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Love the pics and the pink! So pretty! Where did your bridesmaids get their dresses??

I'm behind the times and am still trying to play catch up! Where did you get your navy shoes? I love those! It would work for my AHR!

They are sooo precious!!! I am a sucker for special needs puppies too! My chihuahua was not rescued because of his many issues, but now is so much better!

Quote: Originally Posted by msmarmar123 Just got an email from my TA and she said they have added a few things to the wedding packages..haven't looked at it all yet...but this was the info she sent me.... Azul has updated all their wedding packages. And, they are offering even more than before for the same price. I will send you the new wedding packages for you to look at. Here are some of the additions to the Silver package they offer for $2,500: Changes include: Ø Added wedding guests concierge Ø Added an in room mannequin with cover to display wedding dress available for up to 3 days prior to wedding date Ø Added bride's personal in room wedding attendant on wedding day - available for a total of three hours prior to the start of the ceremony. Role of personal attendant is to act as the go to person for any of the brides needs to keep her calm as well as assist her in getting dressed. Ø Added groom's room on wedding day (10am-4pm) - a separate room so bride and groom can get ready in different areas. Room is stocked with a selection of beverages and gourmet bites. Ø Added witnesses if needed Ø Changed from maximum of 12 to unlimited uncovered ceremony chairs Ø Added a post wedding day brunch reservation for wedding group Ø Added a late check out for bride and groom Send to me please! [email protected] ~thanks, becki

First of all I just want to say a big thank you for everyone on here as I've been MIA awhile myself due to a ton of work - VERY STRESSFUL! But while I was dealing with all the work issues my aunts and grandparents decided to share with a friend of mine at a crawfish boil that we had at OUR house that they weren't coming to Mexico. The worst part was they still haven't told me!!!! That was 4 weeks ago!! First of all who tells a random person they just met they aren't coming to the wedding without first telling the bride? Keep in mind I am an only child and only grandchild and we are all pretty close. My mom has even had several discussions with them about letting me know and it still hasn't happened. I know having a destination wedding is a risk and that everyone may not come, including my family, but really? I've been playing catch up with the posts and have seen that I am not alone in dealing with bad behavior displayed by people whom we've considered close at it relates to their wedding. It's helped me calm down considerably...not that I am glad any of you have to deal with this either...but the advice and support here is AMAZING!!! As though it couldn't get worse, my grandparents are now calling my mom asking why I"m okay with them not coming and why am I so willing to sacrifice them being present at my wedding? HELLO! You haven't even told me yet you weren't coming!!!!!! Not to mention we planned our date to coincide with their date, are using them as our witnesses at our legal JOP wedding and using their champagne glasses from their wedding at our wedding for the toasts. What the hell? Anyway...it's good to vent! Congrats on those whose weddings are coming up!!! Looking forward to hearing all about it!

Quote: Originally Posted by MaggieandJay Ladies, I am on this webinar for Azul Sensatori and I just got in writing that the Donkey is still available at Azul Sensatori so if you need it I have it! Please send to me! I was told by Kiara two weeks ago or so it was no longer available. Thanks!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda Lindz, your new pic looks awesome - so cute and what an angle! Here are 2 quick ones. Good thing I took tomorrow off from work. Its almost 130am! Welcome back!!! Can't wait to hear more - you looked so beautiful!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr Not sure if you were interested in a private cocktail party, but someone posted a link to promotion a that Karisma was doing about a month ago (I cannot remember who it was). I asked my WC about it and they actually gave it to me. We were already planning a cocktail party and were planning on spending $500 on it but to get it free when they nickel and dime us for everything else was refreshing. So, if you're interested it's worth a try. Booking Engine | Karisma Hotels & Resorts So, after reading this, do you have a GI consultant that is helping you or did you get this without using one?

