talicea7812

Wow! so Zaida Marcos (check out her work on facebook) gave me a price quote for my cake... $6 per person! That's $150 for the whole cake and half the price of what Azul wants to charge! Not to mention fondant style not buttercream. I have sent this info to my coordinator. Again, I will be looking into if it is possible to have these items delivered to the hotel and have someone go out to get it. The price differences are insane! After having lunch with a friend of mine this weekend, we got to talking about her destination wedding. She was married at Dreams Cancun. I had an amazing time and the resort was awesome. she said she didn't experience any problems like I am having with Azul. She handed them a box of decorations and the hotel set everything up at no extra charge.

sucks not seeing the pictures...but its easy to get to the 150. It only took me about a month. lol...im so impatient! I sent out so many emails and I basically sit at a computer all day. I have my email open so I can get the emails as soon as they come. the wedding is so close so I need quick response time. One thing I didn't really consider until today is transportation. Hacienda sisal is 30min away! I would def have to get a bus or something to shuttle the guests. I'm thinking that's going to put Sisal out of budget. I will be so disappointed. With the way Azul has treated me I want to give them as little money as possible.

So ive been looking into outside vendors in the cancun area. I am trying to compare prices from Azul to those of local businesses. I asked Azul for a quote for a cake for 25 ppl two tiers & I would provide the peacock embellishment. I was quoted $300. After researching- I found royal weddings. Their online gallery shows several cakes. I just copied the one that was the closest to my original pic. Ribbon on each tier and flower decoration. Huge price difference.

Well my bachelorette and Bridal shower are quickly approaching. Of course the first thing my friends wanted to know was...what was I wearing. I used to love shopping but now that I'm a little older it actually makes anxious to think about it. I go in a million stores look at the same items over and over again. Once I try something on I usually hate it or it doesn't fit and they don't have the next size. It just stresses me out. Now, I really took a gamble and decided to try out this website...rent the runway. You rent designer dresses at a fraction of the cost and return when finished. I decided to give it a try. I order 2 dresses and paid $80. They are supposed to be delivered a couple days before each even and come with a backup size. I like the dresses and a bonus is the website posts reviews by real women who have worn the dress and you get to see what it looks like on a real person...opposed to a 6' slim model. I've attached the pics. Hopefully this works out... if it does I will feel fabulous telling people im wearing Versace! Blue & green for bach party Black for shower

Well I was able to find a way around the hair and makeup issue. Ive read reviews that say airbrush makeup is best...especially if it ends up being a humid day. Ive had airbrush done before and loved it! Anyway...there are a couple makeup artists that do airbrush. I was able to get the okay to bring them in on a daypass because the hotel can not offer what I'm looking for. I'm trying to decide between alex & alex and beso brides. Beso is a bit cheaper & I think I like their hair pics better. oh...and Ive read reviews that many times you can get day pass fees decreased the day of bc they are not wedding guests there to eat and drink.

What is everyone doing about flowers? Im not happy with the Lomas selection. Expensive and mediocre. Is or has anyone ordered flowers from outside the resort and brought them in? I read on other resort forums that brides were about to have the flowers delivered to the lobby and just went out to pick them up. I've been in touch with a local florist who is offering amazing prices for orchids. Lomas would like me to pay for my first child for those flowers.

@@CurlyKristen I also have naturally very curly hair. It very long and tough to manage. it takes a lot of work to straighten and the slightest amount of humidity causes frizz (whether wearing it curly or straight). according to things I read online January is not a humid month. You should be fine. Im getting married in april so im pretty close to when the humidity kicks in. I'm thinking about getting a keratin hair treatment before going down. I've read that its amazing for people like us. Normally its $300 but you can usually find good deals for it on livingsocial/ groupon type of sites. I've also been in touch with various hairstylists. They pretty much all recommend some kind of up do.

