andreaberretta

Hello brides!!! I got married in the Azul Fives Hotel in the Riviera Maya this past May 1st. We were very blessed to had found our photographers for that very important day! We picked Shenko Photography, they are a married couple of photographers, and they are great people to work with, they were on time, prepared and very respectful with what we wanted for that day and for our schedules. 

They are very creative and artistic and every single person that saw our wedding pictures was so amazed by them and the moments captured that they actually could imagine every detail of the event. We also had out trash the dress session the next day and have a wonderful time. It's worth every single penny.

Here I can share some of the pictures and also the link to their blog.

http://www.shenkophoto.com/blog/incredibly-emotional-wedding-at-azul-fives/

Hello Brides!! Congratulations to each and every single one of you!!! I recently got married on May 1st in Playa del Carmen, so I wanted to share with you the best Dj and Photography Brands that I got for my perfect Day!

If you don't have any idea or recommendation for these two, I am glad to share my experience now that I finally got the chance to meet and work with them.

For the photos I got in touch with Shenko Photography, www.shenkophoto.com, a married couple that are real real artists. Their pictures took my breath away, and they uploaded a blog on their webpage for a sneak peek of my wedding day photos!

They made us a photoshoot one day before the Wedding, so we could meet each other in person and get to know each other working with the camera, which really helped for the big day so we could feel more comfortable.

Here is the blog if you want to take a look! 

http://www.shenkopho...-at-azul-fives/

I 100% recommend these people! Also because I think that wedding pictures are the best and only memory you got from that day, everything happens so quickly that I didn't even remember some details until I see the pictures!

For the music, I took a friend's recommendation and I love it ! Dj. Rickalvin from Fuzion Musical 

Ricardo Trujillo Duran

Entertainment Manager
9981604069 · [email protected]

He was really great! He also works with his wife and they were really punctual and very well organized, also got great prices and packages!

The music was really good and he was really interested to know our choices and what we liked and what we didn't like, so he did the best work!

I really hope to help you guys and don't hesitate to ask me whatever you need!

Best Regards!

Hello Brides!! Congratulations to each and every single one of you!!! I recently got married on May 1st in Playa del Carmen, so I wanted to share with you the best Dj and Photography Brands that I got for my perfect Day!

If you don't have any idea or recommendation for these two, I am glad to share my experience now that I finally got the chance to meet and work with them.

For the photos I got in touch with Shenko Photography, www.shenkophoto.com, a married couple that are real real artists. Their pictures took my breath away, and they uploaded a blog on their webpage for a sneak peek of my wedding day photos!

They made us a photoshoot one day before the Wedding, so we could meet each other in person and get to know each other working with the camera, which really helped for the big day so we could feel more comfortable.

Here is the blog if you want to take a look! 

http://www.shenkopho...-at-azul-fives/

I 100% recommend these people! Also because I think that wedding pictures are the best and only memory you got from that day, everything happens so quickly that I didn't even remember some details until I see the pictures!

For the music, I took a friend's recommendation and I love it ! Dj. Rickalvin from Fuzion Musical 

Ricardo Trujillo Duran

Entertainment Manager
9981604069 · [email protected]

He was really great! He also works with his wife and they were really punctual and very well organized, also got great prices and packages!

The music was really good and he was really interested to know our choices and what we liked and what we didn't like, so he did the best work!

I really hope to help you guys and don't hesitate to ask me whatever you need!

Best Regards!

Hello Brides!! Congratulations to each and every single one of you!!! I recently got married on May 1st in Playa del Carmen, so I wanted to share with you the best Dj and Photography Brands that I got for my perfect Day!

If you don't have any idea or recommendation for these two, I am glad to share my experience now that I finally got the chance to meet and work with them.

For the photos I got in touch with Shenko Photography, www.shenkophoto.com, a married couple that are real real artists. Their pictures took my breath away, and they uploaded a blog on their webpage for a sneak peek of my wedding day photos!

They made us a photoshoot one day before the Wedding, so we could meet each other in person and get to know each other working with the camera, which really helped for the big day so we could feel more comfortable.

Here is the blog if you want to take a look! 

http://www.shenkophoto.com/blog/incredibly-emotional-wedding-at-azul-fives/

I 100% recommend these people! Also because I think that wedding pictures are the best and only memory you got from that day, everything happens so quickly that I didn't even remember some details until I see the pictures!

For the music, I took a friend's recommendation and I love it ! Dj. Rickalvin from Fuzion Musical 

Ricardo Trujillo Duran

Entertainment Manager
9981604069 · [email protected]

He was really great! He also works with his wife and they were really punctual and very well organized, also got great prices and packages!

The music was really good and he was really interested to know our choices and what we liked and what we didn't like, so he did the best work!

