~Katie~

Quote: Originally Posted by beckerba I have been on this forum for over a year and my wedding is a little over 2 months away. Honestly it has been a rocky, emotional rollar coaster with the resort being new and all the "teething" problems I keep reading about. I have stuck it out because I honestly could not find anything that fit my needs so perfectly (or as advertised). As the reviews continue to be more and more mixed I keep asking myself if we made the right choice, will my guests get what they paid for and have an amazing vacation. With the economy being down, it is even harder to ask people to shell out good hard earned cash to come to see us get married. I have expected to feel very differently than I do right now. I don't know what to expect and at times I feel like it is a game of russian roulette. I am sorry for being a "downer," but I don't know if anyone else is feeling this way or if I should just keep smiling and crossing my fingers. The one good news is that all the brides so far on this blog seem so happy... Hey Bree, I sometimes feel exactly the same. Our guests are having to pay nearly £2,500 per couple to come to our wedding and value for money and excellence is paramount for us. BUT, its your day and if you worry about everything and everyone else, you'll have a nervous breakdown! when I start to worry about everything, my FH just tells me as long as we go there and get married, it doesn't matter if it rains, things dont go right or people don't like it. we are going there to get married and that's all that ultimately matters....and he has a very good point. we all build these things up of creating our 'perfect' day but all that does is build the pressure up on ourselves. you're getting married because you have found your soul mate and the person you want to spend the rest of your life with....just getting legally married is enough to make it perfect ) stay calm, breathe, and relax and take things in your stride. the actual wedding part is all sorted so the rest is just extras! don't lose sight of the purpose of your wedding. xx

Quote: Originally Posted by robynregen PHOTOGRAPHY at the Sensatori!!!! I just got married on June 27th at the Sensatori, and honestly I wouldn't do it again if I had to do it all over, but what I do have to say is that my photographer was AMAZING!!!! It rained on my wedding day so instead of having my sky deck wedding it was relocated to a hallway, but that was not even my problem...but my point is with all the problems my pictures turned out so amazing that you almost forget all the bad. Jose from caribephoto.com was my photographer. He actually works regularly at the El Dorado Royale but you can have him come to the Sensatori. Let me know if you have any questions about him and I will be happy to answer them. He was so awesome!!! hey, thanks for the feedback on the photographer! maybe its that the photos on the website are not Jose's but someone elses...? glad yours have all come out well ) what else went wrong? I think we're supposed to be getting married on the Sky Deck but we're still debating...hadn't even thought about the possibility of rain! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by gemwhite2b Hi Katie, We originally went in to book the gold package and i changed my mind at the last min. I am quite glad I did now although it still doesn't help the situation with photog much! I stupidly assumed that the decoration of the gazeebo was included (seen as it says "decoration of wedding location") but that is like another £250ish! I am thinking of taking my own organza as I cover wedding chair covers as a part time job now so should work out alot cheaper. The bouquet is also going to cost alot more than the package allows! We only have 22 going at the moment including us 2 so quite small. We wanted an easy option instead of all the fuss of a typical UK wedding! We also only gave guest 2 weeks notice to book and we only booked in Jan this year! How you getting on? have you decided on receptions and things yet? We get the dinner res for 40 i think at spoon. Not ideal but not too bothered about spending the extra for a private party when I am having a massive party when we are back home. Hey Gem ) always great to hear from another UK bride!! Yeah the only plus I'm seeing now with the gold package is that our bloodt tests are included in the price!! ...although saying that, there have since been people who've had the Caribe photog and posted on here saying they were really happy with them, so maybe we'll be ok...? haha yes, I am fast learning that NOTHING is included!! just for example, before you book the package it says included - wedding cake - and then you book and your list of whats included then changes to say 'wedding cake for two'!! the thing that's annoying me most is that we had to convince EVERYONE that we're getting married in Mexico because it's cheaper than a UK wedding. if they keep adding costs on, we're going to have egg on our face and also be bankrupt. with regards to the decoration, I think a lot of people on here have taken their own decorations and then just paid the $50 set up charge for the hotel to sort it out. I think I will have to do that but I'm not creative AT ALL and really don't know where the hell to start!! sounds handy that you do that part-time...it will help you a lot. yeah we've got 21 booked for our wedding (including us). there may be a few last minute bookers but there won't be more than 24/25. we decided where to get married and then told everyone to let us know for definite in about a week, and got deposits off people before they could change their mind and we went to the TA and booked everyone on one booking (I'm a bit of a control freak and just felt better knowing I had everyone booked in and no chance of people waiting too long and then just not bothering). that was last month and we're getting married in May 2010 - 11 months warning!! what date are you getting married? I haven't had any info through yet about our options of where to get married or the reception afterwards. all I've had is prices for flowers, food, decorations etc but nothing about locations. I don't even know what our options are! but having looked through the food prices, there's noway we're forking out a fortune to feed people at an all inclusive!! especially when, like you, we're having a proper reception when we come back home. is the Spoons option that you just get a table reserved in one of the restaurants and your food is the 'normal' AI food? Katie. x

