dakotaAZ

Sure, your the first person getting married around the same time! I don't have much done, I did get a dress last weekend and only because they told me if I didn't order that day, the dress wouldn't get there on time!!

We were actually going to use Elizabeth Medina also but found it more cost effective (she will photograph 3 days since she is staying at the resort). Azul did approve us brining Elizabeth if we were going to use her and this was a couple of months ago, as long as you ask permission and pay the 500 dollars you can use almost anyone (Del Sol is not allowed on Karisma property). I would suggest looking into photographers in your area or other areas and ask what they would be willing to do it for, I was shocked at how many would do a destination wedding and how the cost could be lower than going local. Our photographer is doing it for the cost of her trip plus a lower fee and that includes all the photos, some specialty photos on canvas and a coffee table style book and she is bringing her assistant - so it is sometime worth looking into.

We are getting married at another Karisma resort and are bringing a photographer from home and had absolutely no issues. Prior to deciding to bring her with, we were going to use an outside photog and understood there was a 500 dollar outside vendor fee and that is it to use whoever you want. So yes they have a policy but if you want to use someone else you pay the outside fee and use whoever you want. I dont know if this is a reason to boycott a resort, many of the properties are beautiful and we have had no other issues/problems/concerns.

Hi ladies, I dont post on here a ton but I do read most posting and the info is always great. I have been going back and forth on having a private reception vs the restaurant...I was hoping you all could tell me what you are doing and why? If your doing the restaurant, what are you doing afterwards? Does anyone know if they have live music in the bars? Are you doing a cocktail reception at all? I keep going back and forth and could use some help sorting out my options! We are going to have 40, maybe more people. Thanks in advanced for your help!!

Can you tell me more about your dessert buffet, we have been talking about that since dessert is my favorite part! I haven't seen anything for that in the catering packet, so any information you can give me would be awesome! Thanks!! Â

We are planning to be somewhere in the middleof where you are at with the budget. One thing that helped us was bringing our own photog, I thought it would have cost quite a bit more but with encouragement from the girls on here, we started looking for someone to bring from home. So that being said we started asking around and quite a few offered their services at a lower rate just for the opportunity to go.... We found one locally and will be paying for her trip and a small fee for her to do the wedding, she has also offered to do the day before, day of and a TTD the day after...So we are getting an awesome deal. So long story short, look into bring one with you.

Pictures are beautiful!! Congratualtions!

Our photographer is going to be doing 3 days of photos but after the wedding we are doing a TTD, did you guys use your wedding dress or buy a second dress just for the TTD? If you bought a second dress, can I ask where and what you paid for it? I am going home (MN) in Oct to look for dresses with my mom and was curious on what everyone else did....Thanks!!

The pictures and story were awesome, congratulations!!

Quote: Originally Posted by beaz2be I'm not working with Faye, but for what it's worth finding out about the reception locations was the one thing for me that took AGES for a response. (well, felt like ages anyways... probably only a couple weeks) I am glad to hear I am not the only one, it does seem like it is taking a long time an answer. Thanks, that makes me feel better!

Has anyone else started working with Faye? What do you think so far? I am still waiting to hear back from her about reception locations.

Quote: Originally Posted by MaggieandJay This thread was my godsend! I ended up picking the resort because of the ladies on here and i felt I would get the best wedding! 2 weeks!!! How Exciting!!! I was orginally shooting for May 2012 but had to change due to my grandparents and My mom thinking 2 years was too long for their health! They seems fine to me but when you take some of Mom's money I guess you have to know what to give into! I am hoping this photo thing I am about to do works! I have 2 blind from birth poodles. Xander and Leonitis. Xander is the big one and Leo is the little one! We got them from a rescue here in Houston. We took Xander because I am a sucker for special needs. 3 years later the same rescue called us up and said we have another blind dog, would you like it. I don't dress them up very often but the Dog Groomer will do it during the holidays and take their pics for a small fee. She is going to take a pic of them in Tuxes for my favor card! Thats awesome you were able to take in both dogs! They are really cute and I'm usually a big dog person, we have golden retrievers....I cant wait until we are able to rescue another one, but 3 is my limit now...That's great!

