ashhtayy

@@CaroV i'd say it depends on what size of resort you are looking at booking. I am a May-June bride and having issues getting the number of rooms needed for our guests (50-60 people).

@@TinkerSofi @@Smellsey

My TA is seeing rooms available, just not a TON of rooms. She thinks that the resort may not have released the full availability yet...does that make sense knowing that we are booking so far out?

@@snswedding2016 - I do not understand the 'Attrition' clause; I hope I am not the only one. Is that saying that for the deposits we put down and our guests, if upto 20% don't pull through, our file gets to kep the $150 times however many peopel back out?

Our guest list is approximately 175 and we are only considering putting the deposit down for our absolute 'yes' group - our parents, siblings, closest family and friends (bridal party). Realistically they will pay their deposit right away regardless so all this worry may be for nothing.

Thanks for listening (reading) lol

@@Smellsey @@snswedding2016 @@TinkerSofi

Okay, so we have until the 10th to decide if we are going to pre-pay deposits or not.

We are going to pay the $300 like you all said to block the first 15 rooms for 90 days.

The reason our TA is suggesting we pre-pay for our 'yes' guests is because Transat doesn't have enough rooms in their allotment for the 15 rooms included in the wed 30 promo.

I can't be the only one getting this advice, can I?!

Very confusing.

@@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 ♥️

@@Smellsey she heard it from someone at her place of work that visited AF a year ago. They didn't like the bars and didn't like that there weren't any shows. I get it, what one person likes is not necessary what another will like but I have read many more good reviews than bad.

My MIL was just disappointed to hear there would be no shows in the evening - she doesn't care too much for the bar scene.

What I haven't heard much about is evening entertainment. When you go to larger resorts they have shows every night - is this the case here with it being a "smaller" resort? My TA is getting back to me with some information and I will post here when I get it.

Hi Ladies,

Throughout the past few weeks I have read every post in this thread - If I missed the answer to the question I am about to ask, please forgive me.

We are inches away from booking our May-April 2016 DW at Azul Fives. Last night my MIL called and said "I heard the nightlife is terrible at a Azul Fives and they don't even put on good shows". I get that I am not going to make EVERYONE happy and trust me, I am not even going to trying to. I picked this resort for a 1000 other great reasons but looking back, I don't know too much about what the evenings look like.

My TA said the nightlife is great. She has been multiple times with her husband and on seperate trips with her girlfriends and they said they spent a ton of time at the club because they loved it. Does anyone have any feedback in terms of the nightlife? My fiance and I love a good party...we don't go "clubbing" very often anymore, nor was that ever really my scene, but we love a good night out with our friends. A good night for us is a pub with live music with the drinks flowing.

What about the evening shows? My TA said they have an indoor cinema type theatre but she said she never went as they wanted to be outside as much as possible. I've heard they do movie nights on the beach as well. What else is there in the evenings to look forward to and to pre-occupy my guests? *read: what can I tell my MIL to get her off my back?*

Again, I apologize if I have missed this in a previous post. I hope you ladies can help me out!

Thanks! xx

@ I am fairly confident that i'm not being mislead by the TAs I am dealing with. Two seperate TAs have both said that its 1 in 21 (right now) and that I just missed out on the 1 in 16. I think it has to do with the fact that Azul Fives has an exclusive contract with Transat.

That's the thing...I haven't booked yet! The resort is picked just trying to figure out the best time. I have quotes for March 2016, May 2016 and October 2016. I am leaning towards May. Prices are slightly higher than October, but less chance of rain.

How ridiculous is it that I can't wait to update my "profile" on here to say my location and date lol

@Wafflesmom @perianjay @@calgarybride2015 okay so good news! i do get most (not all) the perks you've received

One of the three: one hour cocktail, photo credit or spa package.

As well as the Transat group offer: bride and groom receive a $500 voucher to be used towards future travel, priority check-in at the airport, priority luggage tag, complimentary seat assignment for the bride and groom,  an extra 10kg baggage allowance, two 200ml glasses of champagne on departure, a reserved overhead compartment for the bride’s wedding gown, onboard announcement (thanks, but no thanks ). AS well as a $100 credit to be used for a pre-booked excursion.