Quote: Originally Posted by Francine Hi Katie, I've just got married at AS and returned home to Glasgow, I read your message re: the photographers and your concerns about them, I used the photographer included with my package from Thomsons which is the one approved by the hotel. I know that this is such a huge thing and so very difficult to pick when your on the other side of the world, I found my photographer to be very professional and made me feel very at ease and comfortable. I'd be happy to email you some of my pics for you to look at but would need to do it through my hotmail account, not too sure how all of this works at the minute!!! Let me know if this would help Francine x Hi Francine, Thank you so much for the offer - I have sent you a private message (I did try to send an email but im not sure if it worked - so apologies if you've received loads of stuff from me!!!) Glad to hear of a happy story re: photogs. Did you have the Caribe photog? or was it another one? the approved ones seem to change monthly! Hope you had a fantastic wedding, and thanks again for your help Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by MrsVaughn2B Ladies from the UK, do you have any idea on travel agents. We have some guest hoping to come from the UK but not sure where to direct them for a TA. Hi MrsVaughn If you want your guests to book the hotel through a TA aswell, it has to be Thomson (or First Choice, who have been taken over by Thomson) as the resort is available only exclusively to them. (Thomson - Holidays, Flights, Hotels, Cruises - Find your perfect holiday - Thomson.co.uk) If not, they would be able to buy flights seperately and then book with the hotel directly. If you want more info on possibles to book flights with, let me know and I'll get a list together for you and get back to you. Good luck!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by gemwhite2b You seem to know more about my wedding than me lol. We have a small group so not too bothered about cocktail reception etc, just gunna go with the flow really. I just want to get the photog sorted and no idea what to do. It is way too expensive to bring a photog from UK and then pay the fee too. I am kinda just hoping they sort out the approved ones before I go so I have more chioce! have any of you girls coming from UK booked the Silver package? I am only just starting to realise how little it includes! Hey Gemma another Uk bride!! I booked the gold package, and am already realising how little THAT includes, as well as the added problem of the photographers - our gold package includes our photographer...tho looking at who's approved that doesn't look like such a good thing anymore now, if we want a good photog, we're going to have to effectively pay twice for one. we're looking into the pros and cons of trying to downgrade our package. what are you having problems with? how many have you got going? Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by AshManahan Hi ladies, I am new to the sight. I am getting married November 27th this year. I guess Grace was my coordinator, but not anymore Are any of you doing rehersal dinners offsight? Welcome AshManahan!! I hope you find this site as useful as we all do!! (I'm not ignoring you're question, but I'm not having one as I'm from the UK so thought it best to leave one of the other girls to reply to - much more useful!) Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Angelfish Hey girls, I spoke with my TA about the "turnover" in the wedding dept. She happens to know the owners of the resort. I just thought that she should pass the word around. I also told her about the photographers too. So, who knows excellent! let's hope the message gets back and they do something (for me personally, definitely the photographers!!) I suppose we'll just have to 'watch this space' as they say!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Hi Katie! Ok so I met my photographer through my friend you got married last year and highly recommended him. He's traveling and attending my wedding as a guest and staying there and enjoying himself so I don't have to pay for his trip! He's doing an engagement shoot for me next month and then my wedding day and a TTD the day after, he's wonderful to email with and just a cool guy. Do you want to see his stuff? Since he will already be there maybe he can photograph your wedding since it's the day before mine! Let me know and I'm PM you his website Amy Ah Amy, that would be so great, thank you so much ) can you let me have a link to his website and then I may cheekily ask you to ask him if him doing my wedding as well would be an option hopefully he'd love the chance to earn more money while he's there!! it sounds like you feel really comfortable with him and he's easy to get along with which is so important between bride and photographer. I'm so jealous of all you girls with all these extra options!! I'd have to have mine in France or something to make it the same haha - somehow, Mexico wins hands down!! Katie.

