Al Cielo Hotel

[San Fran Sarah]

Also Donaji told me when we met with her that you are required to buy their wedding package which includes 11 K for a photographer, florist, site, coordinator music etc. They DO NOT let you bring your own photographer or florist anymore. This is an important change!

So, in addition to the food and beverage (87 per person for food and above prices for beverage) you are paying for a wedding package.

[San Fran Sarah]

It's really too bad because this is such a beautiful little hotel! We would love to get married there but we are weary of choosing a package. We want to hire our own vendors, including sol.

[nylalany]

Yes, I paid for a wedding package in addition to the food and beverage, which was a separate cost, so the only thing they changed is including the photographer and not allowing extra vendors (flowers were included in the package, but I also paid extra for an outside florist). It doesn't sound like they increased the costs much though - just enough to include a photographer I guess. You'll still end up having to pay extra for other things if you have a large wedding, btw. Still, weird policy. Well, we'll see how she responds to my email.

[Matt Adcock]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mexico09bride Also Donaji told me when we met with her that you are required to buy their wedding package which includes 11 K for a photographer, florist, site, coordinator music etc. They DO NOT let you bring your own photographer or florist anymore. This is an important change! So, in addition to the food and beverage (87 per person for food and above prices for beverage) you are paying for a wedding package.

we are absolutely baffled by this as I think it was Sol that recommended you to Al Cielo?

What are these people thinking?

[Elizabeth Medina]

That is really too bad...I have so many people that write to me asking for recommendations of "boutique" locations where they can have a "non all inclusive" or "package" wedding. I really thought that Al Cielo fit that description.

[San Fran Sarah]

Let's hope that they address this policy and create an al a carte package for those who would like to choose their own vendors (except food and beverage of course).

Hopefully our feedback will have an impact!

[nylalany]

Donaji told me that you can definitely do an a la carte personalized wedding (vs. their package) where you choose all your own vendors, as long as you hire their wedding coordination for 4 months. Donaji is super and resourceful and can definitely help out a lot planning a personalized wedding, so I think this would be worth it, but I guess it depends on your budget and choice of outside vendors. She came up with a personalized a la carte budget for me when I was trying to decide if the package was worth it (although the package policy has since changed), and the package did save us some $, but not so much that it would have been a make or break decision for us if we had to go a la carte.

[San Fran Sarah]

Donaji also emailed me today and told me they decided they WOULD still offer al a carte weddings (allowing us to bring the photographer and florist of our choice). I'm so glad that they reconsidered their policy. It may be a bit costly because it requires 6000 in wedding coordinator fees but we are waiting for the quote to see if it is within our means. Thank you all so much for your help and advise! Thanks to Al Cielo for being reasonable. I don't totally understand why the WC fee is so large simply for bringing a few of your own vendors but at least they decided they will still allow those vendors.

[Jen_S]

Al Cielo sounds nice!

[Denise40]

That sounds like a neat place to have a wedding. I wonder if you can rent a room without having a wedding?? I would love for just my dh and myself to go there for a secluded get away.