I really hope to help you guys and don't hesitate to ask me whatever you need!

Best Regards!

Hello brides!!! I'm back from my honeymoon and wedding obviously!! I couldn't be happier!!!

I share here with you the blog from a sneak peek to my wedding pictures:

http://www.shenkopho...-at-azul-fives/

It was the perfect day with the perfect company! I absolutely recommend my photographers! They are really amazing artists and lovely persons to work with. Really professional, punctual, and also respectful!

The blog of my photos is on their webpage, so feel free to share your comments with us!

In a few days I'll be uploading my honeymoon pictures, so if you don't have any idea where to go, maybe you can get one from my trip!

Hello brides!!! I'm back from my honeymoon and wedding obviously!! I couldn't be happier!!!

I share here with you the blog from a sneak peek to my wedding pictures:

http://www.shenkophoto.com/blog/incredibly-emotional-wedding-at-azul-fives/

It was the perfect day with the perfect company! I absolutely recommend my photographers! They are really amazing artists and lovely persons to work with. Really professional, punctual, and also respectful!

The blog of my photos is on their webpage, so feel free to share your comments with us!

In a few days I'll be uploading my honeymoon pictures, so if you don't have any idea where to go, maybe you can get one from my trip!

@@andreaberretta I guess you are not using karisma or Lomas and that is why you where able to negotiate the vendor fee. You are working directly with you wedding coordinator?

Hello!!! I think I got lucky, I was working with a wedding coordinator at the Azul Fives, but he went away to another job, so the new coordinators didn't know what we had negotiate or not, so we kind of took advantage of the situation, but everything we said was totally true!

Actually I am really disappointed on the hotel's organization and logistics, but in the end everything went great and everything was absolutely perfect!

 

@andreaberetta Did you pay for any vendor fee for you coordinator, photographer, and DJ??

 

@@andreaberretta Did you pay for any vendor fee for you coordinator, photographer, and DJ??

 

 

Hello!! Yes I did!! I paid $150 for photographers, $100 for the DJ and my wedding planner arranged not paying for her even though they also brought the flowers.

Hello brides!!! im getting married in 4 days in Azul Fives Hotel in the Mayan Riviera. I just want to invite you to read my new blog entry:

http://www.bestdesti...ves-hotel-2015/

So you can follow it and I now how did I do with all the vendors, the hotel, etc!

I'd like to share and recommend my wedding vendors!!

For photography : www.shenkophoto.com

For the music: 

And my wedding planner:

Hello brides!!! im getting married in 4 days in Azul Fives Hotel. I just want to invite you to read my new blog entry:

http://www.bestdesti...ves-hotel-2015/

So you can follow it and I now how did I do with all the vendors, the hotel, etc!

I'd like to share and recommend my wedding vendors!!

For photography : www.shenkophoto.com

For the music: 

And my wedding planner:

Hello brides!!! im getting married in 4 days! I just want to invite you to read my new blog entry:

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/blog/113-step-by-step-azul-fives-hotel-2015/

So you can follow it and I now how did I do with all the vendors, the hotel, etc!

Reminding you for photos I got: www.shenkophoto.com

For the music: 

And my wedding planner:

Hello brides!! I made my own programs, and I'm planning to put them on each room for our guests to know when to be ready.  I also put a phrase in the front (that I got from google oopsy!) to thank everyone for making the effort to be there with us.

In our case, we are having a Welcome Dinner a day before the wedding, and also I wanted to specify the different locations we are having for the ceremony, cocktail and reception. 

I think that if you are having every ceremony and reception party in the same location, then you don't really need the programs.

I attached my itineraries here. 

@@TinkerSofi @@Smellsey

 

Thanks for the replies. Here is what my TA just got from AF -

 

"We do have nightly entertainment which start around 9:00pm at our Salon Fives or on our Fives Plaza; however, the entertainment finishes at around 11:30 and our Gin and Zky bars close at 1:00am every night (the 1910 Cantina Mexicana closes at 11:00pm as it is close to the Essence section). Entertainment is diversify as we have an acrobatic show, a Michael Jackson Tribute, karaoke, etc.; however, we do not have a DJ on property.

 

We are a 15 mins taxi ride from Playa del Carmen and the very lively 5th Avenue where many bars, disco and the famous Coco Bongos can provide a more diverse entertainment scene."

Another question for the Canadian Azul Fives brides flying Air Transat...

 

We've been asked to pay $300 for the first block of 15 rooms - 90 day hold - and $150pp ($300 per room) for each additional room we would like to reserve. Sound accurate?