god, they are going to HAVE to sort out the wedding photographers at this place. my bet is that they get these semi-pro photogrpahers of sub-standard quality, and they pay them accordingly...then we get ripped off with what we pay/have paid. it's all about the money making. plus if we don't like them, and go to other photographers, thats even more revenue for them - the $500 for bringing them in and then if they stay at the hotel, thats additional money for them too. I better be offered better ones when I get to that stage, or I am going to really kick off. I live farrrr too far away to be flying in my own photographer so will be stuck with theirs, and the photos are one of the most important things for me. AS - sort it out!!!!!!!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Lucie Hi Katie:) Its me LUcie. I just got married on the sky deck and you won't regret it at all!!! WE LOVED IT!!! If you need any suggestions, please let me know:) Enjoy lucie Hi Lucie ) you may regret offering your help!! I want to know everything!! lol Ok, but seriously... what did you pay for from the hotel and what did you provide/do yourselves? from prices we've been given on decorating etc buying our own stuff will probably work out much cheaper. And any handy hints that you were glad you had, or wished you'd had before you got married?? Thanks loads and loads! Katie.

hey girls. thank you all for your views on the whole 'heels' dilemna! I think I will go for heels - my boyf is 5ft 10 and without heels, i think i'd look overly short next to him in photos!! but great to hear that it is possible to get away with wearing heels ) I do like the bare feet look, but think I'll just take my heels off for a few shots like that. For those that have got married on the Sky Deck.... we have this booked and now I'm worrying that I'll regret not getting married on a beach after going all that way. that it kind of defeats the point...or am I just worrying about nothing Thanks again! god what would I do without you all!!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Aneliese26 Here is the link Caribe photos have sent me of more of their work. (approved photographer ) weddings Hope its worked, sorry im not very good at these kind of things. x hey Aneliese - thanks so much for posting the link! I haven't heard anything from my WC since the first email saying they had our details, so don't really know what the options are on photographers!! What do people think of these pics?? I'm not too sure about them, but can't put my finger on why... Are these the only approved photographers for AS?? if not, who are the other ones? and does anybody have a link for egs of their photography? Thanks ) Katie.

now girls, I have a very, VERY important question to ask you all..... heels or no heels?!!!! I've been looking through some of your photos and some seem to have gone for killer heels, some in flats and some in wedges - what were your experiences and would you choose differently if you were to do it again?? (I'm 5ft 2" so kinda edging towards heels lol) Thanks, Katie )

we've FINALLY had our wedding date confirmed. 7th May 2010 is as set in stone as it can be!! wahooo!!! ) let the planning commence!! (well, saving first, then planning!) K.

