talicea7812

@@murmel Do you work for karisma? or are u just a past bride? Your profile says you're a 2011 bride. the way I see it...this is supposed to be a high rated resort. I should not have to wait until I arrive to sort the details...also, I don't want to be traveling with lots of cash. @@Jennypert according to my coordinator the set up fees are per person per event. So going by that- they can charge you a total of $500 for the set ups. I spoke to another bride on one of the forums who purchased one of the memorable moments packages (approx. $3000) she also bright some of her own items and was charged an additional $250. So judging by that...if the resort can find an excuse to charge you...they are going to do it.

Hey. @ karabeth Im using marvin with maya floral. I've read some great reviews on him. He's very responsive. I was able to send him pics of arrangements I liked and he quickly got back to me with quotes. I want blue orchids...so according to lomas, they are imported flowers. Lomas charges hundreds more for them...while marvin charges $10 more. As for pick up...my FI and the groomsmen are picking them up. they only have to go to the security gate. for the amount that we are saving it is worth it... plus the guys getting ready is nothing like the girls...so its not a big deal for them.

@@ng2015... a while back u asked me to keep u posted on the flower situation. I am definitely using an outside vendor for flowers. He can do everything for a fraction of the cost that Lomas will do it. Azul is aware of this. It is noted on my wedding sheet that I will be bringing in my own flowers & there is no vendor fee charged since the guys are going to pick them up. For the flowers I want Lomas would have been around $2000. I'n getting everything for $600

Salsa Lessons!?!?! OMG im so game for that

FINAL SELECTIONS ARE DUE... Big shock...Carol sent me my wedding worksheet and SURPRISE its all wrong. 1. Wedding location WRONG 2. Charged outside vendor fee when it is clearly marked that photo/video are staying at resort 3. Should be a $90 credit for the flowers in the package that I wont be using 4. Cake pic is not the one I submitted Why is it so hard to get these thing right? I don't really have any add ons...just 2 small hanging corsages & a sound system hook up. Completing my sheet should be easy. so the few things that she did have to fill in were wrong. Oh...but make no mistake...she made it a point to note that I am bringing my own decorations and will be charged set up. and I am bringing my own flowers, must pick them up and will be charged set up (amazing to get paid to place a centerpiece on the table.) I continue to read more and more into the various topics on the forums. I've come across some more possible nickel and diming situations. I am tired of fighting and email doesn't seem to do the trick. I feel bad for the person I will deal with onsite. I've had enough of all the problems...so if unforeseen costs pop up at the last minute...all the frustration with Azul that's been building up will be unleashed on the mexico coordinator.

@@BeachBrideToBe My heart just dropped!!! The set up fees are insane! I am bringing my gazebo sheers, chair sashes, table runners, napkins, some glitter painted wine btls and peacock feathers. I am using a florist off the resort because the flowers are only a fraction of the cost of lomas but my FI needs to go to the security gate (2-3 miles) to pick them up. I have asked over and over again about the set up fees. My karisma planner knows I intend to bring my own items (sheers included bc I asked for measurements). My most recent reply was that it is max $5 per person per event. So with my small wedding the total should be no more than $250. I'm tired of the emailing back and forth. I'm not going to fight it now... they will have to deal with me in person bc if they dare say I have to pay $600 to hang some sheers...so help me God I will go bridezilla. This resort is downright awful. Ive read all the reviews that when u get there its so great...but the journey leading up to it has been one of the worst experiences I can remember. If you are a bride with a large budget you will love this place...bc all they want is money. Who do they think they are trying to charge $600?!?!?! Isn't it $100-$150 to rent and have lomas setup? I think its bullshit that you cant set up your own items. I have family & friends who have volunteered to help out. I am only a couple weeks away from my arrival down there. With all the money I am paying to stay there, things better go smoothly. I am at my wits end when it comes to dealing with this company and I feel bad for the on site coordinator bc if these sudden costs pop up...He will be sorry he ever met me. If it weren't so late in the game I would have taken my business elsewhere. BTW...when are u getting married? are u at sensatori or another karisma resort?

Help!!! Can anyone identify this Cenote?

HELP!!! Can anyone identify this cenote?

Help! Can anyone identify this cenote?

Help! Can anyone identify this cenote?

