lolita2014

@@msuarez I found 50 count treat bags with ties at Michael's for $3.99 and I had a 50% coupon.

@@kmk2016 Great tips, keep them coming. I'm glad to hear that guests can take treats back to their room . I'm heading to Michael's this week to buy cake boxes. I look forward to your future posts. 11 days until we reach Mexico!

@@icoangel78 I feel your pain. I am done with the planning process and a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because it is frustrating. Now I can relax while I await my wedding in two weeks. By now your locations and times should be confirmed or you will be forced to get whatever is left. I found that calling the main number and then requesting my WC worked faster. I would then follow up our call with a confirmation email. My WC left w/o my knowledge 3 months before the wedding. My new WC is Lucy Menna and I found her timely with her response. She is new to the company but she made sure she got me the information I needed. Perhaps you can request her.

@@atyson03 I did silk flowers for my bridesmaid bouquets and real touch roses and latex orchids for my bouquet. Saved a ton of money. Check out afloral.com and Hobby Lobby when they have their 50% floral sales.

@@AngelaA I think you've confused me with someone else. I haven't had my wedding yet (6/20) so I don't know what set up fees will be. I bought my own bolt of tulle for sheers and sashes for the ceremony and reception. From what I am told it is just $5/person, $250 max. I plan to fight hard to not pay over $150 because I don't think my set up is complicated. I can justify the set up fee because my 120 sashes were 49 cents each and my tulle was $18. So still much cheaper than the resort rentals . I only ordered one large hanging corsage for the ceremony from lomas. I made my bouquets and bouteniers from real touch and silk flowers. You can view my bouquets under my profile images. My centerpiece will be luminaries (ordered but not received yet from Etsy) and candles. I couldn't justify the ridiculous flower costs. One of my bridesmaids is doing my hair and makeup so I'm not using the resort. As for add-ons: I ended up getting two free cocktail parties and most of my guests are only staying three nights. So, we are having our Welcome dinner at Spoons Thursday night, the wedding is Friday with a cocktail hour before the private reception and on Saturday evening we are having a Farewell cocktail party. I can't wait! 22 days until we leave.

@@June7BeachBride I purchased a 54" x 40Y white tulle bolt from Amazon for $18. I plan to use only two sheers. Murmel recommends 2 sheers at 12m x 1.5m each on the Official Azul Sensatori thread. If I did my conversions correctly I should have about 14 extra yards of material. I do think two 25 yard bolts of each color would get the look you want to create. Best wishes! I've got 39 days to go and I'm so excited! We had 4 more guests add on this weekend and one more saying she will book this week. That brings us to 62 guests! We were only expecting 20-25 when we started this process. Some people I KNEW would be there are not coming, and some people I KNEW would not come are coming. My bridal shower was last weekend and I had a great time. I started my dress alterations last week and fell in love again (I had not had it on since I purchased it in October). I've lost nine pounds in recent months and would still like to lose more. I've scheduled my Boudoir photo shoot (the groom's gift) and scheduled to have our courthouse wedding the day before we leave. FI moved most of his belongings in this weekend (he moves in the weekend before we leave) and it went seamlessly. Most of my checklist is crossed off and I'm feeling restless counting down the days. Thanks again to everyone who answered all my questions and offered advice.

My wedding is next month and I purchased white organza.

@@barnet202 Yes, you can get the free wedding package and then pay $1,700 for the sky deck .

@@June7BeachBride Purely cost. Didn't want to pay a vendor fee and my FI's friend will MC.

As this wedding approaches (6/20) I have more and more questions (please bear with me). I was at first considering remaining in my room on the wedding day until the wedding started. But, I realize I will be bored and restless and missing a day of vacation. We are staying in the premium section and our guests are not. So, could I enjoy the premium section without running into my guests (not sure how separate the sections are)? Thanks Ladies.

Thanks Jenny.

I'm more concerned about heat during the ceremony (my reception is indoors). What time is everyone's ceremony starting? I am currently at 4pm but wondering if it should be later. @@Jennypert I've been so inconsistent with my diet and exercise. I've just gotten back on track. I purchased my dress 7 lbs heavier than I am now and it fit then. I was just hoping to lose more. Where did you buy your veil weights?

I'm beginning to wonder if I should push my cermony back from 4 pm to 5 or 5:30pm. On June 20th the sun will set at 7:32pm. I don't want guests to be overly hot and am thinking a later ceremony would mean less direct sun. What do you guys think? @Jennypert: Where did you buy your veil weights?

There was a time when I was given a user id and password and a link where I could view my detail sheet anytime I wanted. Then for a brief period I had access to make changes to my detail sheet. Then they took away my access to the detail sheet completely. My previous TA sent me a link that allows me to view my updated detail sheet at anytime. Ask your TA for the link.

@@Kingz85 Which Caribe photographer did you have?

