MandM 2011

Hi guys - sounds like everyone is rocking and rolling now! I am getting married on Nov 24th at AB and am doing the mad dash to get it all sorted. Couple of Answers to recent Q;s: - AB does offer white table cloths as standard - They have informed me that they do round table on the beach with max of 8 people - They do not allow outside florists, thatis one of the vendors where they are psycho strict - From all my research I recommend paying for an outside vendor for music such as DJ Doremixx or Mania, they seem to have it all down and get great reviews - I am using Claudi Rodriguez for photos and her husband for video, researched them as well and am excited to have that dynamic duo - so far they have been great to deal with and very personable. - My Wedding Planner is Elizabeth Riff from Karisma and I think she is a rock star!!! - Food is outrageously expensive if you try to mix and match - especially if you want anything off the Asian menu (stay away!!!) Questions I would truly appreciate your help on!!!: - Has anyone used the under table lights? Lomas charges $50/table and I can't seem to find cheaper online? - If I have 12 tables of 8, how may chinese lanterns do I need, which LED lights do you recommend and how many sets of X-mas lights, how many feet? - Has anyone done the paper bag lighting on the beach? If so, have you tried battery operated lights vs candles? Does it matter? Thanks in advance and have a great week-end! Marianne

Wow Melissa! Your video is amazing and truly brings out the emotion in the event. Makes me realy excited for our turn in November! Congrats! Marianne

Talk about girl power! By reading through these posts and sticking together, we pushed Karisma to let go of their ridiculous ban on DJs and Photographers. The $800/vendor fee is egregious but at least we can hire who we want. As for paying a few hubdred dollars more to get a great DJ and an amzing photographer - I say it is definitely worth it, it's something you'll have forever for you and to show the kids The only way for the fees to be lowered is if people stop booking Karisma - which will happen if the weddings aren't up to snuff. Hopefully all of our weddings will be as incredible as the brides who are helping us get through this. You guys ROCK!!! Hugs, M

BigBogonthebeach - beyond being gorgeous, you are simply glowing and your Dad looks so young! Thanks for your words of assurance and I am trying my hardest to get the DJ info - we have even negotiated an amazing Rate at both the Barcelo & the Iberostar, where we can have Doremixx and whatever photographer we want on the side, in case Lomas doesn't come through. It would be a shame to move...so keep your fingers crossed! Wishing everyone a happy hump day M

Hey there - so what did you end up doing? And are you satisfied? Tx

Hey there! Congrats on your wedding! How was DJ Julian in the end? Would you recommend him? Tx Marianne

911 Calling all AB Brides! DJ Situation...Has anyone used DJs other than Doremixx & Mania and were happy with them. If so, please respond here as there are many of us who are SOL and need our sisters to come through...Thanks, the yet to be's - just posted this in the Sensatori thread as well, thinking the wider I cast this net the better

911 Calling all Karisma Brides! DJ Situation...Has anyone used DJs other than Doremixx & Mania and were happy with them. If so, please respond here as there are many of us who are SOL and need our sisters to come through...Thanks, the yet to be's

Happy to chat with you Maritza and will repond to your PM - looking forward to connecting! I am still limping along on the DJ front though which I will post separately here... Hoping for a miracle!

Hey there - would youi mind adding me? MandM 2011 - Nov 24, 2011 (Azul Beach) Thanks!!!

Excellent! I will start with my Q's on this thread so other brides to be can enjoy...but may PM you later with other things so thanks so much for the offer I went to PDC in April and did a bunch of site visits with my fiance from Puerto Morelos all the way down to Tulum. If money was no object we would have loved Hotel Esencia but the prices are INSANE but the beach was stunning. We liked Ceiba Del Mar but the food was terrible and the sea grass in the water and on the beach was bothersome, plus walking the beach beside the hotel proved very fruitful as there as garbage all around and looked like it had been there for a while which brought us to Azul Beach which has such a gorgeous beach (although small), the food was awesome and they just had their act together - plus the price for our guests was right...we wanted to take on the big expense and try to limit costs for our guests since they are coming from around the world and vary in incomes. So far 39 rooms (68 adults and 18 kids) have put a deposit down which they can cancel for a small fee until end of August - WAY more than we were expecting but some may cancel. We plan on having a beach ceremony with the reception at the Blue Terrace but now they are suggesting one of the new ballrooms. Q's for you (sorry but so few AB Brides vs AS on the site so I feel like I hit the jackpot : - Was the construction bothersome and when do you think it will be over and done with? - Did most of your guests stay in teh Deluxe suites on the old side and were the rooms OK? - How many guests did you have, where did you have it and would you do the same all over? - Did you do a close to sunset wedding and was it really windy (to veil or not to veil ? - Who was your DJ and were they good (they no longer allow Mania or Doremixx)? - Who was your photographer and were they good? I also heard that Paul from Playa Weddings was a great videographer, maybe cheaper than Cancun Video... - What did you do for the meal at the reception and was it good? - Anything you would warn us to avoid or push to ensure we include/do? Thanks so much and congrats again on a gorgeous wedding! Marianne Quote: Originally Posted by melfaybik Thank you so much!! Have you been to AB before? Have many people are you expecting? Where are you having your reception? I would love to help you out...Let me know what questions you have!