Planning a DW is VERY time consuming. It's impossible to focus on anything that isn't our wedding. As always, I appreciate ALL the help

@@Wafflesmom okay so I didn't even think to ask about where my dress was going to go - I just assumed they would make room for it. Time for me to wake up - never assume anything! Thanks to your message I will also ask about priority check in, extra luggage and of coarse two small bottles of champagne (@). 

@ when did you book? my understanding is these offers change all the time, with little or no notice. like your cable promotions, one person signs up they get three months free, the second person signs up and only gets the movie channels free for three months. maybe a poor example but from what my TAs are saying, you're either lucky...or you're not.

@@snswedding2016 I will have lots in the near future; so thanks in advance. Hoping to book ASAP so I can start planning all the fun little stuff.

@@snswedding2016 it's all about the timing! happy with something rather than nothing.

Were you able to work out anything special when booking? How has your correspondence been with AF?

So many questions!!

@@LiannaBanana @@gannonham great to see two Whitby brides on here

Looks like May 2016 at Azul Fives. Working out the details now

I CAN'T WAIT TO FINALLY HAVE A DATE! It must feel amazing ♥️

@@calgarybride2015 wow, 11 would have been amazing! Only Transat flies to Azul Fives so looks like were stuck with 21. Better than nothing!

Looks like this forum may be done but thought I'd try. I'm a 2016 that has yet to nail down a date. I am thinking Azul Fives end of March or end of May. I thought I was going people a lot of time but according to these posts, I'm behind!

Any tips on what to ask my TA before booking?!

I listened to the brides on here and got a GI TA and she has been fabulous. She's able to give me one hour cocktail hour for free. I'm Canadian and don't get to take advangtage of the free basic package. Looks like I will also get 1 free for every 21; just missed out on the 1 free for every 16. Anyone else been able to negotiate this?

Happy Planning!

@@tan38 I haven't dress shopped yet but I can tell you two places we had great service while shopping for my best friends wedding dress and our bridesmaid dresses.

1. Bliss Bridal in Whitby, ON. We had Kerrie as our consultant and she was great. The bride ended up getting her dress there.

2. Jealous Bridesmaids in Toronto, ON. Much bigger store than Bliss but they still offered that great dressing room bridal experience. They have better rates for bridesmaid dresses than Bliss. We got our bridesmaid dresses here.

We shopped both for bridal and bridesmaids and had great experiences.

Negative experience - DB Scarborough - it was just awful. I could go on forever about the reasons I will never go back there but, I wont. DM me if you need details. Maybe try the Mississauga location if you want to, but steer clear of the Scarborough location.

Good luck!

@ so sorry about the loss of your mother - I can't imagine how much harder this process would be with someone so important missing. Thank goodness you have a great support system in your other family members; that is something to be truly grateful for!

I haven't dress shopped so I can't share how I felt but with my best friends dress, I can tell you she was scared because she didn't cry, felt she didn't have that "moment". We all cried, we knew it was her dress. She picked it and today she is in love with it.

My vote, although I suggest you trust your instinct and go with something that matches your DW vision, is #1 or #2. My second thought, based on what I read on here, is sometimes the most expensive dress, ends up not being worth it. I've read some brides spend a fortune and wish they just wore their cheaper TTD. I assume if #1 is DB and #2 is kleinfelds and cost is a factor, go with #1. If cost isn't s factor, I'm so jealous

Best of luck. You'll make a great choice! Let us know what you pick!

I've seen posts for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Toronto brides but nothing for Vancouver or any other BC city. I just wanted to say hi to my fellow Local brides and see if we can share some tips on wedding gown shopping, travel agents, local deals and anything else wedding related.

I've met tons of lovely fellow Canadian brides, any local ones out there?

Hi!

I'm not a BC bride persay, we live in Toronto now...but my fiancé is from Burnaby/Coquitlam/Vancouver, BC and his entire family and friends are still there. In terms of wedding stressers, we are likely in the same boat. The hardest thing has been finding good rates for our BC guests (likely 30-40). The prices come in okay for Toronto but seem crazy for BC.

We are planning a 2016 wedding in Mexixo. Currently looking exclusively at Azul Fives.

I can't help with a local TA or dress shops but I can shed some light on pricing we've received.