@@Jennypert FI's mom booked her airfare. He is happy, so I'm happy. I think he just needed to feel like she cared. We released our room block today and I checked Karisma's site and only Family suites are available our weekend. I'm no longer stressing about last minute stragglers. We already have more guests than we had hoped for. As long as me, my FI and his son are there, I'm good. Anything extra is a plus. The sheers conversation has me confused. I had looked back at old posts and bought tulle fabric for the gazebo. Will this work?

Working on the small details (veil or no veil), I think we have our final guest count (56). Trying but failing to lose the weight I've gained since I fell in love. Wedding planning consumes my thoughts night and day and has even invaded my dreams. Prepping for FI to move in and finally living together (our relationship has been long distance). I'm looking forward to the wedding, but more so the few days we have alone in Mexico after our guests leave.

My new WC (last one left and I was never told) seems more responsive. She is new to Karisma and seems like she is trying to be helpful. I definitely find that it is easier to get answers by phone and then confirm with email. Anyone frustrated by guests that swore they were coming and then never booked or said anything? The best man told my FI he wasn't coming by text message. My FI waited two weeks and then called him and he still hasn't called back. My FI's mom is acting strange and has not booked her airfare (swears she will every week) and has only put $100 towards her room. Meanwhile, she has been renting cars and traveling every weekend. My poor FI is upset that when he brings up the wedding, she changes the subject. I asked him to just buy her ticket but he refuses because she is acting like this wedding is not a priority.ent I intentionally did not bring up the wedding to anyone once I sent the STDs because I didn't want anyone to feel pressured. I understand it is a big financial commitment. They would bring it up and confirm they were coming or even RSVPed on our website! Well, the room block deadline was last Friday and a number of them never reserved. On a positive note, people I never expected to come have reserved and even paid in full! We have 54 reserved guests, far more than I anticipated. So, I am still pleasantly surprised.

My wedding is only 2 weeks after yours (6/20) and no one has asked me anything. My detail sheet has listed a two-tier cake, but doesn't list flavor or style. Is this all sorted out on site. I arrive on a Wednesday and the wedding is on a Friday. I am glad that they are not rushed to collect final payment, because I would not pay until my detail sheet was correct and complete.

Hello Ladies, Does anyone know how much it is for wi-fi? Are there any areas at the resort that have free wi-fi? Thanks

The very first email I received from Karisma after paying my deposit had a link to weddingportal.karismahotels.com with my user id and password. That is where I could see what she added. There was then a time when they allowed you to add things yourself, so I saw options I didn't know I had and was adding like crazy (things like free tote bags, free silver photo frame) and I edited my spa services and Spoons reservations. They then took away the option to log in at all. When I called about it my WC gave me a link to view the summary. So that is all I have access to now and which is how I saw my summary has a different WC listed. The fees are insane and have forced me to scour this website to find low-cost alternatives. While a pain, I love to save a buck so in a weird way it became a hobby. Still time consuming. Karisma gets an F for the planning process, but I'm trying to stay positive that once we are there I will forget this part of it.

So, I haven't been getting responses to my emails to my WC Erika in over 3 weeks. I checked my online wedding summary and my coordinator is now Lucy. Was someone going to tell me? Too much money is being spent between my guests and I to have Karisma be so awful with the planning process. I know most brides say to be patient and that it all works out in the end, but I'm tired of this. Karisma is making enough money off of these weddings to hire more staff to accommodate their wedding couples. I began this process nine months out and it is only because of this forum that I know what is going on. While I am looking forward to my wedding and much needed time away, I would definitely be hesitant to recommend Karisma for this reason alone. I have read every post on this thread since Jan 2012, so I know it will be beautiful and my guests will have a great time but I am tired of having to beg Karisma to give me the information I need. Now I have spend my morning trying to figure out who Lucy is and how I can contact her. Thanks again to all the brides who have assisted me, answered my questions and shared their experiences.

@@nikkicraig10 The dinner that is included in all the packages is in the private area at Spoons restaurant. It is for up to 40 people and there is no décor, except if your order centerpieces. There is also no DJ or music options. A private reception is extra. Depending on the menu you choose, you pay a fee per person for the food and 4 hour open bar. The DJ is extra. The ceremony has no décor and you pay additional for gazebo sheers, chair sashes, flowers etc. The cocktail hour after the ceremony is something you would pay for unless Karisma is running a promotion at the time you reserve rooms, or you have a GIWC travel agent that can offer that for free. You can find pricing at weddingsbylomastravel.com under "Planning and Ideas". Check that out and then read through as many posts on this forum as you can to see ways other brides have saved money. I bought my own sheers for $17, my own chair sashes for $60, etc. Best wishes!

Talicea, Do you have Marvin's contact information? Those prices are great. How many centerpieces did you order? Lola

Unfortunately with the unlimited events you can not choose the location. The location will only be confirmed once you get to the resort.