jak27

Ok, now I'm worried! The good news is that I'm not doing a typical updo - instead, I'll be wearing my hair probably half back or down, and mabye with extensions for a little flair & drama! So, there's not much pain associated with my style. But, I don't like the idea of someone not being able to recreate a specific look. So now I'm going to have to think about this for sure before I reserve! Ug, why does this part have to be so difficult?! We actually toyed around with bringing my stylist to the wedding to do my hair & my mom's but I just can't justify it! So much $$! I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed, too bad I have 7 more moths to agonize over this!

Thanks Natasha, I appreciate your input. I'm really struggling with making a committment...I'm going to have a full trial done here with my regular stylist, so it'll really be recreating whatever we come up with, but I'm still nervous for some reason!

Oh, good point Maria! I haven't made any deposit on F&B either, I think the room block is really to get those rooms off the market. Would you mind, after your wedding & honeymoon and after life resumes to normalcy, just writing up a little something about the Imperial Suite. We're using it for a welcome cocktail party (but bringing in our own beer & snacks, under the radar hopefully!) and would love to know what kind of kitchen/fridge/entertaining area etc the suite has. I didn't get a chance to see the inside when we visited a few weeks ago!

Oooh, nice work! Can't wait to see what they say...wish I had thought of that! Keep us informed for sure!

Ok, can I play? I officially ordred my dress last week, so I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival in a few months! It just makes me giddy with excitement! (Hope I do this right)

Tara, Thanks for the great insight! That's what my event planner & I were going to do...we took the menus, added what we liked, took out what we didn't and are just going to tell them, we want it for $X amount per person and negotiate like that. Didn't mean to hijack fogdog! Just some negotiating tips for your contract!

Quote: Originally Posted by tvt I WOULD NOT sign a contract agreeing to rooms without knowing the other conditions. TVT, do you have any suggestions as to how to negotiate F&B pricing to a reasonable amount. The hotels have to take into account the business an event brings them, along with catering? What do you see is the biggest negotiating tip?

Ok, you asked for it, here are three more documents for Open Bar pricing, Bar on Consumption pricing and Corkage Fees! Can you tell I'm excited to share what I have?! The only other things I have are Lunch Menus and Breakfast Menus, both which are really long, and if you need them, I'll scan and attach later! Just let me know! Please note, these are the prices as provided by FA - this is not what we've negotiated, nor what we're going to pay, just what they hope we'll pay! FA Bar on Consumption.pdf FA Corkage Fees.pdf FA Open Bar.pdf

Fogdof, first of all, congratulations on your upcoming wedding! I am getting married at the Fiesta Americana as well, November 17, 2007. For your convenience, I have attached every document I have been given by FA, except for Open Bar menus, Corkage Fees, and Lunch/Brunch menues, which are in my car, and I'll add later! I have no problem sending you my contract, if you haven't seen yours yet, for your review if you want. The contract is interesting (I went to law school, and my fiance is a lawyer, so we find these things interesting in a dorky way), in that it just blocks rooms - I am not making a committment to the hotel that all of those rooms will be occupied, instead, they use a minimum Food & Beverage cost that is for attrition purposes. Compared to the room block, my F&B minimm is miniscule (like $3,000 total for the entire weekend, for 150 guests). In comparison, many of the resorts we looked at require you to committ to X number of room nights, and if you don't hit 90% of them, you pay rack rate, or a percentage as a penalty. Our attrition clause only applies to the F&B and those rooms we blocked can be cancelled a month in advance. Works out perfectly for us, since it's a DW and you never know who is really coming until they land! Also, it still gives us plenty of time to plan and adjust food numbers as necessary. I have also already altered my room block twice, as our plans and needs have changed accoridingly. They have been very helpful, and didn't mind a bit. Also, if you can, I would negotiate ahead of time your F&B maximums...I wish I would have done that. For example, instead of committing to host your wedding at the FA and then negotiating price (like we're now doing, big mistake), tell them you are willing to spend $X per person maximum including beverages, and that in no event will they deprive menu options or beverage options because of it. I just got back from my site inspection at FA (see Site Forum, new thread I started) and have no problem sending you some of the pictures of the Imperial Suite (from the outside) that I took. It is a beautiful, secluded location. How many guests are you expecting? My contact at FA is Daniela, and she has been fabulous. Sometimes it takes a day or two for a response, but she has been very professional. Feel free to PM me or ask more questions! I'm sort of in that zone right now with the beginning planning (menus, etc) so I'm ready to chat if you need it! FA Applicable Location Fees.doc FA DINNERS 2007.doc FA FIREWORKS 2007.doc FA RECEPTIONS 2007.doc FA WEDDINGS 2007.doc

