~Katie~

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart I'm going to try and put in things I always forget or things I'm really glad I brought like Emergen-C packets, lip balm, gum, key card tip money holder I think is a really good idea too. There are so many threads on here that have hundreds of suggestions like the Master OOT bag list under it's section. what about insect repellant too?? when I was in RM in February I got bitten by mosi's loads!!! maybe thats just the english blood!! lol it would be TOP of my list of things to put in one!! Katie

hey Rachel, great to see another UK bride on here ) congrats on your engagement! I'm getting married in Azul Sensatori in May 2010. Hope all the planning from wayyy over here is all going well Katie.

congrats and welcome There's loads of info on that on here - a thread specifically for that resort so make sure you have a read. If you haven't already booked, have a good long read through all the various threads for specific hotels as it will give you the best idea you'll get of what everywhere is like for weddings - Good luck!! Katie

congrats and welcome! I'm a Mexico bride too - 7 May 2010 at Azul Sensatori. Have fun with all the planning and prep Katie.

congrats and welcome to the site!! There's tons of information on here so get reading and feel free to post any questions!! Good luck! Katie.

yeah I'm in agreement too - don't do it! Weddings should be about those closest to you - but not who's the most convenient. to be perfectly honest, I would probably be in EXACTLY the same situation as you as I would have said yes, and then regretted it after! you don't need her, and she'll have to do without you. be strong, keep it brief but make it nice and heartfelt lol just to cover yourself! Katie.

Oh it's ok...I found your name!! Just going to email him now ) Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Oh wow Ash!! That's a big difference =/ Katie - My photog is still available for you! No travel fees, no $500 fee to Karisma You are reaping all the benefits, just thought I'd let you know Thanks Kitten We're looking at the moment if we can downgrade our package - as it stands we paid £1000 extra for the gold package which we thought would be worth it for the photogrpaher included and blood tests etc. But even using one of the approved photographers, we apparently only get them for 1 hour (!!!) and just photos, even though the photog packages start at 1 and a half hours and include a 30 min video too - for less than we'd be paying the extra for for the gold package. Just trying to work out what we'd have to pay extra on top of the silver package to see which works out more financially viable! But I will definitely get in contact with him and ask about packages and prices etc. ) is he doing a TTD for you too? I REALLY want one done!! Oh and can you PM me your name so I can let him know who I am and that i'm contacting in relation to you!! Thank you ) Katie.

me too!! thanks

Quote: Originally Posted by August2010Bride Through the course of the past year, Fiance' and I have been back and forth on having an AHR... Lately we have decided to have one. Our dilemma is cost related. We are BOTH going to be in nursing school this semester (Fiance's 2nd year, my 1st). I can't help but think of that money going towards bills or something in case I need to quit my job... At this point Im at the verge of having either a send-off BBQ or even a 1 year anniversary celebration. What do you think? I also thought about sending invites to more people besides the 50 we intended to invite.. so that I wont feel guilty for not having an AHR? Is that wrong... knowing that most wont be able to make it... HELP!!!! You need to do what works for you both. I am having a AHR but that's because I'm getting married in Mexico, but live all the way over in the UK! so we've only got 20 people coming to our ceremony. We decided on the reception back home to celebrate our marriage with those that couldn't make the trip (or afford it!). You can do AHR quite cheap though so take the time to look around and shop for what's reasonable. At the end of the day, if any money spent is too much, don't do it - nobody is going to hate you for putting the money you do have towards your nursing school fees. Maybe its best to do one at 1 year, then you'll know more if you can afford to do it then or not. Hope that helps. Katie.

wow, they look fantastic! It's the same kind of thing I'm looking for for my BMs..shame I'm in the UK!!! they would have been perfect!! Katie.

Hi all, I'm a 2010 bride... I'm getting married 7 May 2010 in Azul Sensatori in Riviera Maya. Flying from the UK, we have already booked the flights, hotel (package deal) and all our guests We are now in talks with our WC at getting the finer things sorted! Soooo excited!! Katie

just an interesting reply from Claudia that I thought some people might be interested in. I emailed just to see if she was available for our wedding date before trying to fight to get her...this is what she replied: "Hello Katie, Thank you for getting in touch with me and Congrats on your upcoming Weddings!!! I'm sorry I'm already booked for May 7th,10 and I don't think you'll get the Karisma people approval for us to work at the Azul anymore..." and that "...." was her, not me! sounds like there's something going on there. and that sounds to me like they won't even let her in!! weird....

