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Quote: Originally Posted by dakotaAZ Hi!! I am new to this forum but am pretty excited because it looks like you all have a ton of great information!! We are getting married at Azul Sensatori, tentatively on April 2, 2011. I do have a couple of questions but my biggest one right now is the photographer, I would like to use someone other than the ones that are contracted through Karisma. Any suggestions I live in Phoenix and am not sure how to go about finding someone and so many of you have beautiful photos!! Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks, Alissa Hi Alissa! The best advice is to go back and read through this thread. It's quite lengthy but there's great info! Okay, best to clear up the photog issue from the start: You CANNOT use a Mexican photographer other than the ones contracted through the resort. If you don't like the ones they have, you must bring someone from outside Mexico. So, don't get your heart set on someone like Elizabeth Medina or Claudia Rodriguez b/c you can't use them If you bring someone, they either have to stay at the resort for 3 nights OR they can stay somewhere else and you pay the $500 outside vendor fee. Many of us have brought photographers with us and it's been the best decision we've made! You often get more bang for your buck when you bring someone. For me personally, I brought Andrew Jordan. He's based out of Cleveland. Since he has a house near the resort, he chose to stay there and I paid the outside vendor fee (cheaper than a 3 night stay). You can check him out under my siggy. Amy (Kittenheart) brought Chris Schmitt with her from California and she got fabulous pictures as well! There's lots of great photogs out there you just have to pick one that suits your style and budget.

Hey you! Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I'm glad you finally got it all worked out. It looks like you picked a FABULOUS place!!

Good luck Sammy! That sounds really stressful and I'm sorry. You're right, we all expect downtime and less stress once our weddings are over. I hope your AHR goes smoothly with no hiccups so at least that'll be one less thing to worry about. We're here if you need us!

Quote: Originally Posted by bsf&jpg I would just have ppl book through expedia/orbitz/cheapcaribbean, etc. they get whatever deal they can find. but GL to those who booked them. Just a piece of advice, I would be really careful about telling people to book on those sites. The resorts ALWAYS oversell and the ones who booked through those are the first ones to get bumped to another resort. Group contracts can be stressful because you have to worry about filling the rooms. But the flip side is that not having one is stressful, too-- you have to worry about the resort running out of rooms and/or rates going up. People can make an argument for and against group contracts but the bottom line is that both ways have their pros/cons and ALL DWs are stressful!

Katie, what a great AHR! The setting is gorgeous!! Everything is so pretty and well thought out that it looks like you had a second wedding--lucky you!

Quote: Originally Posted by gingerlover36 Question for any brides who were married on the beach - were you able to wear heels? or is that just ridiculous? Even though I wasn't married on the sand, I ended up getting wedges just in case. Nicole is right about the wooden aisle runner not running the length. A lot of brides get sandals for the ceremony and then change into heels for the reception.

The 2011 list is growing quickly! Fun!!

Wow Di, awesome planning!!! You are going to have a gorgeous wedding and I can't wait to see pics when you get back!! LOVE your hair trial I also think it's really sweet that your FI helped you with some DIY stuff. Lucky you!

Meredith - Nice on the multiquoting! For Lindz's e-pics, I was referring to her new siggy pic and her avatar that show up when she posts. I'm sure she has a lot more but I haven't seen them yet! So don't worry, you're not missing out

Quote: Originally Posted by gingerlover36 Hello, I haven't contributed much since joining but I just wanted to let you girls know that I have officially booked Azul Beach for March 26th 2011. Its going to be a big wedding and we got clearance prior to booking but the fiance and I just fell in love with the intimatness (I think I made that word up) during our site visit. So far we have 34 rooms booked in about 3 weeks! I think I put the fear of god into my guests that the hotel was going to sell out if they didn't. But I must say that reading through everyone's planning journals, reviews, etc has been amazing! Really helpful! I am trying to get on the planning wagon now since we are 10 months our and i still don't have a dress but I am so excited! An official to another AB bride!! We went there site unseen for our wedding but the intimacy of the resort is exactly what we'd hoped for. I too am seriously impressed that you have 34 rooms booked this far out. It's good you're putting the fear of God in them because the resort WILL sell out. Note to self, when we go back for our anniversary stay, don't make it during your wedding or we won't be able to get a room!