Quote: Originally Posted by dstinationdrmr Hi Ladies, Gonna post for some inspiration/motivation.... I have not been doing anything lately. Kinda depressed actually because someone I know is in her last stages of life. Her health has declined quickly and it kinda caught me by surprise. She's not related to me or anything, but I highly respect and admire her. Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but because of that I've kinda lost the pep in my step! Naturally I got on the to-do-list band wagon as soon as Amy F "graduated" from doing it, lol. But I can say it really helped. I actually completed every task on my list at the time besides buying his ring and that's because the jeweler says his finger should be measured in the summer to account for swelling. Anyway, my next big decision is invites but I have no clue what to put on/in them! I am leaning toward doing a boarding pass type invite, but I'll need to include a lot of info and adding pages will of course increase the price. So, then there's a pocketfold invite with inserts but I'm not sure what to include. Do we really need an RSVP? I'm sure it would be helpful to include info about the resort, airport transfers, TA, cocktail party, ceremony and reception info...am I missing anything? Sad part is some of that may change because my WC says that if my party goes above 50, we'll have to move from Plaza Zavaz (which is booked for both the party and reception). And go where is my question? Plus I have FI's cousin helping me with things and she says it's not proper etiquette to not send invites to those who we know aren't coming (esp since on the STD it said "formal invitation to follow"). Ok, I get this, but am I crazy to think that if people were interested in coming we would know about it? I mean who plans to come to a DW and not ask questions or express interest to the bride/groom or TA for that matter? Not to mention the fact that we are now @ 47 people coming (2 groomsmen still haven't booked not sure if they're bringing dates) and we only budgeted for 50! So basically I'll be buying 125 invites to send to people who have already made up their minds not to come or will change their minds and come at the last minute (which won't help matters much). I feel like I'm at a standstill because everytime I inquire about guest list with my TA it has changed. Last time I checked in with her it was 37. 10 people booked in less than a month and after the rsvp date mind you. OMG! As I'm typing this I get the call that the lady I was talking about just died. I guess all I just typed seems unimportant now. I'm so behind on reading posts, but so sorry to hear about your friend. I know at any time this is an extremely hard thing to go through not to mention in the middle of wedding planning. My prayers are with you. Trust me you are not alone feeling at a standstill!!! Keep the faith! It will all work out in the end!

Quote: Originally Posted by bigboponthebeach Hello Everyone! I'm a Newbie and just joined BDW about 3 days ago. My FH and I signed our contract last week for a May 2011 ceremony at the Azul Sensatori. I found this site after searching for reviews on MR photographers and I have been lost ever since. :-) I spent hte past 2 days just trying to read this thread alone and have only gotten about 75 pages completed. I posted twice, once as the automated welcome email asked me to, and another in a 2011 Brides thread. I have not received any responses thus far, so I don't even know if I'm posting correctly on this site. :-/ Anywho, it looks like there are quite a few of you in here and if anyone who has recently married at the Azul Sensatori is game to "initiate or haze" me into what what to expect and which vendors I should be looking at closer, please feel free! I am all ears and eager to accept all advice I can get. Oh and I have to share with you all that I am trying to break the bank to get Elizabeth Medina to photograph our wedding!!! I found her site by accident and I AM IN LOVE with her work!!! If anyone has experience with her as well.....I'm ALL ears! Have a great Sunday, Ladies and I so look forward to getting to know you all! All the best! Welcome - congrats on setting your date!!! Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda Ok girls.... I am closing up the computer and getting ready to go to bed. 9 hours til I board my flight to Miami and then off to Cancun. I have 2 suitcases packed and Mark has 3 (2 of which are the OOT bags). I have the wedding details sheet printed as well as our ceremony and readings; packed my USB key with all the details. Shoes - check; dress - check; rings - check!!! I am so nervous and excited !!!! This has been over a year coming and I am so happy its here but also sad that it means my wedding planning days are over. Its been a roller coaster of emotion, starting from when, 2 months after getting engaged, FI got transferred to Boston and we've been living apart for 9 months. I can't say I regret anything - even my stupid travel agent got us a beachfront massage and our guests on the short list for upgrades, so it seems it was just a hassle more than anything looking back. Very surreal now... Anyways, I will post my planning thread and review when I get back. Hope you all have a great week and think of me on May 29th!!!! Amy So excited for you!!!!!!!!! Can't wait to hear all about it when you return! Quote: Originally Posted by Sammyhawk OMG girls, so I know I haven't been the biggest contributer to this forum, mostly used it for major questions and to vent! I have to say that I am so thankful that I found you girls in February, this forum has been a life saver. I just got home from our wedding at Azul Sensatori, and it was fabulous! I have to say the weather wasn't the best, the worst day was of course our wedding day, but it was still a blast. We still got married on the beach rain and wind in all! So much for buying a TTD my first one got soaked! It is actually fine, I ended up getting more use out of my TTD though (since it was dry to put on for the reception). I will try to put together a planning thread now that I am done with wedding planning, though I am still working on the AHR planning, so be patient. That and a lot of my details got drenched (my fan favors, which who needed them in the rain and wind? And my programs were totally saturated) which was totally sad but they did turn out great. I will post pre-rain pictures . What an amazing week it was! I am so excited for you girls! Congrats - can't wait to hear more about it!!!! Total bummer about the rain but awesome attitude! I worry about rain, not to mention hurricanes, for our date too, but it helps to keep it in perspective! Excited to see your pics