Quote: Originally Posted by Allisa Zocollo terrace won't work unless you have 40 peeps. The only places we had as options -there are 13 of us- were the Zavaz Cocktail terrace, the beach (which means dance floor rental), the Yoga Palapa and the private room in the Sierra. I think the Yoga Palapa is too small unless you only have like 5 peeps there if you want a dance floor too. My WC suggested renting the dance floor for that locale. We chose the Zavaz. Thanks for the advice Allisa! I don't know why they don't make all the options etc more clear in all the literature....what would I do without you all?!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Katie - Well it's good to hear that our guests won't be kicked off the skydeck while we take photos! We'll just have to make it quick if possible and just maybe have an annoucement that guests may mingle and to be at the named reception spot by a certain time, or have a program that's states as such so people aren't confused. Also, they do get a welcome cocktail as they are seated which should hold people for at least an hour. Also if we have music going for them it should be fine. I'm not paying for a cocktail hour and horderves at ANOTHER location. I'm having my private dinner @ Zocollo Terrace because it's large, enclosed with a bar, room to dance and you can pull the shades if it gets cold, windy or rainy. I believe the minimum is 40 guests though. For my 40 person meal at Spoon, I already booked it. I figured I might as well since I know I wanted a Sunday farewell brunch for my guests and I got a confirmation from Kiara, my WC. yeah i think we'll get one of the guests to tell people what's going on after we've walked back down the asile. see, i don't get that - Tiffany gave me the option of all the reception areas but she knows our party size so why suggest it?? that's what annoys me. ah well...I've got ages to go and already I just want to get there!! wedding dress shopping on Saturday!! wahoooooo!!!!!! lol

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikki07 27 dresses - i feel awful for you, but you have to do what's right for you! Good luck! Heather - I'm glad you posted. I was starting to feel like a whiner with all of my complaining, but seriously I agree, everything is so much money. Maybe if they charged REASONABLE amounts for extra's I wouldn't care so much but I still can't get over the freakin $100 for a plain sheet LMAO!!! I thought maybe it was all the resorts that charge that much..... Oh well. At this point its too late for me to look back, and I don't regret my decision to get married at the Sensatori but I do wish I would have known how crazy all of these prices were. On a more positive note - I truly feel like even though I'm skimping out on pretty much all of the extra options, my wedding will still be amazing! Nikki, I'm with you...it's way too late to do anything about it now, but I also don't regret my decision. At the end of the day, I know if I wanted I could go out there, pay for next to nothing and just get married and be just as happy. although the prices are ridiculous, and yes, i moan as much as the next time, its still a decision we make to have the extras or not. my wedding will be amazing because I will be there surrounded by my family and those closest to me, and promising myself to my soulmate for the rest of my life. nothing could be more perfect. Katie.

27 dresses, that's so sad and must have been such a hard decision to make but I totally understand why you reached the decision you did. we purposefully chose a destination wedding as the cheaper option to getting married in the UK - now its not looking quite so obvious. good luck with whatever you decide to do...sounds like Cuba's a great option!!! Katie.

oh, and I messed up!! You know i told you all about going and secretly trying on a dress and attached a link?? my h2b looked on this site last night to get some ideas and saw it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he's sworn to me he didn't look at the link and that he wouldn't, so first big test of trust! haha. damn it. K. x

I'd really like to know more about this photography company if anyone has any info as they are on our approved list to choose from where I'm marrying so would love to know any reviews. Thanks, Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Katie_2010 what?? ?? ?? ?? why do you have to pay $250 for the reception and $250 for the cocktail hour?? is that another package thing? is that $250 for food for the reception and $250 just so they'll make you cocktails?? am I getting myself confused here? I do like that option of using the Spoon restaurant the night before might suggest that to the other half and see what he thinks - would be nice to have everyone together for our last meal altogether. if we wanted to do that, do we have to book in advance then? or can we just wait until we're there and then book? Katie. sorry, I just got it! you're saying that just for the sound system they wanted to charge you $250 for your cocktail hour and then $250 to have it again for your reception!!! I'm so blonde!!! haha and I meant in my last para that it would be nice to have our last meal together before we're married. god I'm not with it today! sorry! K.