Alison, I just realized I can't post the pictures as attachments, or in my gallery because the files are too big! PM me your email address and I'll forward them all to you! We didn't do any tastings, I guess we'll be doing that on another trip down! But I think we're going to do a modified buffet (I'm not a sit-down dinner kind of girl and neither are our guests) with a few boutiques/stations. We basically are taking the Gala Dinner Buffet and eliminating the majority of the Gourmet Table, and adding the Italian Boutique and a Cheese Boutique. Have you decided on your menu yet? The F&B costs are pretty high compared to where I live, so we're just trying to be reasonable.

Thanks for the reassurance, NABUMBAH! Your experience makes me feel better!

I have read several reviews about Hive Salon, so I am aware of the complications a few of you have had regarding confirmed stylsts vs. who actaully shows up on the wedding day. My question is, has anyone ever had Neysa as their stylist? I am confirmed with Neysa, but I was curious if anyone has had previous experience. Thanks!

So I am several weeks past due on this site review, but better late than never! We traveled to Los Cabos on April 20-22, 2007 for our site visit. Upon arriving at the airport, we were greeted by our Transcabo representative for transportation (see separate thread on Vendors for review). We stay at the Fiesta Americana every year, but in the Vacation Club (condo) side of the resort, so I was anxious to get the feel that our guests will receive in the hotel portion of the resort. Upon arrival at the resort, our bags were quickly whisked away and I went to check us in. It took some time, due only to the fact that we had 4 rooms, 2 of which were being comped by the resort for our site visit (a nice perk). It took a while to sort everyone out, but in the end everything worked out well. To our surprise, the hotel placed me & my fiancé and my parents in the Grand Club portion of the resort, us in a Grand Suite and my parents in a standard Club room (I felt guilty about that for a few minutes!) The Grand Club section of the resort is located on the lower level of the resort, on the south/west side of the property. It is a private area, and wonderfully quiet. Advantages of the Club section include complimentary continental breakfast (fresh fruit, juices, smoked salmon, bagels, cereal, etc), complimentary water and sodas all day (we definitely took advantage of this!), snacks, and a “happy hour†which is complimentary with alcoholic beverages and hors d'oeuvres which looked wonderful (sushi, shrimp cocktail, guacamole, etc). The room we stayed in was a Grand Suite, which is a one-bedroom suite with a very large bathroom and Jacuzzi tub, wonderfully large closet, separate living area with L-shaped couch and a dining table, half bath and a wet bar. It actually looks just like the pictures on the website. I definitely gave FA some points for upgrading us to this suite, and comping it…it usually runs about $500/night. Also, a great touch, our room came complete with a pet – a beta fish in a large vase on the nightstand, with some food to feed him daily. Very cute. My parents stayed in a standard room in the Club section, which is exactly like the standard rooms in the hotel, except located within the Club section. For restaurant reviews of Edith’s and Mi Casa, see those specific reviews on the Cabo forum. We met with Daniela on Saturday morning – she was on time and very prepared. We had previously requested to see every type of room we would be offering our guests (including suites), a property tour, ballroom tour, etc. She had the keys ready for the room tours and was ready to go. Since we had been upgraded to the Club level, that eliminated the need for the room tours, and my wedding planner was staying in a standard room, so we didn’t end up seeing any other rooms. We started with the conference area, which I had never seen prior. Our event is large enough that I wanted to make sure we had enough space for dinner, dancing, etc. The conference area is wonderful! The rooms are all decorated in neutrals, with tall ceilings and great views. We have reserved the grand terrace which overlooks the golf course, and I was very pleased with it. We also decided to reserve a portion of the grand ballroom, for dancing. Note – the FA requires music to end at 10pm on the property, unless the band is located within a room, therefore, we will put the band in a ballroom which opens up to the large terrace. We will have dinner on the terrace, and then open the ballroom for dancing & dessert later in the evening. The ceremony will take place on the “Whale’s Beach†– whatever that means. Basically, they will set up the ceremony site near the Peninsula restaurant, so that our guests don’t have to hike through the sand to get the site. Obviously, it’s a perfect location with the rocks and the surf in the background, so I wasn’t too concerned about the ceremony set up. We are either going to do all white, backless benches for seating, or white chairs or ottomans. We will have cocktails immediately after the ceremony on the Whales Terrace – the large patio area located adjacent to the Peninsula restaurant. So the event will move from the beach, to the outdoor terrace for cocktails, to the upstairs terrace for dinner and then open the ballroom for dancing & dessert. I think it works out well, and allows our guests to keep moving and not get bored being in one location throughout the entire evening. We were able to get a glimpse of the Imperial Suite, but only from the outside! It looks amazing, and had I have known what it was prior, I would have set our wedding date based upon its availability. Unfortunately, it’s booked for our wedding date (for another wedding!), but we will be using it on the Thursday before our wedding, since we will have guests in town that evening. We’re going to have our own Welcome Party at the Imperial Suite and just do light snacks, drinks and probably an informal tequila tasting. For those of you getting married at the Imperial Suite, you have a beautiful, secluded location and it’ll be perfect! Overall, Daniela and the staff were great. Daniel speaks very good English and she’s funny, so communication wasn’t a problem at all. We are still a bit in shock with beverage costs and food costs, but we’ll negotiate as much as possible and probably just do everything based on consumption, since their Open Bar options are outrageous, and the corkage fees are as well. I should have negotiated all of that prior, but we needed to set the date and it was the higher priority. For anyone who wants more information on fees, menus, extra charges, etc, I have it all! We also took like 50 pictures at the resort, so I can send those as well! Feel free to ask my questions if you have any!