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Register on the Lomas Travel website? Never heard of having to do that. Why do they want you to? My WC just said to complete and forward to her to coordinate with the Mexican coordinators?

Did everyone have to register on the Lomas Travel website? If so, did anyone notice the prices on the website being different than what was given by the WC?

Quote: Originally Posted by ~Katie~ Thanks amy hey girlies....missed you all!! We are back, and I am still mega-tired and jet-lagged at the moment. For those wanting to see pics, here is the link to my brothers' shots he got - JD Photographs - Kate and Chris' Wedding once I've uploaded our proper photogs pics, I'll post the link too (we have about 1400 photos on 2 CDs!!) Meghan - have just quickly skimmed through the posts and seen you've been having some major stresses...I got the impression it's all worked out now, but I hope it all is and sending you big hugs. xx Welcome back, Mrs!!! I love the pic of you two with the seeweed heart and initials...so cute!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda I included a schedule with "date" "time" & "place" for every activity in my OOT bag. I even broke out the ceremony, cocktails, & dinner reception on wedding day so every one knew there were 3 things and know where they are being held. I used Publisher to create a brochure thanking people for booking and list of what we were doing and websites for them to check out. It was cute and got people very excited. I also sent it to slackers who had not booked yet but were definitely coming to get them excited to book. I used a company that works with lots of tour operators to do a day trip: zip line, ruins tour, and snorkleing in centoes. Its $93/pp and includes lunch and transport. I think its 5 or 6 hours. Her email is Susan Vincil_CancunAndRivieraMaya.com I also used them to book 2 vans to take us into Cancun one night to go clubbing. They are picking us up at 11pm and 2 am (depending on when people are ready to go back to the hotel) . I also used Paradise Catamarans - if you are booking this I would call/email right away. A ton of girls on this site are using them. Just to be safe to get your date. I just got teary reading that! Welcome back Amy. You were dearly missed!!! Congratulations. You deserved to be worry free and have the best day ever!!!! How long did you notify your guests of your activites before you booked the vans? Did you have everyone confirmed or are you basing it on an approximate number? I still have quite a while (December) but have been struggling with how soon before the wedding should I start asking people if they are participating in any activities we have planned. So excited for you - you are sooooo close!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart I did have the donkey! People loved it, best decision by far! They were all blown away and petted him and gave him some attention, it was nice. Add me! My name is Amy Fitch  My photog posted pics on his page Chris Schmitt Photography Irina & Liliana were my coordinators. They even set up tastings for both my signature drinks, loved it! I had 35 guests and to be honest, I don’t know how I would have handled more than this, LOL! Zavaz is much more open and more space. I don’t believe Zocalo al Fresco where I had mine is an option any longer and I don’t think 60 people would be comfortable there. Besides it would be much LESS hot at Zavaz since you’d have a breeze, we all were sweating to death on Zocalo but didn’t mind, we all did a pool after party @ midnight to cool off before heading to Mojitos. I did like my DJ, he did all the announcing, very well, coordinated with everything, faded our first dance song perfectly, used all my dinner music suggestions and kept everyone dancing. I got really anal on my do not play list, they send you a huge spreadsheet of songs and I went through the whole thing but they played a few songs I asked not to play. No biggie, didn’t really affect anything. They are open until 2am… but my brilliant MOH & her husband took note of what we were all drinking and ordered 14 drinks which they brought out to us on a tray and let us hang out there as long as we wanted (4:30am) we didn’t have to tip well, they are just really lax about that stuff. Thanks for all the info! I hope, hope, hope the donkey is still available at some capacity, my FI and I were so excited about this! I am glad they gave you a tastetesting for the signature drinks - we were wondering about this too! I second the 'I am dying to see more pics and hear more'! Welcome back! I am so glad everything went so well!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Hi girls!!! I'm back a Mrs.!!!! CAN'T even believe it, it's been bliiissssssful <3 I got back Friday @ Midnight and have so much to tell you all. I have a few days to catch up, haven't even unpacked yet, yikes! Just wanted to give you AS brides a quick little.... OMG, my day was PERRRRRFECTTTT and just like all the past AS brides are right, once you get there all your worries will be alleviated, the onsite coordinators are amazing and bend over backwards for you. I felt like royalty, they treated me unbelievably well and seriously it was a better wedding than I ever could have expected. I am soooo excited you upcoming brides!! Any questions, ask away Yea!!! I am so glad your wedding went wonderfully! Can't wait to hear all the stories and see the pics! Great pic of you and your new hubby, btw!

