ng2015

@@talicea7812 oh my goodness, that's amazing!! I also found someone that I priced. For a centerpiece of roses Lomas wanted $85, this outside florist wanted approximately $50. What's the name of your florist? Will they be driving it to the gate or will your guys go to the store to get it?

@@talicea7812 Ok, thank you, I'll try and look around. That's so exciting!

@@talicea7812 do you remember where you saw that? I would TOTALLY love to get those perks if I can prove it. Thanks!! When is your big day again? I know the final countdown has begun

@@malika2014 @@KaraEbeth Hi Ladies, unfortunately I booked a block of rooms with Liberty Travel because I was afraid that by the time I found a travel agent I liked, my date would be gone. So now the room block is with Liberty Travel and I'm doing the rest by myself but I hear of all these great perks with the preferred wedding vendors and I'm wondering if I could fight for those same things on my own. @@malika2014 do you think your guy would still work with me even though I blocked my rooms already? Thanks!!!! xo

Has anyone on here NOT booked with a Karisma preferred travel agent?

@@KaraEbeth I used weddingwire, then changed to appy couple because I liked their templates better, less confusing. It's not free though

@@KaraEbeth you're right, it's not their wedding. It'll be gorgeous and you'll have a great time! On a different note, I ended up booking Playaweddings for photography AND videography. They're one company so i'm paying the outside fee only once. They also throw in an extra hour for free to accommodate the outside vendor fee. I had looked into the wedit cameras myself but then found out that they won't edit the film for you so you have to be pretty savvy in order to do it on your own. Also, I'm in the same boat as you and talicea in that I've been living with my fiance for many years and we have everything so I looked into a bunch of honeymoon registries including the one talicea mentioned above and they're great but they all charge a fee for using their services. They make you choose between making your guests pay upfront or a portion is taken out of the gift before you get it. It's not a bad idea, just something to think about...food for thought.

@@MariCorrea23 Congratulations! I'm getting married on 1/24 @@KaraEbeth I'm sooo sorry to hear that you're going through this. Your friends should be there to support you no matter what and if they don't like what you're planning, then like you said, they should keep that to themselves and just decline the invite. I agree with dad in that the way most people will look at it (or should look at it) is like their vacation. Don't cancel your dream! you wanted to have a destination wedding for a reason!! If people want to go, they'll find a way to get there. I also don't think that you should bend over backwards to have to accommodate them by paying (unless you and your fiance can afford to and you want to). They have a long time to plan and put away money. Don't do anything out of guilt! The people that are important will be there. I promise it will work out!! Another idea is that rather than feel guilted into paying for anyone, you could always do a little get together for people that couldn't attend once you get back home, like in a restaurant or something...this way they don't feel left out and no bad feelings happen. Hope this helps and hang in there Keep us posted xx

@@acw271011 Thank you for the information!! I will definitely look into those companies!! Also, do you happen to know about DJs? I keep hearing about doremixx but the website is outdated which kind of scares me. If I'm going to fork over another outside vendor fee, I want to be able to know what I'm booking. @@KaraEbeth I didn't get a free event because I didn't book with a gourmet inclusive preferred travel agent but I did do the Brides Dress Rehearsal so I get $500 towards food and beverage...not sure if I'm going to use that toward a rehearsal dinner or the reception. @@talicea7812 please keep us posted! I know it'll all work out, it's just a shame they're so stressful to work with

@@talicea7812 I haven't gotten any quotes yet because at first I was just going to do a small centerpiece and bring down a ton of votives and candles but the more I think about it, the less I want to give them my money. As it is, I'm already going to have to pay an outside vendor fee for my photographer/videographer AND it turns out that the DJ that everyone seems to love (DJ Doremixx) charges $850 so if I pay for him and a second outside vendor fee, it's STILL cheaper than using their DJ. So I'm going to shop around. Do you know if they'll still charge the outside vendor fee if your fiance and groomsmen go to the gate to get the items?