Good luck!

Hi @@Victoriabride,

I am in a similar situation as you. My fiancés entire family will be flying from Vancouver, as will half of our guests, and the rest of us are in Toronto.

Get a great TA - contact as many as humanly possible. Most take ages to get back to you; I think that is fairly normal. I suggest going straight into the agency if possible.

I am looking for an affordable destination, amazing food & a place that offers some kind of 'outside-of-the-box' destination appeal. We are looking at March Break or over Easter 2016 as some of our most important guests are teachers. Here is a list my TA gave me based on my requests.

1. Azul Fives: Riviera Maya 5*

​​35 mins from the airport

Small resort: 360 rooms - nice intimate, boutique modern-style resort

5 a la carte restaurants

Lots of vary for wedding ceremony locations - I love the "unique" location options they offer from the gazebo to the Sky Roof Terrace & Deck

I had clients stay at this resort last month & really enjoyed it

Very reasonable pricing for both Vancouver & Toronto guests

2. Dreams Tulum: Riviera Maya 5*

​80 mins from the airport

mid-size resort: 431 rooms

6 a la carte restaurants

Beach wedding ceremony location

Very popular, nice location for optional excursions in Tulum or trip to Playa del Carmen

Pricing higher may be a bit higher, but gorgeous resort

3. Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort: Riviera Maya 4+*

​70 mins from the airport

Small resort: 305 room

4 a la carte restaurants

Unique gazebo (Aztec style) by the water - alternative to beach location

Dolphin Dreams Dolphinarium on site

Reasonable pricing for your budget

4. Dreams Punta Cana & Palm Beach Punta Cana, DR

​both larger properties than the Mexico options above (620/500 rooms)

20-40 mins from the airport

5 a la carte restaurants at both

Wedding gazebo or beach options

Reasonably priced.

DR charges a $10 Tourist Card upon arrival into the country & a $20 Departure Tax so $30 each guest will have to incur above package rates - fyi

5. Now Larimar, Punta Cana, DR

​30 mins from the airport

larger resort 730 rooms

5 a la carte restaurants

beach wedding option

Very reasonably priced & popular for destination weddings

I am in love with Azul Fives. Prices, understandably, were way too high over March break so now I am waiting on Easter dates.

Hope this helps! Happy Planning

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to respond to my post.

I wrote this in a panic, feeling as though I would never be able to narrow down a location. I took your advice and reached out to my TA again, providing my top three musts and she replied back with a list of 5 resorts.

Currently I am in awe with Azul Fives. I'll wait to hear on prices for my preferred time and then take it from there.

Thanks again

Hi Brides & Brides-to-be,

I was engaged October 29th, 2014 and have just begun my search for the perfect location for my destination wedding. Okay, I lied...I started looking in November but have gotten so overwhelmed I keep finding myself giving up. My search lasts anywhere from 1-4 days and then I get fed up because in that time I realize once again, I have accomplished nothing.

I am hoping I can provide a list of wants and dislikes...and maybe some generous bride or bride-to-be can point me in the right direction?! I realize I am asking a lot but I would really appreciate any advice.

Here we go...

- My fiancés entire family lives in the Vancouver, BC area. More than half of our guests will be flying from Vancouver, the other half from Toronto, ON.

- SOme very important guests are Teachers, therefore we may be looking at March break in order for them to be able to attend.

- I would like a semi-private or private wedding

- I don't want a "cookie-cutter" destination wedding.

- We will have at minimum 2 children at our wedding.

- We are looking at all inclusives only.

- I would love to be married at a resort that doesn’t push 5 weddings through in one day.

- Food is very important to us since half of us are Italian. With that being said, Cuba is out.

- Our rough guest list is 175 people. Of course we know many won’t be able to make it but do expect, at minimum, 50 – 60 guests.

- We are a budget conscious; for both us and our guests. Ideally my guests will pay no more than $1700.

- A resort that is not too far from the airport.

I have contacted several TA's - some via email, some in person - and I stil find I am not getting anywhere.  This is likely due to my inability to commit to liking anything! All the pictures look beautiful...how do I differentiate between real and photoshopped?

Sincerely,

A Bride-to-be in Distress