Lindz, LOVE LOVE LOVE the engagement pictures you've put up!!! You look amazing and have the most beautiful hair! Oh, don't you worry about your FI and the BD book. There's no way he could not like it. There isn't a man alive that wouldn't appreciate a gift like that, and coming from you who's such a hotty, I'm sure you'll take his breath away!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Amy - Holy cow girl... no words can describe how excited I am for you!!! You think you're excited now? You're in for a brand new feeling... I feel like a part of a special club and have felt something that only happy married Mrs. feel and can't wait for all the amazing bride to be's I know that are about to join <---- sooooooo cheesy! LOL! Oh my god so true!!! LOL I thought I was the only one that felt this way Strange how it feels so different and special and wonderful!! Yup, very cheesy but I'm on board with ya! And I too cannot wait for everyone else to join this club

Quote: Originally Posted by Sammyhawk OMG girls, so I know I haven't been the biggest contributer to this forum, mostly used it for major questions and to vent! I have to say that I am so thankful that I found you girls in February, this forum has been a life saver. I just got home from our wedding at Azul Sensatori, and it was fabulous! I have to say the weather wasn't the best, the worst day was of course our wedding day, but it was still a blast. We still got married on the beach rain and wind in all! So much for buying a TTD my first one got soaked! It is actually fine, I ended up getting more use out of my TTD though (since it was dry to put on for the reception). I will try to put together a planning thread now that I am done with wedding planning, though I am still working on the AHR planning, so be patient. That and a lot of my details got drenched (my fan favors, which who needed them in the rain and wind? And my programs were totally saturated) which was totally sad but they did turn out great. I will post pre-rain pictures . What an amazing week it was! I am so excited for you girls! YEA Sammy!!!!! back!!! I'm so glad you had a positive attitude about the rain. It's true, once you're there and it's your day it doesn't matter in the slightest. There's so much emotion and excitement going on that rain seems inconsequential. Thankfully the rain held off for our ceremony but it did rain on us for our pictures afterward. It just made for some great, stormy shots!! I'm soooo excited to hear about your review and see pictures! The siggy you posted looks amazing!!! And take your time. It took me like 3 weeks to get my reviews up. There's just so much to do when you get back and I too am in the midst of doing my AHR.

LOL, that was just the American in Cancun trying to make a sale! That's terrible for your friends, but I'm glad the customs guys were nice and treated them okay. It's good you confirmed this for others who might think the same thing.

Oh Amy YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! I've been thinking about you today knowing that you leave in the morning. Reading your post just gave me serious goosebumps!!! I know you are going to have the most fabulous, fabulous wedding! Azul Beach will really take care of you. Let's see, say hello to Mayra, Manuel, Nadia, Reveca, Tony, Hans, Angel, Martin, Antonio, Carlos, Eduardo, Axael, Oscar, Alejandro, the list goes on!! Yes, they're so great I even remember their names and what they did for us. I CANNOT WAIT to hear all about it when you get back!!!!!! I will relive every moment of my own wedding and live vicariously through you!! HOOOOOOOOOOOORAY for you!!

Meredith, So sorry to hear about your friend. How wonderful you were able to have someone in your life that you connected with and saw as an inspiration. I agree with everyone on the invites. No reason to send them to people who've already said no. It's both a waste of money and you could possibly make people feel worse if they really want to go but can't for whatever reason. If I got a STD that said "Invitation to Follow" but I had already said no to going, I would definitely not expect a formal invitation. As for all the other stuff, you also don't need to include that with the invites. You can send an information packet before you go if you like (or newsletter), or you can just let them know once they get there. For us, when our guests checked in they got an itinerary for the weekend and our ceremony details. Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Wendy - What's DH stand for.... something husband? Destination husband, LOL! DH = Dear Husband. But I like Destination Husband much better!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda Girls - I am so excited I can barely breathe! ahhhhh!!! I have the 4 courses listed as "first date" "courtship" "marriage" and "honeymoon" - How freaking cute is that!!!! Lastly, I got on the scale this morning, and yes I did have a couple bottles of wine between friends last night so I probably was a bit dehydrated but it said I hit my target wedding weight and lost 25 pounds!!!!! I am so excited!!!!! Probably will not step on the scale before I leave now and just keep this high note. OK, going to the beach to work on my tan now. Tomorrow is a spa day and finish packing, leave Monday at 6am!!!! woo hooooooooooooooooo YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!! YAY for the food course listings--OMG adorable! Super big YAY for the 25 pounds! FANTASTIC!!! And the biggest YAY of all cuz you're leaving in less than 48 hours!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!