Hi @@talicea7812 I'd love to know what they say to you bringing the cake from outside. I'm thinking of doing the same with the flowers. please keep me posted. Thanks!

Hi @@KaraEbeth! talicea is right, the photographer will have a better idea of time for pictures. You'll want to be able to take pictures after the ceremony as well so you don't want it to be too dark. I googled sunset times (as well as average rain fall) for the year to give me a better idea. Worst case, you can always push up your time when you have a better sense from your photographer. Or if you're going to do a reveal with your hubby, then you can also take some pictures before the ceremony. Keep me posted!

@@KaraEbeth congratulations on booking your wedding!! so exciting! We're doing January @ 4pm for the ceremony. When we were there in December for the Bride's Dress Rehearsal, the sun was totally set by like 5:15 the latest so I figure it'll be pretty close to that for January as well. Good luck with Erika. The difficulties I've experienced have been with the Miami office of Karisma. From what I hear, once you're in Mexico, the wedding coordinators there are much more put together and are way easier to deal with and will go out of their way to accommodate. All the best with planning!

@jasstz @KaraEbeth @smhbv5 I didn't realize it until after I started the booking process but I wish I had gone with a GI preferred vendor because they throw in a bunch of extra bonuses. I originally had used destinationweddings.com but the travel agent I was working with was not being cooperative and giving me prices way above the group rates that Karisma offered me and not giving me information for the dates I asked for so I just hastily abandoned ship (although I think the lady I was dealing with was the only one in my area so I think it was her or nothing at all). I like my TA but we have to fight for literally everything. Oh well, live and learn and hopefully pass on the info here As far as vendors, I want to use Lomas as little as possible. I'm biting the bullet and paying the $800 fee for my photographer/videographer. I'm going with Playaweddings because I loved their work (believe me, I've scoured all the photographers and videographers and I like their work the best). They throw in an extra hour for free to offset the $800 fee. It's a husband wife duo so you only pay one fee. I think since the pictures and video are the memories we'll have, I don't mind spending the extra money to make sure they're perfect. About the DJ, I think we might go with the Lomas DJ because I can't bring myself to pay another outside vendor fee. Also, I remember reading somewhere on this site that you can go to somewhere like the local Walmart or Costco and pick up flowers Stephanie but you'll have to pay the setup fee which you would have to pay if you're doing other small decorations as well, with the max that they can charge capped at $250. Hope this helps!

Congratulations ladies!! I LOVE the catamaran idea!! That's such a nice day trip for guests. Has anyone heard of a bonfire that they do? I'm thinking of doing that for a welcome dinner. We're booked for next January but we don't know how many people yet. As far as the nickel and diming of everything, I have seen that on all of the blogs about them and have been privy to that myself a bit so I'm trying to figure out a way around that. I saw someone say that instead of having the OOT bags placed in people's rooms, they sent out an itinerary ahead of time (while they were still back home) that told them when and where to meet on a specific day (like welcome dinner night for example) and they handed them out there. Regarding reception decor, if you fit the requirement for Blue Terrace, they have the linens and everything all set up already so you're not paying out of pocket for that. I also don't want to waste money on Lomas' flower package so I'm thinking of bringing lots of votives with me and maybe doing a real touch centerpiece. Not sure yet. I'm still scouring for ideas online. I have some time though

@girlinthecity97 Thank you for this! I will look into them asap. As far as the brooch bouquet, I read some stories online that it looks easier to make than it actually is because once you pin them into the foam, they tend to get loose and fall out. They sell a bunch of different types of brooch bouquets on Etsy. Are you having a bridal party? If so, what would you have them hold?