that's my other issue now....which reception venue to choose from!! anyone have any thoughts? pros/cons to any? thank you Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Allisa We are using our Spoon dinner as our rehersal dinner the night before. We opted to pay pp for our own private function on the Zavas Cocktail Terrace. It has been a bone of contention with my FH this whole time, we are going to an all inclusive and are still having to pay for all our ceremony/cocktail hour/reception items separately. As for the sound system, it is included for the ceremony, but you have to pay a separate $250 fee for the cocktail hour and ANOTHER $250 for the reception! Even if we have the cocktail reception right at the beach after the ceremony. Needless to say, we are going music -less for the cocktail reception because I refuse to pay for it twice! what?? ?? ?? ?? why do you have to pay $250 for the reception and $250 for the cocktail hour?? is that another package thing? is that $250 for food for the reception and $250 just so they'll make you cocktails?? am I getting myself confused here? I do like that option of using the Spoon restaurant the night before might suggest that to the other half and see what he thinks - would be nice to have everyone together for our last meal altogether. if we wanted to do that, do we have to book in advance then? or can we just wait until we're there and then book? Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Gem - I agree with the girls, if you can, stop reading them because they won't help at all. I was obsessed for months with the Trip Advisor reviews and drove myself nuts! Just to test the theory I read HORRIBLE reviews about a bridal store but they were close by and I had already been to 8 different stores and I didn't want to start having to take a flight to go dress shopping, I had the most wonderful experience at this salon, bought my dress there, met the designer and the owner came out to tell me and my bridal party how entertaining we were and to come back any time. You can't listen to peoples reviews all the time, you just never know. Katie - can you believe it? Private dinners basically making us pay double! This is why I bit the bullet and am having a private reception/dinner on Zocollo Terrace so I can have a dance floor and sound system and all that. The meals aren't that expensive if that helps at all... especially since you're having 18 people it wouldn't be too bad and that includes a full open unlimited bar. Just an option. I asked my WC to let me have my 40 person dinner the next morning @ 10am as a thank you/farewell brunch. They agreed to do that for me so I'm kinda making use of it all I suppose. Just a thought! We need to talk to some past Sky Deck brides! Well i got a response from Tiffany about what you asked before and she said we can keep guests there after the ceremony to take pictures (not sure why the reference to taking pictures up there, but that's what she said!) but that there will be no food or beverage services. ...doesn't sound like that counts out people going to get their own drinks and food if they want and bringing it back up. ok re: the reception this is the response I had from Tiffany on options: "That is correct, if you use your dinner reservation for up to 40 people on the evening of your wedding, there will just be a dinner and nothing else. If you would like to purchase a private event, you can have the meal, dancing, speeches, whatever you would like to do. The location is free, however all you need to do is look at the private event banquet kit and choose a menu to serve everyone. You can do a 4 hour dinner for just $14 per person (the menu is on page 35 on this link http://www.karismahotels.com/sites/d...KIT%202009.pdf ) which includes the following: - Location - Tables with white linen, and eating utensils - Covered chairs with white covers and white bows - A 4 hour private international open bar - Your own private wait staff for your party. - 3 course meal The add-on that you may want to consider will be the following: - Music, you can rent an amplifier for 4 hours for $250 - Centerpieces, you can purchase a centerpiece for $50 each - Wedding Cake, you can see the prices for the cakes on page 26 of the above link. If you would like to have your reception on the beach, you may want to consider a dance floor. The price for this is $230 for a floor that will hold up to 30 people. If you have your reception anywhere else, you really don’t need the dance floor. " So... after a loooooong talk last night with my h2b about all our options, we're thinking of going for the $14 pp meal just so we get the reception and then pay for the music (can't believe thats a price JUST to rent an amplifier!!!) but THAT's IT! no decorations, no coloured bows on seats (white will do), no flowers. if the budget becomes really tight, this will be the 1st thing to go but fingers crossed we'll be ok. oh, and the reception won't be on the beach as we don't want to pay the $230 for a floor!! yes definitely...any sky deck marrieds out there what did you do for your ceremony and afterwards? Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikki07 Ok so I just heard back from Tiffany. The width of the wood runner is 1.64 ft, so ya that won't work for me. My other question to her was : Question about the ceremony - how many songs do I need to provide and am I able to do my first dance on the beach right after the ceremony? Her answer: I would say that you should have about 30 minutes of music on your IPOD for the ceremony if you would like to do the first dance immediately after. Does this mean that you are not going to have a private event? Soooo I'm guessing that means its ok to use their equipment right after the ceremony for the first dance. Hopefully. haha my betting is that once she hears you're not forking out for a private reception, you'll get charged!! but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt (for now!) and see what they come back with! Good luck!!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Nikki07 Hey Katie, I'm getting married on the beach, so they supply the sound equipment for the ceremony. So, I figured since its already there, I'll just add my first dance song at the end of the ceremony playlist. If they won't play it for me, well then I guess I won't have a first dance! lol. Seriously, I'm not paying for a private event just be able to rent the equipment. I have a small ipod docking station at home, but you wouldn't be able to hear it on the beach with the wind, waves, etc. I'm sure I would need some big speakers or something so I'm not even going to bother going that route. So, maybe you can try having your cermony on the sky deck, they'll have all the sound equipment up there already, and try to squeeze in your first dance up there? Maybe I'll send Tiffany a quick email asking about it. I'm just so sick of the answers I keep getting back lol. For example - I don't want to use the wooden runner for 2 reasons: 1) My dress will likely catch and rip (I have a very delicate train) 2) I have one GM walking 2 bridesmaids back down the aisle... there's no way they'll all fit on the runner. So... I asked if I could not use the runner but use the money value of it towards something else. Uh, of course that was a problem! I was told no. I can either use the wooden runner or not use it.... its the same price. OR I can PAY MORE to use something else. Seriously WTF? LOL. I just hate how everything is such a big deal. BUT regardless, our weddings will be amazing . I'll keep you posted on the first dance thing. Ah thanks, I see what you mean now....I suppose we could have our song for walking up the aisle as our first dance and catch them out by stopping mid way back up the aisle to have our first dances!! haha I've emailed Tiffany already today (twice in fact lol) and one of the questions I asked (on behalf of another poster) is if we can leave the guests on the Deck while we have our photos etc until the evening meal...if she says yes to that then maybe your genius plan will work!!! oh god i hadn't even thought of my dress catching! I don't think I get a wooden runner up there as we're on concrete anyway....will have to check that one out!! Thanks for offering to email Tiffany - that would be great...I've already sent her 2 today!! and yes, you are dead right...without spending a fortune our weddings will still be A-MAZ-ING! woooooo!! Katie.