Quote: Originally Posted by 27 desses We are getting married May 5th 2010 and we have already sent out our invitations. We sent ours out very early (Feb of this year) so people would have enough time to save up. I asked for a response by May 5th of this year but I still don't have everyones reply back yet and it is a little aggravating because I wanted to get things done early so I wasn't running around last minute. ooo we're getting married on the 7th but will be there when you both get married!! how exciting!! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Solidshan83 Hi Girls....Here are the pics from the wedding: http://mexicanweddingphotos.com/edua...annon_jeffrey/ LOGIN: mwp_bride PW: Mwp77500 Enjoy! wow Shannon, they are fantastic!! was this one of your own photographers or one from the resort? if so, which one? thanks Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Aneliese26 Hi Meghan, Thanks for passing that info on about Claudia. Unfortunately i'm not sure how it will work for me coz I booked through Thomsons in the UK and not Lomas. I will look into it though. With regards to prices, it all depends on when they will be going, but our guests are paying around £1100 for one week all inclusive at the Sensatori hotel. I recommend having a look at the prices on the Thomson website, they are always a bit cheaper than booking in the shop. Let me kow if you need any further info. Does anyone know of anyone who has actually used Caribe or the other photogropher(sorry forgot his name) so we can have a look at some of thier work? Meghan, Our guests are paying the same price (£1100) for one week. guests staying for 2 are paying £1500. again, it will depend on when they are flying - these are prices for the beginning of May 2010. Hope they get themselves booked soon! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Aneliese26 Hi Katie 2010, sorry for late reply, I havent been on here for a few days so just catching up now. Thomsons "said" everything was booked/confirmed when we booked everything in January, but we just never received written confirmation. I just rang/called in the office everyday but that wasnt working, in the end I took my mum with me, who kicked up a big fuss and said she is putting a formal complaint in and gave them a couple of days to get everthing done. We have gone for the Silver package, only because we wanted to pick our own photgrapher, little did we know that we would only have the option of two!! Anyway, yes its so nice to find another UK bride, so please let me know you plans etc. I still have 9 months to go but im so excited!!! This forum has been such a great help, i feel like i know the hotel already, hee hee. Please email me if you want any other info. Aneliese it all just sounds like a shambles from start to finish! getting married abroad was supposed to be the easier and less stressful option but now I'm changing my mind. any hotel should know as well that your photos is one of THE most important things...how can they get that so wrong?? when we start planning for it, I'll let you know! I've got 10 months and haviing looked at our budget, I doubt we're going to be doing too much extra which is a shame but we didn't realise how much extra we were going to get charged for EVERYTHING! ah well, what can you do?! Katie.

Quote: Originally Posted by Aneliese26 Hiya, I have alss been told that the only two photographers contracted now at the Sensatori hotel are Caribe and the other one (sorry forgot his name). I as many of you are, am not happy at all with these options . I am not very impressed by their websites and for me photos are one of the most important things! What I dont understand is that on Lomas website they offer you Claudia and Mexican wedding photos (I would be more than happy to choose one of these photographers) and since Sensatori is part of Lomas shouldnt they have to honour these choices too? I dont know about anyone else but I will be sending a complaint to my WC and asking her to pass it on to management/hotel and asking for a reply. Maybe if those of you who are also not happy about this situation could also send a complaint in, they may re-consider their options of photographers? that sounds like a really good idea. I haven't got to the stage of picking photographers yet - in fact my WC didn't even include that in my pack - but when I do, I will not be settling for anything - I haven't paid £1000 extra for something I could get one of the guests to do. Here's hoping they change it!!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart What is with family! At least this didn't happen to you... I've been engaged for almost a year and a half, I've tried every way possible to get my mom to tell me if she's coming or not, she says EVERY single time, "I don't want to talk about it now, let's talk later" Later never comes. Then I went with her to her company party last week and all her co-workers gushed about my save the dates and my wedding website and loved it so much and asked all these questions and then it comes out, one says, "we're on your side by the way, we can't believe your mother's not going!" Gulp.... all of the women she works with know she has no intention of coming to my wedding and this is how I found out. I kept thinking she wasn't planning on it but I also kept telling myself it would work out for the best. Oh and also, my father is past away so now I have no family that will be attending my wedding. I even offered to pay her whole way there, flight, room, everything. Makes me sick to my stomach. oh my god KatKen, that's awful. I know as much as we tell ourselves it doesn't matter, it still cuts deep. hopefully she'll see sense and book last minute - unless she's got some big reason for not going (which she should have told you) then she should be there, no questions asked. Is there a chance she's maybe finding it hard? emotionally etc. from the little I know from what you've posted 2 things come to mind as to why she may not be going - 1st. does she get on with your FH? approve of him etc? or 2nd. could she find it really hard on a day as special as that and your dad not being around? maybe she's running? I hope your FH makes it an extra special time for you, no matter what happens with your mum. Katie

Quote: Originally Posted by Shandalier The 2 options I was given was Caribe Photos and Matias Cano Photo - and that was at least 4 months ago! They told me then that there weren't any other options so now I am mad that this Claudia was an option for me. I asked here on the boards about them but didn't get much response back. Neither of them seem very creative or artistic. On each of the websites, they have a wedding gallery but nothing jumps out. One of them even has a girl with a glass of champagne and a cigarette! Why would they use that as one of their "big seller" photos? Anyway, these are the 2 photographers listed on the website. We decided it was important enough to take our photographer with us and have her stay as a guest. It ended up being close to the same amount of money and I think we are getting a better deal. She is going to be taking pictures practically all weekend instead of just the ceremony and reception. oh god! I'm starting to think getting married is a test!! lol there seems to be so much that has potential to ruin it or at least make it that much more difficult. unfortunately I don't have the option to bring our own photographer - the UK to Mexico is too far and way tooo expensive! here's hoping they get a few more (better) approved photographers before any of us have to book - doesn't sound like those 2 you mentioned are any good - and someone else mentioned another photographer they had - especially as I prefer just being told what to do - I don't want to have to come up with all my own ideas for each picture!!