 

My fiancé and I find this awkward and here is why. We've been semi keeping the resort a secret but telling people we were getting married in Mexico when we are asked. Now that we have the perfect date at the best price, our TA is asking about how many firm 'yes' responses we have and suggests we pay the $300 per room to secure all the yes respondees and leave the first 15 for the maybe respondees. We aren't going to ask people for $ now before even sending our STD's, so...we will pay all deposits up front. The awkward part is asking all 200 people on the list if they are a yes, no, or maybe.

 

How did YOU handle this? Any tips our tricks?

 

Our invite list is huge but we realize a big portion will likely unable to attend. We're at an age that everyone's getting married or having babies so we recognize it could be hard for them.

 

Do we just guess and hope we booked enough and the resort doesn't sell out?

 

Thanks brides and brides-to-be ♥️

@@snswedding2016

Hello !!! I'm from Mexico and I'm marrying this next May 1st. 

I really really think the guys at the hotel abuse the fact that you guys aren't here to negotiate or to look for other options and that's getting on my last nerve.

To answer your question about the rooms blocking, we also made that deal and we didn't regret it because they all finished very very soon, and now the people that didn't make their reservations on time are rushing and there are no more rooms available for the date. 

And for example, if you blocked 30 rooms, your guests can start making the reservations without paying them, only by giving a credit card in guarantee and they pay as soon as they get to the hotel. So that payment you make for the blocking, the hotel keeps like an advanced payment for the actual wedding, I'm I making myself clear? haha if you have questions you can ask. 

In my case, we first make like an agreement for the wedding details directly with the wedding coordinator at Azul Fives, it was an Excel sheet and we filled it in with locations, timing, details etcetera. Then, the excel calculates approximately how much will my wedding cost, so the money we paid for the blocking after everyone made their room reservations is transferred to the wedding total. 

Hope it helps!!

I haven't been down there, but the resort looks amazing and everyone has good things to say about their weddings. I have no doubt that our day will be great, but just be ready for the nickle and diming that you'll have to endure until the day of. I've come to accept it now, for some things I bit the bullet, but for others no way haha. 

 

I read on the Azul Beach thread that they don't allow any more outside vendors aside form photographers and videographers. I'm not sure if it would be the same at Fives . I wasn't planning on getting anyone else but I know many of you guys were planning on bringing dj's and/or make up and hair teams. Maybe double check with your WC's. 

They do allow them!! I'm not using any in-house vendors, the thing is, my wedding coordinator inside the hotel stopped working there this past february so I can't tell you who to speak to. 

But you may ask, and I don't mind you mentioning my wedding!! Gerardo Sanchez & Andrea Berretta, tell them you're my friend and I told you hahaha

good luck!!!

I'm getting so nervous, we are only 2 months away from the wedding!! can't wait to tell you how it was!!!!

@@andreaberretta amazing pictures thank you so much! I can't wait to be there, i'm so sick of winter haha

I knowww!!!  I just got back from there because I went with my friends for my bachelorette party!!! And now back to reality

ho! just a quick question, does anyone know if we can have a catholic religious ceremony at the azul fives?

im not sure they have a chapel ! 

i just sent them my question, but mabye someone knows here

Hey vivi!! no, they don't have a chapel, for this you may have to look for the nearest one in Playa del Carmen, it's only 10 minutes away! 

Hey brides! If you haven't been on the hotel yet, I made a new entry with actual pictures that I took in my visit to Cancun. 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/blog/113/entry-167-my-visit-to-azul-fives-hotel-riviera-maya/

Hope you like it !

Hello Azul Brides ......I have my wedding booked for October 7th 2015 on the Sky Deck

I'm looking into photography options and wondering if anyone has any feedback on the 2 approved photographers... Caribe & Matias Cano?

I see a lot of Brides are choosing outside vendors for their photography ...wondering if anyone Can share their experience choosing and booking

Hello!! I'm getting married in May 1st this year, 3 months from now!

I 100% recommend the photographers I picked for the wedding day, I was really getting exhausted because I didn't fin the right people to work with on that special day until I found Shenko Photography www.shenkophoto.com They've been great, every single month we are in touch and getting ready for the big day ! They are sponsors of this webpage also...

Their pictures are amazing and very original !

If it's useful for you, here it's my blog

Well I'll have to see. She said she could let me know today. Question. I know it's $1700 to get the Sky Deck. What do they include with that? What set up do you get if anything? I'm so ticked about all of this. If the system had stopped me from booking the pier instead of letting me go ahead with it then I would maybe thought about something else. The thing is now my husband is in love with this resort. We saw on the website about the new gin bar and he wanted to book it right away! lol Gin is his drink of choice and the bar has 20 different premium gins so he's already on board!! it's the best of what I've been looking at for what I want except for the travel stuff. Maybe it's just time to let it go and look at something else.