Quote: DREA14369; Isn't there another band out in cabo too, other then CaboMax (The Twins)? I thought there was...if so can anyone give more info?? Drea The only other band I'm familiar with is Deja Vu, and everyone I have been in contact with prefers Cabomax over them...so I'm no help! Now I'm worried! I feel like I really need to see them in person before committing!

DREA14369, did you ever get in contact with them?

JOELLEN, do you mind me asking for more detail? We are going to use Cabomax (the Twins + two other band members) for our reception, and I'm nervous to book without hearing them prior. What about them did you consider "average?" Did they at least get your guests on the dance floor? More detail would be appreciated, since I'm still hesitant! I don't want to make a decision just from the website (which, sounds a little cheesy anyway!) Thanks!

Jen, yes, I would absolutely suggest Edith's for a special occasion. I have seen many anniversary celebrations over the years. I think the service that you receive makes it very personal and intimate, and make sure when you make reservations that you request a more intimate table due to the anniversary. I actually ate at Edith's once with my father (mom was not feeling well) and they put us near the wine room, and it definitely looked like we were dating, older guy with a young new girlfriend. People were staring...Gross! I suggested it to two of my good friends while they were honeymooning at Las Ventanas (different times) and they both said they were so glad to get off the resort, that the food was out of this world and just made the honeymoon so special. If you make reservations for later in the evening, it'll be dark, and mostly lit by candles. The entire restaurant is outdoors, like most in Cabo, and so you only get as much light as they provide! But it can be very romantic. So make sure and let them know your special occasion and I promise you will not be disappointed!

amchang, did you ever find anyone who might provide a karaoke machine? We are thinking about setting up a late-night lounge, for when the band ends but we know our guests will still be wanting to keep the party going. I think we're going to set up a lounge in another place, with a karaoke machine, lounge chairs, and fun snacks like mini grilled cheeses, french fries, cookies & milk shooters, etc. Let me know if you find anything!

My event planner here in Texas called and spoke with Vanessa, the Sales Director Manager. We have found that while email is convenient, since we are not using a local coordinator, phone calls seem to get a better response... I would definitely see if you can meet in July, we tried to get authorization to see them at an event over the weekend, but it was very last minute and I wish it would have worked out. I'm still a little unsure about $600 for a stage, but I guess I'll wait to see what Fiesta Americana charges for the set up and decide then. I will say that both my contact at the Fiesta Americana and the group sales manager at Mi Casa both recommended Cabomax for our wedding, so they are well known and must be pretty good! Good luck! Let me know what they say when you finally get in touch with them, especially about pricing!

NABUMBAH, we're expecting anywhere from 100 (lowest) to 175/200...Save the Dates just went out and we have about 270 on the list, but obviously we have included guests who will not make the trip, business colleagues, etc. I think we'll stick with the full group, especially since we will be using a ballroom at the Fiesta Americana so we can have a late night event. We are going from ceremony on the beach, to cocktails on the terrace, up to the ballroom terrace for dinner and then we'll open up the ballroom for dancing/lounge/dessert, etc. I just want to make sure they can keep the party going!