Quote: Originally Posted by Shandalier I hate to hear that some of you are having so many problems!! A destination wedding is supposed to be carefree and it sounds like a lot of your families are making it a pain for you! Whenever I start whining about who isn't coming, my FI reminds me that the only thing that matters is that the 2 of us are there. He's right! As long as it's the two of you, it will be perfect! Katie, Did you pay that $200 deposit for the wedding package? When we were booking back in January I kept asking my TA if the sunset wedding was available on our date. She told me the resort wouldn't even check for me until they got our $200 deposit. Once we got that in, it went pretty quickly. I am blessed to have a TA who works really hard and stays on the resort about everything constantly! We had to pay £200 deposit for each guest going (inc kids) and then £95 deposit for the wedding package at the time of booking. I'm trying not to get unduly excited....BUT.... we did have an email direct from Tiffany (WC) saying they'd received our booking and wedding deposits!! Really want to be excited, but still cautious that Thomson aren't confirming it. Shandelier - my FH says exactly the same thing...as long as me and him are there - the rest are just 'nice to haves' but aren't the most important thing.

Quote: Originally Posted by Aneliese26 Hi Katie 2010 - Im also from the UK and getting married in April 2010. I booked with Thomsons in January 09 and only had my confirmation last month!!! We have had to chase them for everything!! It was only when we said we were putting in a formal complaint that they processed the wedding booking form and we had our wedding date confirmed. We are still waiting on confirmation for our two week prices from them. I am on the phone to them nearly everyother day. They keep telling us that everything is fine and everyone is booked and when they eventually gave us some confirmation there were loads of things wrong (ie prices, names, room types). Anyway we are getting there but very slowly. My only advice would be to keep on top of them and keep pestering them for confirmation. The one good thing is the wedding co-ordinator is fab!! She replies within 24 hours and supplies lots of pictures Can I just ask, has anyone had a problem booking Claudia photogrpahers at the Sensatori? I really want Claudia Photographers but my wedding co-ordinator has emailed me saying that they are no longer approved at the Sensatori? Has anyone else had this problem?? Hi Aneleise...great to find another fellow Uk'er on here ) everyone gives great supplier info but unfortunately are USA or Canada based so I can't use them - now we can try and help each other out! Sounds like Thomson are just pants. They're now saying end of July to confirm(which won't be anywhere near how long you waited) but maybe I'll end up waiting that long too! We are being told that due to Swine Flu, they had loads of offices closed (in Mexico) and so now they are dealing with a back log and thats the delay. so essentially they are blaming the hotel - but I don't see how it can be them when lots of people on here booking through other travel agents are not having to wait so long. What did you say to Thomson to make them hurry up? They just keep telling me its not them, its the hotel so they can't do anything. We've already booked the 2 week 'holiday' part so we shouldn't have any problems with that (more than we had at the time of booking anyway) as thats all confirmed and deposits paid - which is part of why im so anxious to get our date confirmed....that and I desperately want a wedding co-ordinator!! lol Did you book the silver or gold wedding package with them? Thanks, Katie.

also, has anyone on here not yet had their actual wedding date confirmed?? I am not sure if this is different for me being in the UK but we booked the whole thing (wedding package and all) through our TA and it's now been a month we've waited for confirmation of our prefered wedding date. really starting to panic as the whole time they're not processing ours, more people who are going direct could be taking the date we want. I wouldn't be panicking so much if we weren't restricted to just one date during our 2 week stay - my mum and brother are only coming for a week and once you've taken into account the 3 full days you have to be there before you can get married (and the national holiday in our first week) that only leaves one date before they go home. arrrggghhhhh!!!! sorry...my turn to offload! lol Katie.