Hey @@KaraEbeth I have the small group menu as well as the large group. The more I talk to the woman there the more excited I get. IIeana is very responsive and helpful. I've been sending emails everywhere for price quotes for flowers, decorations, etc. Lomas wanted to charge me outrageous prices for flowers bc I really want orchids. They are an imported flower so more expensive...but ive been talking to this guy Marvin. Ive sent him some pics of flowers I like and he's responded with some quotes. Imported flower arrangements are only $10 more that the local! I am def willing to pay the extra 10 to get the orchids I love. Hacienda sisal also works with a woman named Karla. she handles the vendors and such. she will also be sending me some quotes. The area that I like has square table but the picture I found online shows round and I really like the look. I just mentioned that I like it but prob cant afford the rental. She said she would see what she could do about getting the table free!!! I'm really excited to hear back from her. I hope this all works out bc for the first time since really trying to plan this wedding I am excited! working with a limited budget is hard...and even harder when the resort is so inflexible! Hacienda Sisal may be the way to go! I will stay in touch

has anyone on here read about bringing your own flowers? I was on another forum and a woman who was married at Moon palace said she was able to order her flowers through another vendor and have them delivered. Someone went out to the lobby to bring them in and the resort didn't say anything. Ive been reading reviews about a florist in cancun...Marvin, and he's supposed to be awesome and affordable.

When trying decide your wedding start time...talk to your photographer. They will often offer suggestions for the best time so you can have the most flattering lighting for your photos.

can anyone tell me how to get in touch with Marvin? I can't access his website & my email was returned.

@@ylan9383 I just tried to email him too and it was sent back

I can't get on the website either...and after reading all these great reviews I really want to check him out!

So the truth has come out. The bridesmaid announced that she is pregnant and due in August. After reading through the comments ppl were posting to her she admitted "that it took a little longer then planned." She never had any intentions of coming. I picked the first BM dress in the summer of 2013. She started the drama for a new dress in Oct/Nov & backed out in December. She was holding out all this time hoping for the pregnancy!

Hi Ladies.... so ive made repeated posts about the nickel and diming at Azul & the terrible selection at Lomas. I've decided to explore other options and I'm looking into other venues in the cancun area. Now, at this point im not sure if I am going to switch the reception to somewhere off the resort...but I have come across an adorable restaurant called Hacienda Sisal. You should google it and check out the pics. Its an authentic Mexican restaurant with really good prices for group events. One of the menu's they sent me works out to be about the same price as what I would pay at Azul. I'm seriously considering going here. I'm the last of my friends to get married so I think it might be fun and different to switch gears and give everyone the authentic Mexican experience. As of now im still in the questioning phase...but I have a feeling the issues like decorating and ridiculous fees won't come into play here. Plus I will be able to choose my own vendors for cake, decorations (or bring my own) flowers, etc. Ive attached a picture of the room at Sisal. there are a couple others but I really love this one. We'll see what happens

im going to buy flip flops with a wedge heel for the ceremony...then change into regular heels for the reception.

if u don't want to spend a lot of money...check out sites like rent the dress & little borrowed dress. The sites are similar to rent the runway (if ur familiar with that) rent the dress and return for half the price! I came across these sites too late and wish I had found them sooner!

Flower Girl Well up until this point I thought I knew what my daughter would wear. I previously talked with an Etsy designer who was going to custom make a dress. The plan was a lace top with a feather bottom. Cost $140- Not bad in my opinion. However, within the past couple days I came across a really cute dress on a facebook shop for only $25!!! Its definitely not as pretty as the custom dress...however it is really cute and after seeing it, I cant justify spending so much on a dress that will get destroyed in the sand never be worn again. The sash is detachable so I will be taking that off and adding a turquoise one...then a little peacock feather embellishment. Then some kind of headband- still searching. I like the one pictured but not 100% on it

@@AggieKat I didn't know it was an option til recently either. everything with my planner is like pulling teeth. when I ended up with less ppl than originally thought she told me I could do the beach or sky terrace? sky is extra $$$ and def didn't want to be right on the beach. Finally she suggested Chil. There is enough room for dancing and is smaller so I don't have to worry about a lot of open space.