Quote: Originally Posted by suzannepdc Hey everyone! Lurker here - back and married! Just missed Wendy by ONE DAY at the Azul Beach!!! And thank you for the sweet note - it made my day! Wedding was wonderful - I really do love the resort and it was absolutely perfect for my family (we only had 16 guests - all immediate family) - it was their first AI experience and well, you really can do nothing better than the service at AB, in part due to its size. My Mom was so in awe that she could just sit on the beach and someone would bring her glass after glass of champagne. I just wish that the Lomas people in Miami were not so frustrating to work with - we had a big issue with our reception location (which was finally fixed after MUCH fighting by my TA) where I would have moved the wedding - despite the fact that I loved the resort (we did a site visit in October, which is when we fell in love with the resort). To answer lots of questions that have come up in the last few days - yup, there's a free kids menu for the reception. I just assumed that it was free and dealt with Tiffany in that way - my niece is 3 and two others were both 5, so their rate to stay was minimal, so I wasn't randomly paying for them to have dinner. The people there are also amazing. We had the flan as the dessert, which none of the kids were too excited about, so they brought them all brownies and ice cream and brought my niece who doesn't like chocolate something completely different - without being asked or prompted, they just did. (and I will echo Wendy's comment about the cake - it was REALLY good - and I figured it was worth the fight to bring it to the room - damn, I would have!) Photographer issue - I agree, it's super annoying, but I also understand a bit where they are coming from and I think even charging people the $500 fee was not helping in trying to maintain their relationships with their preferred vendors. I know that some places (I think some of the Sandals, but I could be wrong) do not allow ANY outside vendors, so you have to pay a game that they are part of your family, which would make me very uncomfortable. We flew someone in who rocked, but she's a little expensive. There are some photogs that have fairly reasonable rates and do not charge much more than the cost of having them come down. I am more active on theknot destination weddings board and I know that several recent brides used Jaye Reilly (Jaye Reilly Photography San Diego, Minnesota, and Destination Wedding, Boudoir, Birth Photographer) who is a former destination wedding bride herself and I think she is reasonable. You may also want to pop over there and look at people's planning bios for names of other photographers that they are flying in from the U.S. to various destinations for weddings to see your options. I really do think you can do it for $2000. Oh - our pics in case you want to see a small AB wedding - just some teasers are at Leah Stafford Photography Oh and for the person having 90 people, they can do it, but I would check on the location of the actual ceremony. We got married on a Tuesday and there were weddings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (so of course, we left to the honeymoon resort on Thursday and missed them all!) but Mayra, the on-site person mentioned that one of them was for 80 people and the ceremony was in the Blue Terrace. Okay, that was just WAY too long! Just happy that I finally have time to get to check in with you guys! Congrats - you looked gorgeous!!! Can't wait to see more pics!