Hello! What I know it includes are water bottles, fans and programs for every guest, the chairs and tables if needed, and I think some of the decoration... Oh and I also got the opportunity to see the new additions to the hotel, we went this past July I think and it's even prettier, it also has stores like travel agencies, and bikini shops and also beachwear for the wedding! It's really cool, I only saw the Gin Bar from the outside but it's really modern and cool ! They put some fountains there that are really nice for the wedding pictures, and they told me they are on construction for more restaurants and rooms!

@cholt  I also have pictures of the hotel taken by me, you can check out my blog http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/blog/113-step-by-step-azul-fives-hotel-2015/if its helpful !!

Hello brides!! I took my pictures in Cancun Mexico when we went scouting for our wedding venue!

I invite you to follow my blog http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/blog/113-step-by-step-azul-fives-hotel-2015/ 

We got engaged after 7 years and 1 month! Since I was 18 

Hey brides I'm getting married on May 1st 2015 at the Azul Fives Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico!

I 100% recommend the photographers I picked for the wedding day, I was really getting exhausted because I didn't fin the right people to work with on that special day until I found Shenko Photography www.shenkophoto.com They've been great, every single month we are in touch and getting ready for the big day !

Their pictures are amazing and very original !

If it's useful for you, here it's my blog

Hey brides I'm getting married on May 1st 2015 at the Azul Fives Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico!

This is the hairstyle I liked for the wedding day !

If it's useful for you, here it's my blog

Hey brides I'm getting married on May 1st 2015 at the Azul Fives Hotel in Riviera Maya, Mexico!

Because of the weather, there's not a lot of variety in flower types and they have to import them, so that makes them so expensive! 

I found out a way to have centerpieces with less flowers, but really pretty! and cheap!

I hired ANHEXO https://www.facebook.com/ANHEXOAmbientacionyMobiliarioand they are making them for me!

If it's useful for you, here it's my blog

Hey guys! You can check my latest post about party favors and props!

I'll be posting every detail of everything that I've found and bought for the guests at my wedding! Hope's helpful for you!!!

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/blog/113-step-by-step-azul-fives-hotel-2015/

Hey girls! I'm sorry I've been so busy!

Lorena made like a deal so that I won't be paying anything for her, but I don't really know if that will happen. If not, there's a vendor fee for 150dlls, maybe that's what I'll be paying. 

I started a new Blog for us, and I'll be posting every single detail I found about suppliers, decoration and other negotiations! 

Here's the link if you want to follow it,

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/blog/113/entry-145-step-by-step-azul-fives-hotel-2015/

My email is andreita.brta@@gmail.com if you have any questions I can answer quicker there!

@@TinkerSofi it's not that far from the rooms, but in my opinion the distance is really perfect for the noise in the rooms. 

Imagine it's a long rectangle, on the top (the front desk) there's that and a little plaza with stores, and a bar. Then there's the Spa and Gym. And then the rooms start, their like Villas as the picture, then there are green gardens and a tennis court, the big Salon for also events indoors, and then there's the Club aside from the pool. And then the beach. 

I hope you understand my description jajaja 

@@andreaberretta

 

Sounds like you have an outside wedding planner who is helping you negotiate with the Karisma coordinators.  Is this correct?  Because I was told by my Miami WC, Brigitte Castro, that the latest that private events can end is 11 pm.  And I'm requesting late night tacos for our event.  If you are using an outside wedding coordinator, are you paying an outside vendor fee?  Or are you paying for a day pass for Lorena to be there during your wedding? 

 

I'm considering hiring an outside wedding planner.  I'm just not sure how beneficial it would be.  Because from what folks say on this forum, the on-site coordinators really take care of you, while the Miami ones do not. 

 

If anyone has any thoughts on having an outside planner vs. sticking to the on-site coordinators at the hotel, please share!

Hello!! Yes exactly, I'm having an outside planner, but she didn't negotiate that stuff, I did on my own ! I found out that paying for the cocktail helped me win more hours until the reception started. There's no limit of time if you pay extra hours, but the cheapest way is the one I'm doing. Maybe you should talk to the Hotel's Coordinator and negotiate that option directly!

 

@

andreaberretta, I would like to know as well. How are you having a later reception time ending? Mine is scheduled to end at 11pm on the sky deck?

 

@@andreaberretta who's your WC? I need to get in on this deal making! Lol

@@TinkerSofi I'm emailing my WC right now to see why I can't extend when others can! Totes not fair!x

hey girls!! My wedding planner is Lorena Montemayor from Anhexo https://www.facebook.com/ANHEXOAmbientacionyMobiliario

The thing with my wedding is that the reception is actually on the beach, so the ceremonies and the cocktail will be Sky wedding but the dancing is right in front the ocean... so that's why I find it very appropriate to have the 2 hour cocktail so that all the event could last a little bit longer.