Instead of sticking to common neutral colors, try brighter colors that complement each other without losing their elegance. Color-blocking is one of the coolest ways to achieve this.

Bridal Party

Who said the bridal party has to wear the same color or style? There is no harm in mixing it up. With the right mixture of the right colors and style, this can definitely work.

Have your cake and eat it too

Wedding cakes have certainly become fancier and more exquisite. Instead of the plain old white fondant decorated cake, why not try something new? There are options such as a metallic cake, sprinkle wedding cake or even a naked caked (sans fondant) to go with that special outdoor vintage wedding. These cakes look great and still taste great, so who said you couldn’t have your cake and eat it too?

Hope you enjoyed these!

Destination Jamaica: Love is all you need

With a potent mix of white sand beaches, sparkling waterfalls and majestic mountains, it's not surprising at all that Jamaica is the prime choice in the Caribbean for destination weddings. Say "I do" amid the stunning tropical backdrop that Jamaica offers.  A Jamaican wedding is not only uniquely beautiful, it's so easy to plan! By working closely with one of the island's local wedding coordinator like Always & Forever, your dream for a one of a kind wedding can come true.

Photo: Jamaica Tourist Board

Get married in an all-inclusive resort, a private villa, a secret garden, a Great House, on the beach, overlooking the mountains or a waterfall. Jamaica is not just a destination. The island offers destinations within a destination as choices abound throughout major resort towns across the island.

"Discover the Magic" in Ocho Rios, home of Dunn's River Falls, the most famous attraction in the Caribbean.

Photo: Jamaica Tourist Board

Delight yourself in Port Antonio where the Rio Grande runs, and which boasts some of the island's most naturally beautiful spots and green environment, including the famous Blue Lagoon.

Fall in love again in Negril, the "capital of casual", and bask in this timeless, laid-back paradise with its seductive beaches and rugged cliffs.

Photos: Trip Advisor

Montego Bay, the second city, is the "Complete Resort" area offering a wide selection from resorts and water sport facilities to golf courses.

Photos: Jamaica Tourist Board

Let your hair down, relax and retreat to our unspoiled South Coast, for a wholesome and serene garden experience.

Photos: Jamaica Tourist Board

Kingston, the capital city and "Heartbeat of Jamaica", throbs with culture, history and mouth watering cuisine.

Nowhere else in the world will you find such diversity and best of all, when you get married in Jamaica, your honeymoon is literally waiting to begin. The island captures the true feeling of romance as a perfectly idyllic place for your nuptials.

Your destination is definitely Jamaica!

Need help planning your destination wedding in Jamaica? Email us at alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com or call 876.934.9492.

Get info on what you need to get married in Jamaica here.

Debunking the Myth About Day-Of Coordinators

This may surprise you, but there is actually no such thing as a 'Day-Of Coordinator'. "What!" you may say. The truth is, although many Wedding Planners use this term to describe a service that they provide, they are actually 'month-of planners'. Got you there, huh? If you think about it, it would really be difficult for a planner to show up on the day of a couple's wedding and expect to take control of all the activities from start to finish without first having prior knowledge of what you will be expected to coordinate. So the service starts with a comprehensive consultation with the couple at least three to four weeks prior to the wedding to gather all the details of the plans that they made and have been stressing over for the last several months.

The second myth about Day-Of Coordinators is that couples think they don't need one. Do you really want to leave the nitty gritty of your wedding day in the hands of your Maid of Honor or your mother? After all, your family and friends are guests too and should be able to relax and enjoy your special day and not feel like 'event staff'. While nothing is wrong with planning your own wedding, one thing is absolutely certain - you cannot coordinate your wedding day! Think of a wedding you have been to where it was clear that the couple needed more help or where things were always running late. It looks very bad on the bride and groom. It is therefore strongly recommended that every couple who plans their own wedding should hire a Day-Of Coordinator. For this post, we'll call them DOCs for short. Your peace of mind on your wedding day will be worth every penny spent for this service.

So, what do Wedding DOCs do? They are the professionals that execute all the logistics of your wedding day from start to finish and ensures that your special day is exactly how you envisioned. From supervising the rehearsal the evening before, checking arrival times of all vendors, queuing the bridal party for the processional to the collection of gifts and personal items at the end of the event, the DOC does it all. Bridesmaid broke her nail? Groomsman can't find his shirt? Is the flower girl crying for her mom? Will an elderly guest need assistance? Are final payments to be made to vendors? These are all real life wedding day occurrences. The DOC ensures that your plans are carried out smoothly and discreetly handles any problems that may arise. Most importantly the DOC keeps everyone calm, relaxed and happy throughout the event.

Entrust your special day to a Day-of Coordinator so you and those closest to you can have a relaxing day.

Planning your own wedding in Jamaica? Need a Day-Of Coordinator? Click here to find out more about the Day-Of Coordination services offered by Always & Forever.

For other wedding day packages and services in Jamaica visit our website.

Call us at 876.566.5810 or email alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com or info@alwaysandforeverja.com

Easy Breezy Marriage Requirements for Jamaica

Whether it's a civil or religious ceremony,  your wedding in Jamaica will certainly be a one of a kind occasion that will create memories for a lifetime. With all the planning and logistics to be handled for your big day it's relaxing to know that there's one less thing to worry about as getting married in Jamaica could not be easier. Anyone 18 years or older can get married anywhere on this beautiful island in the Caribbean by fulfilling the following simple requirements and best of all, there are no waiting periods or blood tests required.  

You can rest assured that your wedding in Jamaica is legal and recognized internationally. Here’s what you’ll need to do.

1. You must obtain a Marriage License prior to your arrival in the island. This is pretty easy to get. 

You need only to supply the following information for both the Bride and the Groom:

• Full names 
• Marital Status 
• Age 
• Copy of Birth Certificate
• Name of Father
• Photo I.D. – Copy of photo page of Passport or Driver’s Licence
• Final Divorce Decree/Decree Absolute (where applicable)
• Death Certificate (in the case of a widow/widower)
• Certified documents supporting any change of name (where applicable).

These documents should be forwarded at least fourteen (14) days before the wedding date. Please note that all documents presented must be in English. If originals are in another language they should be translated by certified translators whose certifications of authenticity should be attached.

2. You must arrive in the island at least twenty-four (24) hours before the marriage ceremony.

The Marriage Officer will present you with a certified copy of the Marriage Register upon conclusion of the wedding ceremony. You will also receive two (2) certified copies of the Marriage Certificate within six to eight weeks following your wedding day.

As an experienced Wedding Planner in Jamaica,  Always & Forever will do all the leg work for you once the documents are sent. Have any questions or concerns? Do email us at alwaysandforeverja@gmail.com  We are standing by to answer all your queries.