@@MandM2014 Playaweddings will do 3 hours of photography or videography for $1,750 (+$800 outside vendor fee) but they will usually throw in an extra hour to balance out the fee. That package includes "3 hours of Continuous Coverage, Two Photographers. More than 240 edited images on disk, an online slideshow of favorites, an online gallery of all of your edited images, and a $50 credit to use toward print products or gift cards for family and friends." @@girlinthecity97 what are real touch flowers? That seems up my alley because I too don't feel like spending money on mediocre Lomas flowers that we can't even keep

Hi @@smhvb5 ! Congratulations to you! And thank you so much for the links and information!! I've booked my wedding at Azul Beach for next January so i'm excited We want to do the Sky Wedding so that's an extra fee and would supersede the free wedding they offer... but as far as food goes everything sounds great there. We might go with the family style so that we can give our guests more than just one option to eat. We're not 100% sure yet though. How about you?

Hello all, just wondering if anyone has started planning their 2015 weddings at Azul Beach. I'd love to hear your ideas for reception food, decor, entertainment and just about anything else!! Congratulations!

@@tmcdonald you're welcome..I hope it helps!! @@girlinthecity97 I did see that book early 30% off deal but it's off their current prices. I don't know if the prices they would give for your group would be any cheaper than the prices they have listed on the site. @@MandM2014 Congratulations!!

@@girlinthecity97 Honestly, I didn't get offered any extra perks. I blocked off 20 rooms with Liberty Travel so I'm guaranteeing them at least that. We haven't even sent out save the dates yet so I'm just assuming. I was totally scared that our guests wouldn't get rooms because everything goes so fast! Also, a good chunk of the day was used for site visits but you still have the later part of the afternoons to do your own thing. @@talicea7812 everything I'm finding and asking for is on the Karisma website....their Bride and Groom stay free promo says 1 free room for every 10 booked so that's what I argued. Here's the link http://www.karismahotels.com/savings/brideandgroomstayfreeaz If they're offering it, we should totally use it!! So here it is straight from their website: http://www.karismahotels.com/savings/brideandgroomstayfreeaz " Book ANY OF THE AZUL HOTELS FOR WEDDINGS AND RECEIVE 20% OFF PRIVATE EVENTS, $250 IN RESORT CREDITS FOR ALL GUESTS, PLUS A FREE SUITE FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM! Room Details: Current room rate promotions apply Free Rooms: Bride and Groom can earn free rooms based on the size of their wedding group (varies by hotel and date range) One free room for every 10 rooms booked Resort Credit: Guests can receive up to $250 per room resort credit (valid on specific items only) Private Events Discount: 20% discount on any event the bride or groom purchases from our banquet kit" Again, you have to fight for everything with them so if you're willing to put the time and effort in, they'll eventually do it.

Hi ladies, Any one have any experience with the Lomas DJ's , DJ All Music or Mega DJ? I'm already contemplating using an outside vendor for photography/videography so I have to pay the $800 there, so I'd like to know other brides' experiences with them. Thanks!!!

@@girlinthecity97 I thought I was the only one that started planning my 2015 wedding early...I started in December right after I came back from the Brides Dress Rehearsal. I'm getting married next January at AB and am excited because it was gorgeous!!! the dress rehearsal was totally worth it although it took up a lot of time during the day but for someone like me who wants to know everything, I'm glad we did it. As far as the Karisma coordinators in Florida, I'm having such a difficult time with them!! I originally booked the dress rehearsal through destinationweddings.com but the coordinator there was awful. When I came back and started asking about dates and prices, she gave me dates that I wasn't looking for and her prices were about $200 HIGHER than the hotel rack rates!! (I called Karisma FL. directly and asked for their rates) So anyway, I immediately dropped her and went to Liberty travel to book. If you do the dress rehearsal you're entitled to a $500 Food and Beverage credit but what they don't tell you (and it's in fine print) is that you only get the credit if you book with the original travel agent. Long story short, I went through weeks of arguing and being put in touch with different departments in Karisma, but they finally granted it. From what I heard from some brides that were there the weekend we did the dress rehearsal is that you have to fight for EVERYTHING but that they'll eventually do it. I also had to fight for the past two weeks about the Bride and Groom Stay Free Promo but they also finally gave it to us. Best advice I can give is get everyone's name and extension and written confirmation of everything!!