Hi everyone!
We are planning our wedding on Ambergris Caye and are looking for a FUN local band to play at our reception. Does anyone have any suggestions or bands that you saw that were fun? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I'd suggest asking that question on the San Pedro forum of www.ambergriscaye.com People there keep up with that sort of thing.

There are several local bands and musicians that play at Fido's, Big Daddy's and elsewhere. I've been going to San Pedro for more than 10 years but don't pay much attention to music in the clubs.

--Lan Sluder

Catagory X, music by ex pats for ex pats. Contact Julia at [email protected] and ask about Steven's band, local music. You can fly in chamber group from Belize, flutist, jazz group, salsa or better yet if you have $, the steel drum band.

Lan & Katie,
Thank you so much for your suggestions. We will be in Belize for about 2 weeks. Do you have any other suggestions for places to eat or things to do? We are having our wedding at Captain Morgan's then plan to travel around after our guests leave. We are considering staying at Portofino and maybe the Jungle Spa, any other suggestions?

Thanks again!
Marci

Have the wedding dinner at Capricorn, close to Cap Mprgans. Email Anabel at [email protected] for menu suggestions.

Photog: Kay Scott

Flowers: Florasol in Belize City. [email protected], ask them for their web site.

Minister? CM taking care of that? License? CM taking care of that?
What a minute: You're not staying at CM but having the wedding there? If you book into Portofino or Mata Chica, you can do the wedding right there and probably nicer.

Jungle spa? Chaa Creek, both for spa, comfort, jungle, ruins, caving, horses, etc. I love the new hillside jacuzi suites. Or both there and at Hidden Valley Inn, on 7200 acres with 7 private watefalls, one of which you can 'rent' for the day with sparkling wine and lunch delivered for us$125.00. Your own privatre waterfall, now that's cool.

Thanks Katie! This is very helpful! We contacted Kay a few months ago so she will be doing our photographs, she has been so wonderful to deal with and has given us lots of suggestions!!!

We are staying at CM for a week (yes they will take care of the Minister and such) then looking at moving around, on AC and in Belize. We did look at Capricorn for our wedding dinner but we have about 25 people (who knew so many people would want to join us!) and it became a little pricey. But we do intend to eat there one night. WOW, Cha Creek and Hidden Valley Inn both look incredible! We are definitely going to look into them! Do both allow you to "rent" the private falls?
Do you happen to know if Florasol has more native flowers? The ones on their site were ones that we can get here in the US.

Thanks again for all your help!!
Marci

Oh, the Jungle Spa that I was referring to was Maruba Resort and Jungle Spa. Do you know anything about it?

Marci

I'm partial to the spa at Chaa Creek. I think it's the best in the country and so many more great activities at and around Chaa Creek than at Maruba. Only guests at Hidden Valley Inn are allowed on the property and rent the falls. You could book a few nights each at CC and HVI. They are in the same district, but very different eco systems. CC is on a swimming river and is in tropical foliage. HVI is in the Maya Mtn in a pine forest. The pine forest was attacked by a bark beetle a few years ago and many trees on the reserve perished. But it's coming back and there are areas that were not affected. The HVI property has both pine and hardwood forest.

What kind of flowers? Heliconias (gingers, birds of paradise, orchids?) We have a flower farm and grow heliconias that are sold in the country. Email Florasol and tell Soli what you want. She'll get it for you.

Maruba Spa, which has been for sale for years, is now going to be offered at auction on September 27. Minimum bid $1 million US.

I agreee with Katie: The spa at Lodge at Chaa Creek is far better than the one at Maruba.

--Lan Sluder

Sorry, it's not Maruba Spa but the property next door, Altun Ha Jungle Resort and Maskall Golf Course (formerly the Pretty See Ranch property) that's for sale by auction. Maruba has been for sale (believe they were asking US$5 million) but the auction is not for Maruba.

--Lan Sluder