Quote: Originally Posted by chong My FI loves the butter cream frosting but I am not sure if this is possible for us. We are having a beach reception and I am worry that it will MELT! Though my FI does not care as long as he can get his delicious butter cream frosting Chong The butter cream won't melt, but it may not hold a design as well as the fondant. What they'll do to keep it from melting is keep the cake in the kitchen until it's time for you to cut it. Once you do that, they'll take it in the back and plate it for everyone.

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda I'm not kidding - the AHR is my FI's party. He wants cupcakes - hes got them! He wants to have crabs - no problem! Its so fun to let him make the decisions this time around! Beer - he wants lots of selection - like 2 six packs of everything! He just finished organizing the shuttle vans from hotel to the location -- it took him weeks and he sees how much work planning a wedding is now You have the cutest AHR ever with your New England theme! I have reception envy!! And I love it that FI is planning everything. I wish I could just hand ours off to mine and I gladly would. At least he's really involved and has opinions on everything. It's a big help! We went and had a cupcake tasting today. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart For you girls doing an AHR (or already did one), any suggestions?? All I can think of now is to bring my guest books for people and maybe the wedding photo pictures of my parents and grandparents etc. It's weird being totally in the dark about everything except, where and when! I say relish the fact that you get to be in the dark!! You already planned a fantastic wedding, now just sit back, relax, and let your friends do all the work! Seriously. DH and I are in the midst of cake vs. cupcakes, keg and champagne or just keg, catered food or a combo of catered/made at home sides, wear our wedding attire or not, rent a van for our out of town guests or not, blah blah blah blah. This is waaaaaay easier than the wedding but it's still having to make decisions. I say show up with the guest book, the pictures you mentioned, and a ready to party attitude and you're set!

Quote: Originally Posted by KittenHeart Yeah isn't that cool! I was very excited when I caught that episode last year. It is! I saw the episode last year too but at the time didn't know it was your dress. Soooooooo gorgeous!

AmyKH!!!!!! I just saw your wedding dress on My Fair Wedding! Cooooooool!

Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda Hi Renee! All of the extra wedding crap I could have gone either way on doing or not doing --- I am not doing anymore in the interest of sanity! Good for you!! You gotta just let it go at this point, except for the traveling stuff of course. I so wish I'd had time for a massage the weekend before I left but that would have been an impossibility. I'm soooooooo excited for you ladies!!!!!!! Quote: Originally Posted by amybermuda Oh my gosh ladies, I got so teary reading your posts. That must be the icing on the cake man. We stress about losing weight, toning up, looking perfect, and to make such an impact to your new husbands after doing such a scary thing (take pix naked!!!) is so awesome. Congrats girls. I am so happy for you. You are both so brave Aw thank you! I bet you could do it too It was pretty powerful to watch him get all choked up. We both cried at our legal ceremony, at our real ceremony and over the pictures. Man, weddings are emotional! Well, this is the good emotional and not the "I can't take it anymore we're eloping!" emotional, LOL. Now is when you and Renee get to the good stuff!!!!!

Quote: Originally Posted by amandamarieb Actually I think Wendy did a tasting. Also, from what I've heard the cakes taste incredible! They might not always look pretty (wel that's if you order butter cream instead of fondant, right WEndy) but I hear they are so good that you won't have any left. Also, I think that both Wendy and Amy did flavors not offered in the banquet kit. Question for you ladies, did you have to pay more for different flavors? I'm pretty sure the cakes vary by resort. My TA did a site visit to Karisma properties just a few weeks ago and she raved and raved about all these exotic wedding cake flavors they offer at EDR. I was jealous! For cake tastings, we asked our TA if we could have one and he set it up for us. Chong, our tasting was on Wednesday and the wedding Saturday. They don't need much lead time. They had 3 little cakes for us at our meeting with the onsite team. No off-the-menu flavors for us. They said it wasn't an option and could only have chocolate, strawberry or vanilla. We went with strawberry cake (white cake with real strawberries inside) and butter cream frosting. Delish!!

Quote: Originally Posted by chong OK. I am going to be silly and ask the question... What is BD book? Is it something you can explain here? I am dying to know what this BD book is... HELP! Chong Haha, no worries! We were all in the dark at some point as to what BD means. BD = Boudoir (a woman's dressing room) Some brides on here do a sexy photo shoot as a wedding gift to their hubbies. Lingerie, FI's favorite outfit, or just plain naked!