Hey everyone good to see other December brides! I wasn't sure if there was a thread or not! I am getting married at Azul Sensatori on December 11th. If it makes you guys feel better I'm just getting my Save the Dates out! I feel so behind...

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda They are max of 2 hours (which is what I am doing while FI and I take pictures). They dont provide seating per se, but you can try to have it in a location that offers seating. Or you can have your guests go to a bar and all mingle there without offering the canapaes. I mean, it is an all inclsuive, they should be able to fend for themselves OK!!! I chose the donkey cocktail hour with 5 of the food selections. I hope people are not full! I think I remember hearing, food is served for 1 hour and drinks are for 2 hours. Oh, not sure anyone else has children attending their wedding, but they offer a children's menu and they don't charge you for the kids' meals. Thanks for the info on the kids! YOu may have said this before, but where are you having the cocktail reception and where are you having the dinner reception? Kiara just sent me my options and I am trying to get a sense of what the best places are - we are doing the Donkey cocktail hour and the surf and turf dinner. I did hear that Zavas Plaza was good to block the wind for the chillier nights and since we our wedding is in December that may be the way to go but we will have around 25-30 people and I am not sure if that area is too big? Is it better to have them in two different spots? Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by meghan OMG!!, I am having a huge melt down right now!....my TA just emailed me our flight reservations and they have been changed!! This now means that we get married on July 2nd, and have to be up at 5:30 am the next morning to go home!! We were supposed to have the whole next day and night after our wedding and a honeymoon breakfast! We don't even get a honeymoon night now cuz we have to be up so early! Who is going to want to be packing all drunk and hungover and exhausted, and how am I supposed to get ready for a wedding as well as make sure i'm ready to go home in 12 hours!!OMG!! OMG - that is totally insane!!! Let's hope they can offer you better than what they have so far!!!!!!!!!! I will keep sending good thoughts your way - this has to work out for you!

Thanks for all the great ideas! Great job!!

Quote: Originally Posted by taylorwd Thank you Celina!! We are just over the moon about our pictures. I'm sure Andrew would jump at the chance to shoot your wedding in January We used their fabric for everything. Colored fabric costs more than white, fyi. Our jute runner was $40, the pink fabric draped over the wall was $75, the two white pieces of fabric over the beach gazebo in the background were $75 each, and the chair fabric was $4 each. Why the jute runner was only $40 but the other, smaller piece of pink was $75 is beyond me! The set-up fee we paid was $40 onsite to the WCs. My understanding is that that was only for the decorations we brought with us (mostly reception stuff). There shouldn't be a charge if you're not bringing anything extra. Thank you!! I agree, looking at everyone's pictures is so much fun and definitely adds to the excitement. AmyB asks a good question, what month is your wedding? Our ceremony was at 4:00 and sunset at 7pm. We did that on purpose so that we wouldn't have long shadows in our pictures. For us it was: 4:00 Ceremony 4:30-5:00 group pictures 5-6:30pm our pictures 6:30 Reception start Love the pics too!! Gave me mucho inspiration! So we have a 4pm ceremony planned, 1 1/2 hour cocktail and then 6-6:30 reception ..what did you guys do when your reception ended? Did they cut it off exactly at the end of the reception (4 hours right?)? Did ya'll continue to another bar?? Wasn't sure if that ended it too early, not early enough, just right??

Amy, you have outdone yourself!!! So excited to see the pics when you are back! It's almost here...thanks for all your advice/information on the Azul Sensatori thread!!!