OMG - the Maracas are awesome! Do you mind if I copy them? Brilliant idea. Mel, I am having my wedding at AB as well and would love to connect to get some tips and tricks if that's alright. MB

Congrats Mel - you look STUNNING and so happy We are so excited for our big day - dunno if we can wait 5 months Although we go to Montreal for our legal/religious wedding in 5 weeks - yeehah!

Sherylle - your video is awesome! Captured the emotion and the great time had by all, especially the young MJ dancing up the floor! How was your DJ? Would you recommend them?

Awesome video! Wanna be my photographer???

Videographer advice please! Bryteyed Bride - CONGRATS, great photo of you on the Beach. Mel and Bryteeyed Bride, I am waiting with baited breath to hear how things went. I am having a really hard time picking vendors as Lomas is being really picky with whom they will allow in and I have spoken to several vendors who are complaining about ow Lomas is strong arming them into either high commissions, which forces them to raise their prices or locking them out. Supposedly this happened with the Barcelo & Bahia Principe a while back and they suffered the consequences. Bryteyedbride - how was Caribe Video? I am really torn about who to hire for videography - there are very few posts about videographers - can someone who had a successful videography experience please weigh in? Magic Vision has no demos on their site and Cancun Video doesn't have anything recent from AS or AB... Mel - I thought that Karisma banned La Luna as they are part of Del Sol, is this not the case? If I can't get La Luna, I am thinking of Juan Navarro or Claudia for pics...Any thoughts? Thanks!!!

We just booked our honeymoon at Be Tulum in Tulum about an hour South of PDC. I have been there a few times - best beaches in the Mayan Riviera, a lot more intimate as there are only a few cabana hotels and no monsters - VERY ROMANTIC and a real feel of Mexico. I hear Mezzanine on that same strip is also great and is more affordable but I went for the splurge as I am hoping I will only have to do this once! That is unless we do the renewal ceremonies like Seal & Heidi Klum

I am pushing hard for outside DJ's since the reviews are so poor but I a having a hard time with this as well which is crazy to me. I also have a few potential brides to be coming to my ceremony who will be watching to see how things go - so hopefully AB will wise up and either widen their acceptable DJ list to include Mania & Doremixx or simply allow for a fee. Here's hoping, would be a bummer if they left a bad taste in our mouth for something they could totally rectify. From what I hear this is all Lomas - they are very hard to deal with regarding changes which is why the Azul properties have this reputation vs other properties. Hopefully, they will rectify this or I think it will really hurt them in future. Think positive!!! I am really getting excited now and can't wait to see all you upcoming brides in photos!!!

I went through the exact sane dilemma as you and we decided to have an "international wedding" with a justice of the peace who will incorporate the Kiddushin under the choosy including 7 blessings, circling, Ketubah reading etc. As well as a Mayan ceremony. If you are legally getting married before, as are we, that's where you can do it in a synagogue with a rabbi and bring the parts of the ceremony you like to Mexico. Your wedding will be awesome and you can bring the Jewish to the Mayan Riviera without the Rabbi - it's what you and your hubby do and guests support that counts! Marianne

I want Doremix too - I heard the other Azul DJs are simply not as good. Haven't checked into Elizabeth Medina, although she is supposedly pricey, they say she is in the Del Sol category. Hope my budget can take it!!! Have you girls heard anything else on photographers recently? It is outrageous that they know their DJs stink and yet hassle you about booking outside vendors. Sounds like Lomas needs a lesson in marketing...You would think Karisma would lobby harder for this due to the down economy and competitiveness of PDC.

Hi ladies! Didn't know this thread existed I am getting married 11/24/11 at Azul Beach!!! Congrats to all. So what's the group opinion on DJs, seems like everyone likes DJ Doremix or Mania. What do you girls think? Best, MandM 2011

Whoops I meant to say Mahalo - your dress was absolutely fabulous!!!

OMG Your dress is simply fabulous!!! Congrats - looks like everyone had a blast

No worries Jessie, I will let you know after my outside wc and I connect. Stay tuned! Marianne

Wow! Thanks to all the M's for the responses and this thread is really heating up! I have not signed any contract yet so I will push for 500 bucks as 800 is just crazy - total price gouging. Also, any final word on whether they are charging per day? E.g. If I want photographer for 3 days of events it is still the one time fee or are they planning to charge for each day??? As for locations ladies, great diiscussion on Beach vs other. I visited the site a few weeks ago... The Villa was by far our fav venue but the price was simply too Rich for us and they won't let us just rent it for the day. We really liked the beach location for the ceremony, but now I am wondering about the wind factor...In the other thread, the brides said the wind in November is OK but nt sure about other months The restaurant does seem a bit funky, however the terrace is so lovely that I think less is more...35 people on the terrace would be perfect as the center could be used as a dance floor IMO. I wonder if you can decide on the venue when you get there, provided no other weddings are happening at that time... I fell in love with the sky terrace when I saw pics online, but it was closed due to construction when I was there and they are definitely behind on their completion dates for the new units. No way they will be ready before the new year. Melissa - so excited for you!!! It will be amazing! Don't think I'd be able to sleep Don't forget to take mental snapshots along the way as many brides spend so much time worrying and planning that they forget to let go and just enjoy... Again, loving this thread girls and looking forward to helping each other out more!!! Marianne