Quote: Originally Posted by thefuturemrslutz I think you will be SO happy you did this!! Thank you, I think so too! She is so excited to go and has already got ideas on what they want to do and we aren't getting married until April.

Quote: Originally Posted by murmel I agree. I thought it would be much more expensive, but when we totalled up what we were getting, it became a great price to bring our photographer with us. He will be doing photos at our welcome cocktail party, the wedding and then trash the dress! So excited And I'm a junior member! Thats awesome, ours is doing pretty much the same thing, she will also go golfing and deep sea fishing with the guys (well her or her assistant).....Bringing one was definitely the way to go!

Quote: Originally Posted by mr.mrs.winski did everyone bring their own photographer? I'm a photo freak and I was wondering if anyone used any of the photographers the resort recommends We are bringing a photographer with also....I thought it would have cost quite a bit more but found a photogragher here that is giving me a fantastic price and will be doing 2-3 days of photos...It is actually cheaper for me to bring her, so were pretty excited. I did look into the photographers the resort offered and was not too impressed, so this was a better fit for us since photos are pretty important.

Good Morning I know some of you have mentioned a new coordinator through Karisma, I guess Cecile is gone now also and that is who I was working with....So has anyone worked with Faye yet?

Hello, I have not posted too much on here but have been reading through everything and havefound it to be really helpful, so thanks for all the great information!! We have secured our wedding date at Azul in April but I am wondering how soon did everyone start deciding things like the reception space, food,flower, ect.? April feels pretty far off but I don't want to be behind the curve either. Thanks!

Quote: Originally Posted by amcferron So, are you able to use photographers from Mexico?? I thought i read somewhere that it was either use one of the places Azul Sensatori recommends or bring someone from the US?? Or, can you use whoever you want but just have to pay the $500 fee I think we have finally settled on a photographer and found it frustrating at first because of the conflicting information....So from everything I was told by my TA and the Karisma WC you can either bring someone with or you can pay $500 to use a photographer from Mexico and both would be ok as far as the resort was concerned. We chose to bring someone from Phoenix but you can use someone from the area....hope that helps:)

Have many of you bought insurance through your TA? Our TA offers a insurance that covers 100% if you cancel for any reason....I go back and forth if it is worth the 129 per person....Any thoughts?

Quote: Originally Posted by MaggieandJay So mixed reviews on Tiffany....Has anyone had Cecile? I started off with Tiffany and have been dealing with Cecile lately, I think she is great. She gets back to you quickly and addresses all my questions. I had talked with Tiffany once or twice and find Cecile to be much faster with her responses and much more thorough, she would email me in between just to see if she could help or if I had any. As of now, my TA seems to be handling all the communications with her, but as far as I'm concerned Cecile has been very helpful.

Quote: Originally Posted by bigboponthebeach Welcome Alissa! I have just joined here myself and have been confirmed on 5/28/11 at the Sensatori. All I can tell you, and I'm pretty bitter about it myself right now, is that if you bring a photographer from home, you are required to pay a 3-night stay for them. If you pick a photographer outside of the approved vendor list that resides in Mexico, you must pay a $500 outside vendor fee. Sucks, I know. :-( I hope this helps and I hope you find these boards useful. They have been a lifesaver for me and have fully sucked me in. :-) Take Care! I hear you!! The whole thing did not make me happy either, so I agree with you. My TA has recommended a photographer in Riv Maya so we will see how things shake out. But I absolutely agree!!

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!! I am new to this forum and could use some help! My name is Alissa and we are planning on getting married at Azul Sensatori on April 2, 2011 (tentatively). We are looking different options for photographers then the ones that are contracted through the resort, I know there is a additional fee to bring someone in. We live in Phoenix and I am not sure the best way to go about finding a photographer. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Ladies