Well planning is at a standstill and I really don't know where to go from here. I have this idea in my head of how I want everything to look...but going through Lomas will make that dream turn into debt after the wedding. Part of this stress is probably just me but I am seriously trying to keep costs down while creating a wedding I will be proud of. If I were to bring my own items I could save sooo much money...but Karisma is intent on making me spend every little dollar. I don't know what to do. I originally wanted to do the private reception, which on top of everything would be an additional $700. However, with all the nickel and diming Im considering just going with the included dinner reservation. Why should I pay $950 for a ceremony and $700 for the reception then an additional per person fee to put out decorations that they would have been putting out anyway? But then theres part of me that wants the sit down dinner. If I opt not to do the private reception I forfeit the other parts of a wedding that make it special- ex: the first dance what I really need is to win the lottery so I don't have to stress over little charges and can just enjoy the experience. I'm not a big worrier. I tell my fiancé I just don't have the "worry gene," but the exception to that is money. I always worry over money...because we don't have much.

Hi @@AggieKat I'm not 100% sure on my number of guests. I'm thinking 25? but until everyone finalizes their payments I wont believe theyre acutally coming. Anyway, I was originally going to be in the Blue Terrace but switched to Chil Terrace. From the pictures it looks the same as blue terrace just smaller. I'm like you, I don't want to have the reception right on the beach. I went to a destination wedding a couple years ago and they had an indoor/outdoor type patio and I absolutely loved it. It ended up raining mid reception so it worked out perfectly!

Im not really sure what your budget is but I would beware of the Karisma resorts. When I originally signed on everything seemed very affordable. Now im 2 months away from wedding day and the costs keep piling up. Before making your choices here are some things to consider about Azul: Check out Lomas travel weddings- All flowers, décor, etc go through them. I found the flowers to be expensive and mediocre. Also, most selections you make are done without seeing the actual color/item. Outside Vendor Fees- if you want to bring in anyone from outside the resort (photographer, Dj) you will have to pay $800 per vendor or pay for a 3night stay at the resort. The approved photographers are Matias Cano and Caribe. Again, I wasn't impressed with either & photography is the most important to me. Its not actually all inclusive- you must stay 7 nights in a Jacuzzi suite or higher to get the free wedding package. if you want to do a private reception its an additional per person fee. I have also read reviews that some of the speciality drinks listed in the restaurant menus are an additional charge!!! I have done tons of researching within the past 6 months. I wish I had known the things I know now. Many brides complain of poor service while planning from home (I can vouch for that...its been awful) everyone says once u get there you are in good hands...however 60 days away and I am freaking out bc nothing is settled. So...just some things to think about. a friend of mine married at playacar palace and loved it. She said her planning experience was nothing like mine. Good luck

I wish I could find the reviews again...it took some hunting before I even found them but what they said was the salon women aren't fluent in English so that could pose a problem & the makeup application wasn't anything that they couldn't have done themselves.

Azul beach is a serious rip off!!! I am paying for the pearl wedding package? $950- which includes white linens, chair covers, etc. To rent the items in color its $4+. so i found the items online much cheaper and wanted to bring them. the hotel wants to charge me up to $5 per person to set up the items!!! the things i would like to bring are the same items they will be setting out anyway! only in color! How do they justify that? Not to mention if I do a private banquet, I am paying an additional per person charge! Azul is killing pretty much every wedding dream. I chose destination bc its supposed to be more affordable...but with all the charges/fees etc. it keeps adding up! No matter how i try to save money once were down there...Azul has some sort of policy that wont allow it any other way but theirs. im 2 months away and nothing is done...just typing this im practically in tears. i hate this resort.

Finally... a breakthrough on the hair and makeup issue! After tons of searching I found Beso Brides! Micheal and Martina do hair and airbrush makeup for very reasonable prices! I will be able to get hair and makeup for $180...bridesmaids $145. I am able to have them come to the resort only because they offer airbrush makeup and the hotel can not provide that service. My FL coordinator says I will need to pay for a day pass for them...so that can be an additional $160. However, I have read many reviews (not just from Azul) but many hotels charge these fees but when confronted onsite will discount them or waive them altogether. So I will hold off on buying the passes and see what I can negotiate the day of. Check out Beso Brides on facebook. I liked what I saw in the pics. and once I'm married I will post my results and reviews on here