Sorry to hear you are dealing with that situation...but its nothing compared to the nickel and diming at my resort (Azul beach) our approved vendors are awful & photo/video are the most important aspects to me. The outside vendor fee at my resort is $800 or a 3 night stay at the resort! I have had many many issues while planning my wedding but the key is to not back down. Have you gone to supervisors? Post on social media that you are unhappy? find the brides who are getting the perks you want and copy their messages. I know things have changed at dreams since my friend married at the cancun one in 2010...but I still would rather be getting married there than the resort I chose! I am paying to bring my photog from home and stay at the resort (I took out a 3rd job to do this) and I will also be paying the fee for my video guy. Now to any brides that can help.... Can you identify this cenote?

Help!!! Im reaching out to anyone who can offer some help! Can you identify this cenote?

Help!!! Past brides who have done a TTD session... Can you identify this cenote?

@@ng2015 No im sorry I don't remember. Im on this site all the time. its just one of those things I happened to read. Wedding is fast approaching! April 12th

THE GUYS & THERE TIES... We are still doing the gray groomsmen look...however, the tie has been up in the air. I wanted white. FI wanted gray (2much gray for me) We compromised and decided to just put them in the wedding colors. For the FI I wanted a white tie with either gray or I thought blue would be cute...he would then have something blue too. He thought that was cute THE GUYS & THERE TIES... We are still doing the gray groomsmen look...however, the tie has been up in the air. I wanted white. FI wanted gray (2much gray for me) We compromised and decided to just put them in the wedding colors. For the FI I wanted a white tie with either gray or I thought blue would be cute...he would then have something blue too. He thought that was cute

Anyone getting married at a Karisma resort... You can bring in outside vendors for hair and makeup. I was finally able to get it approved bc I went with someone who does airbrush make up and the hotel is unable to offer that service. At first they were going to make me pay the $80 day pass fee but I fought that too bc the passes are for ppl staying the day who will also be eating and drinking.

@@csho...I just ordered the dress today 3/12/2014. I'm usually a 10 in dress sizes thanks to my chest area...so for this dress I figured that was the most important area is the chest. If it fits there the rest should be fine. It has a lace up back too so I can adjust as needed. Are u planning a TTD?

TRASH THE DRESS... My photographer has included a one hour TTD session in our wedding package. I have thought about just wearing my own dress. So many forums have said the dress is fine after being cleaned...however, I changed my mind when I went to the fitting and realized how heavy the dress was!!! its heavy without adding water. So I shopped around and wanted something cheap and light. I found this chiffon dress on amazon for $60. Pretty and should do the trick

So cute! I just started thinking about my head table! Love the bach party outfit! so cute! Can't wait to see some shower pics!

@@LilyPotter thanks for the tutorial...I was figuring it would be a spiral cut. I didn't read the article but you will also prob need to seal the edges of the fabric just by quickly running them over a candle flame @@rvalenka I'm wait for my regular chair sashes to arrive in the mail...then I will try to add on the ruffles. I'll post results. When are u getting married?

PARENTS... So...Today I purchased the corsages for the parents- My mom, FI's Mom & Wife (not a typo) and FI's step mom. I didn't even want to get anything for FI's mom. Now I know what ppl will say when I write this and I don't care. This is my personal feelings on the situation. My FI are a young STRUGGLING couple. We have made many sacrifices to make this wedding a reality. We have now been engaged for over 2years. My FI works 6 sometimes 7 days a week and I work everyday, 3 jobs. It has not been an easy journey to get to this point. My mother is not well off. She works as a housekeeper in a hospital. She lives alone and off that one income. Not only is she coming to the wedding...but she has done soooo much to try and help in any way she can. she has paid for my dress, veil, belt and alterations. she helped out my bridesmaids with the shower and contributed $200. She gave us an additional $200 for a shower gift. So she has probably contributed close to $3000. My FI's father is also struggling. He lost his job not too long ago. He found another but is only making half of what he used to and now at the present moment is out of work for medical reasons. FI's dad and stepmom are both coming to the wedding...in addition they have contributed $1000 toward the wedding, will be paying for everything related to FI's grooms wear...and his step mom has helped with many DIY projects and saved us lots on money with some projects. Now...FI's mom. She is very well off. So much so that she is paying his sister's way to Mexico- hotel and airfare. The sister is a 30 year old woman, living at home, with a full time job. So its not like she is unable to save if she wanted to go. In addition Mom and Wife will be taking a Mediterrean cruise 2 months after the wedding. Mom has contributed nothing. I know I shouldn't expect anything and it wouldn't be such a big deal to me...if she wasn't paying the sisters way. So needless to say I feel a certain type of way towards her. I look at it this way. if it were my child getting married I would contribute SOMETHING!!! Ppl say "oh well maybe she's saving it for the wedding." Honestly I wouldn't be surprised. she is the wait and see what everyone else does type of person. For my daughters baby shower she told us... I want to buy the swing but I'll wait til after the shower in case someone else gets it. Really??? who does that? Okay...so that's my rant on the in laws. Since my FI insists they have corsages I purchased something plain. Now they're not bad... but I think the ones for my mom and FI's step are much prettier. Single flower pic- Mom & Wife Purple & blue- Step mom Blue & white with bracelet- My mom

