ILA Brides, what do you have planned so far for your big day?

I didn't translate anything, just photocopied and emailed.

I am getting so excited girls - only 32 days until we leave!!

Wow only 32 days left, I cannot wait to hear all about your wedding!

I didn't get our documents translated either. I just scanned them and sent them to my travel agent and to yahimara. Yahimara said that this was all she needed.

Hi Girls,

I have posted some details of my wedding (held last week at ILA) in the "Iberostar laguna Azul Brides" forum. If you have any questions I'm happy to answer them for you!

I've just been breezing through some of your comments above. Hopefully this helps:

- The Steakhouse restaurant is HUGE. They set up our dinner in one half of the restaurant so that the other half was separate. They also set it up in a way where there was room between the head table and the other tables for the dances. They were able to provide a microphone for speeches and I provided them with CDs for dinner music. It was only supposed to be a "private dinner" for 1 hour, but it ended up being private the entire time. I think people showed up at 7:30pm and just figured it was closed for the wedding, then left.

- There was no "gazebo". There was an archway. Very plain. But lots of flowers leading up the archway. Looked better in the terrace (where I got married) because of the enclosed space. I can see how it would look more plan on a huge beach.

- Make sure when you meet with Yahimara that you bring the bride, groom & 2 witnesses' Tourist Card. She will photocopy it and give it back to you right away. No need to translate any documents beforehand.

- I had a private party between dinner and the disco (8:30-10:30pm, although staff kindly stayed until 11pm). They charged me $8 per person per hour, which included full bar service and a DJ. Let Yahimara know who will NOT be drinking (I.e. kids) so she can discount it from the price. This was a great idea, as I think our guests would have gone to bed if there was a huge gap between dinner and the disco. You can have this private party at the beach bar (weather permitting) or in a large enclosed hut (like the Steakhouse Restaurant, but on the opposite side of the resort). We had it in the enclosed hut, as it had rained that day.

Jen

I'm sure we all got a similar response, this is what Yahimara emailed me about the chair situation:

The chairs with cover for the ceremony is something we offer extra for the

wedding that you do not need to pay. We are able to accommodate 40 of your

guests in chairs with white covers, The other guests you have can make like

a half moon around the chair what look very good or we can put other type of

white plastic chairs which are not able to have covers.

I'm not sure how to reply to that, I hate the idea of asking half our guests to stand, but I suppose it is only for 20 minutes or so....what are you thinking Tilly and Chela? Are you girls going to accept this or push for more chairs?!

Siobhan

The ceremony goes by so fast and usually tonnes of people love standing to take photos. You can try and push Yahimara to get more fancy chairs, but this is Cuba. Unfortunately she can't snap her fingers and make the chairs appear! We had a joke during our stay...everything was in "Cuban time"... sometimes things are more relaxed, and other times the resources are just not available when you want them.

Chevy - she sent me the exact same email word for word! LOL

At this point, it's something that I'm trying to not stress about. I do think it's not right that they don't have enough chairs for everyone, but like varaderobride said it's Cuba and they just don't have the resources.

I will ask for the plastic 'ghetto' chairs though for the extra guests and that way everyone has the option to sit if they want.

Your date is coming up fast!! I`m so excited for you!! You gotta for sure post some pics when you are back and settled in.

Hi girls,

I emailed Yahimara over 2 weeks ago and she has not responded yet. Is this how long she usually takes now? She use to be much quicker.

Hi Chevy,

Yahimara offered to use some of the plastic chairs, but I don't think that will look good becasue I bought sashes to decorate the chairs. We are just going to go with the 40 and some people will have to stand.

Most of my guests don't mind. I asked a bunch of people what they thought and no one seemed to care that they may have to stand during the ceremony.

AliciaM

Don't be alarmed. This has been something we have all been experiencing the last while with Yahimara. It seems to take a week or two before getting any sort of reply back from her. Remember to keep all of your emails between the two of you as well and to bring them to the resort with you, in case they try to change things upon arrival after you have them planned with Yahimara.

Rhea