Ok, mission complete! Turns out they were quoting us $4,000 for three hours, with a full stage set up...but they didn't ask if we needed a stage. Only after my coordinator mentioned that we have seen $850/hour did they say the extra was due to a stage...think they were trying to get a few more dollars. So, we negotiated to $3,400 for four hours which is entirely in line with what I have seen quoted. With the stage optional. Whew!

A10CALGAL, we would like the whole group, 4 piece band. I have seen quotes for $850/hour for Cabo max, and $650/hour for The Twins. We'll keep negotiating!

We are trying to reserve Cabomax for our reception, and I have read consistently that they charge roughly $850/hour with a three hour minimum. I am not using a local coordinator, but rather a coordinator from my hometown. She called to reserve, and was quoted $4,000 for three hours! I don't want to pay a premium because we're not using someone in Los Cabos. I understand honoring relationships and giving special consideration to certain individuals, but that quote is $500/hour more than what I have read. Does anyone have any suggestions?

First off, please note that I do not have a formal proposal yet from Elena Damy, we only met for our initial consultation. I will post another review after the process has really taken shape. With our whirlwind trip planned, and not being able to get in touch with Elena or anyone with her company, I was doubtful that we would be able to meet in person during our site visit last weekend. On a whim, my event planner called and finally made contact with Carlos, Elena’s husband. Although they were booked for a Saturday meeting, he agreed to meet us on Sunday morning, even though they are not open on Sundays! [Note – great service! I was thrilled!] We met with Carlos on Sunday April 22, 2007 at 10:00AM. He informed us that he and Elena just had their baby boy the past weekend, so that’s the reason for the slower communication time – I think that’s a pretty good reason, giving birth, don’t you!? Carlos was very professional, he handed us his business cards for our files when we got to the shop. He then set up his computer and we watched a brief presentation of Elena’s work. It was enough to get a feel of her work at events, see coordinating details, etc without being in front of a computer screen for a long time. We filled out a questionnaire which will help with the design process (example: favorite flowers, color, theme/vibe of event, # in party, location, etc). He was very attentive to our comments, taking notes as we talked generally. We looked at more pictures on his computer and had general conversations about ideas, likes, dislikes, etc. I must say Elena’s shop is uber-cool. All white walls with very contemporary art and furniture – my fiancé was in heaven! Think white meets wheatgrass. The coffee table is on rollers, which made it easy for us to see the computer, talk, flip through magazines, etc. Since this isn’t much of a formal review, I’ll say this. I was very impressed with Carlos’ willingness to meet with us on Sunday, regardless of his personal schedule. He was professional and fun, and I’m sure they work very well together. Elena’s work is just amazing – it’s fun and hip without being stiff or uncomfortably modern. We are going to submit pictures, details, themes, etc to Elena within a week or so and get the process started. I will share my thoughts once we have proposals and negotiations, and of course, any pictures we might receive.

After finding Transcabo on another website, I decided to give them a try during our site visit last weekend. With the ease of making reservations online, and the prices listed on their website, how could I resist. I wanted to make sure I “test drove†the transportation company before making a suggestion to our guests for airport transportation. Typically we either forget to make transportation reservations before we arrive in Los Cabos, or we make reservations through the Fiesta Americana Grand. Neither are very good options – cabs are expensive if you wait until you get to SJD, and the transportation provided by Fiesta Americana got increasingly annoying as the years went on, having to wait for other flights, etc. I made reservations online, for a one-way only. When we landed, our driver was at the terminal, in the required orange golf shirt, holding a sign with our names (not just a dry erase, or sign in pencil, but a typed, all-caps, easily visible sign). Our driver quickly grabbed our luggage and we were almost ready. One of the members of our group got caught up behind us, lost his place in line, etc so we had to wait on him. Our driver had no problem at all waiting, for the 15 minutes extra it took him to reach the outside. The Suburban was air-conditioned and running, and the driver had cooled it off before we arrived. He offered us bottled water as well. He was courteous and friendly, and didn’t interrupt conversation (which is one of my pet peeves). He cracked a few jokes during the drive and made the overall trip enjoyable. I would highly recommend Transcabo – I am going to provide a link for our guests on our website, so they can link directly and book their transportation. And with several options of shared and private shuttles, the service can fit into any budget. Website:Transcabo - Los Cabos Transportation, Private & Shuttle Service, Airport Transfers, Activity Transfers, per hour service.