@@AggieKat so here's what I did...the outside vendor fee is $800 & I'm already paying to fly in my own photographer. Soooo $800 more is a lot! My mom is staying in a room by herself. I was able to get the videographer to discount his price bc of the vendor fee & I am adding him on to my mom's room (which is still cheaper than the vendor fee) when all is said and done im still paying less than if I were to hire an approved vendor (fees and package combined) but I'm getting the guy I want. I'm not sure what your photo/video situation is... but some companies are photo & video. If you have your vendors meet and enter together they will seem like one company and you only pay the one time fee. My guy suggested this and said he's done it before. I was unable to do that since my photog is flying from home and will already be at the resort Or you can always book a room for your 2 companies. it should still work out to be less than the double fees. As for decorations/sheers. I just ordered mine late last week. I thought the white was included...but doesn't matter. I wanted colors...and im pretty sure I was told $150. (maybe color is an upcharge?) not sure but either way...they recommend 2. so right there its an additional $200! just to decorate your wedding archway. I was able to buy 2- 40 yard fabric bolts for $27 each. I actually ordered all my decorations from there- chair sashes, table runners, & napkins all for $110! So even with the setup fee (max $250) I'm still saving money and have the possibility of reselling the items. Hassle? Maybe? but im hoping to be able to fit all decorations into one large suitcase (along with the OOT bag stuff) The decorations should arrive this week so I can do a suitcase test and see if everything will fit. we are lucky. Our first checked bag is free and we booked a seat for our under 2yr old daughter...so we can check 3 large bags at no additional cost. Soooo I guess you have to look at all the factors b4 deciding buy and bring or just rent. Hope this helps.

VIDEOGRAPHER... We finally booked a videographer. I was on the fence about whether or not to have one. We are already putting out so much money for the photographer and of course, everything else. Part of me really wanted it. This is a time that we will always want to remember. there will never be another day like it. Part of me wanted to save the money. After wedding we are tying to save for a house. I definitely didn't want to use the approved companies- Caribe and Matias Cano. They were $525 per hour and I couldn't really find much in the way of sample work. I found Mike Cantrell of Cancun Wedding Video. His reviews on BDW are all awesome and his highlight videos are amazing. We can only afford one of the small packages (thanks to the outside vendor fee) but at least we will have the getting ready moments, ceremony & first dance. For me those are the most important aspects. the family dances, cake cutting...we'll have the pictures. That's good enough for me. So as of this morning...the deposit is paid

really do your research before planning or booking the karisma resorts. Not only are they expensive for the guests but can quickly become pricey for the bride. I am getting married at Azul beach. Planning has been awful. The initial wedding cost seemed low but they nickel and dime you for everything. Check out the approved vendors- Lomas travel (flowers, decorations) and Matias Cano & Caribe for Photo & video. I found them to either be pricey or mediocre. I am paying for my photographer to stay at the resort & now the dilemma is do I want to bring in an outside video guy ($800 vendor fee on top of his price) In 2010 I went to a wedding at Dreams Cancun. My friend got married there and her experience was nothing like mine & her wedding was beautiful. The rooms were reasonable and all the guests had a great time. Plus you are right on the main strip so if you gt bored on the resort Cancun nightlife is right at your doorstep.

we are doing the unplugged wedding for several reasons... 1. my Fi's family is camera crazy. His mom thinks shes a photographer. Stand here. pose like this. it could go on forever. 2. we hired an awesome photographer. we intend on taking pictures with every guest and once its all said and done we will make up parents albums. were not really planning on doing parent gifts at the rehearsal/wedding. the album will be their gifts. 3. we have a small wedding group. I don't want to look out at them and see their faces hidden by cameras, ipads, & phones. 4. we want to be the first to post pics on social media. 5. we've had issues in the past with my FIs mom not sharing the pics with us. (my daughters bday she took pics while we sand happy bday. when asked several times to share them with us, she didn't respond) The FIs family is definitely not happy. His mother in particular....but we've been telling them since the very beginning that's its how its gonna be. Oh well if she isn't happy. its not about her. @tcmcdonald I saw a cute pearl wrist corsage on etsy too!