ashhtayy

I would have loved to make mine - homemade cards are my favourite. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) we had to act fast to secure our deal. I'll do a lot of DIY projects for the actual wedding though. I'm too excited to start the fun stuff.

2016, not 2015 so not too soon STDs should arrive this week and will go out next week. Went dress shopping for the first time this past Thursday. Was able to confirm it is fit and flare I want but definitely didn't find "the one". My mum surprised me when we got there with my "Mrs. Romeo" hanger. I ordered our vow books today too. Almost finished my bridesmaid proposal boxes - mini champagne, makeup bag with mini toiletries, note pad, hand made cards, luggage tags and passport holder. Waiting for etsy to ship the luggage tag and passport holder. And that's all I've done Can't wait to start the fun stuff once people start booking. You're SO close. I'm jealous!!!! @@IzzyDeee ^

@@IzzyDeee June 2016 bride from Whitby, Ontario

I was using MFP in the summer and lost 10lbs. Since stopping I gained 5 back. Best app ive seen for weight loss but hard to stay motivated. Like a few other brides said, I have found it easier to shed the lbs by tracking food intake rather than working out. I'm at the gym 3-4 days per week; that's helping with toning but the lbs only dropped while using MFP. PS. Sign up for their recipes - they're great!

@@GlenRosa90 congrats! I ordered my STDs and they should arrive this week. I'm sending them out ASAP for our June 7th, 2016 wedding

I did a quick search of this thread and didn't see the answer; forgive me if its in another thread. Although this is not a big deal (more a slight annoyance), does anyone know how much wifi is at AF? I read somewhere $10US per day and somewhere else that it is free in restaurants and your room. Our STDs go out soon and I know someone will ask me. Hopefully all my friends and family will be there so I won't need to communicate back home BUT I'd love if people could post their pictures of our trip as we go. Thanks in advance

@@FutureMrsGlover Beautiful Dress! I am going shopping for the first time Thursday. I hope I walk out with something pretty too

I'm going dress shopping on Thursday for the first time. I booked the appointment three months ago. My FI's family lives in BC and are coming to visit for a week. Since, because if distance, they won't be involved in much of the planning I thought this would be a great way to incorporate them. I've kept this a secret from them and plan to surprise them with dress shopping and a girls dinner. On Thursday it will be my mum, my two best friends, my MIL and my FI's nonna. I am VERY nervous about having too many people for my first try on, but knew if I didn't have my best friends there I would be loosing out on valuable opinions. My mother, the greatest woman I know, will be little help in choosing. Whenever I show her an outfit she always says how amazing it looks. She can't help it. I would never go without her, but can't expect too much help from her. I'm scared to death about my MIL and FI's nonna coming. I love them and I know how much it will mean to them that I am including them in this process but they are VERY opinionated. I hope they recognize how hard this will be on me and will watch their words. I also feel bad about not inviting my three other bridesmaids but 5 is a lot and 8 would be out of control. We are going to a local bridal shop that I went to with my two best friends for their dresses. The staff is amazing so I'm hoping they can also help in making this a fun experience while keeping my entourage in check. Fingers crossed for a great experience.

@@veryvalentine I just spent the last hour reading through your entire thread. I am in love with everything you've done so far. My resort and flight deposits are going in Monday and I cannot wait to start my planning. You've inspired me!...and scared me a little. You're so creative. I hope I can come up with ideas as beautiful as yours, and be able to execute as flawlessly. Congratulations on what you've done so far. I can't wait to keep reading

@@CaroV i'd say it depends on what size of resort you are looking at booking. I am a May-June bride and having issues getting the number of rooms needed for our guests (50-60 people).

@@TinkerSofi @@Smellsey My TA is seeing rooms available, just not a TON of rooms. She thinks that the resort may not have released the full availability yet...does that make sense knowing that we are booking so far out? @@snswedding2016 - I do not understand the 'Attrition' clause; I hope I am not the only one. Is that saying that for the deposits we put down and our guests, if upto 20% don't pull through, our file gets to kep the $150 times however many peopel back out? Our guest list is approximately 175 and we are only considering putting the deposit down for our absolute 'yes' group - our parents, siblings, closest family and friends (bridal party). Realistically they will pay their deposit right away regardless so all this worry may be for nothing. Thanks for listening (reading) lol

@@Smellsey @@snswedding2016 @@TinkerSofi Okay, so we have until the 10th to decide if we are going to pre-pay deposits or not. We are going to pay the $300 like you all said to block the first 15 rooms for 90 days. The reason our TA is suggesting we pre-pay for our 'yes' guests is because Transat doesn't have enough rooms in their allotment for the 15 rooms included in the wed 30 promo. I can't be the only one getting this advice, can I?! Very confusing.

@@TinkerSofi @@Smellsey Thanks for the replies. Here is what my TA just got from AF - "We do have nightly entertainment which start around 9:00pm at our Salon Fives or on our Fives Plaza; however, the entertainment finishes at around 11:30 and our Gin and Zky bars close at 1:00am every night (the 1910 Cantina Mexicana closes at 11:00pm as it is close to the Essence section). Entertainment is diversify as we have an acrobatic show, a Michael Jackson Tribute, karaoke, etc.; however, we do not have a DJ on property. We are a 15 mins taxi ride from Playa del Carmen and the very lively 5th Avenue where many bars, disco and the famous Coco Bongos can provide a more diverse entertainment scene." Another question for the Canadian Azul Fives brides flying Air Transat... We've been asked to pay $300 for the first block of 15 rooms - 90 day hold - and $150pp ($300 per room) for each additional room we would like to reserve. Sound accurate? My fiancé and I find this awkward and here is why. We've been semi keeping the resort a secret but telling people we were getting married in Mexico when we are asked. Now that we have the perfect date at the best price, our TA is asking about how many firm 'yes' responses we have and suggests we pay the $300 per room to secure all the yes respondees and leave the first 15 for the maybe respondees. We aren't going to ask people for $ now before even sending our STD's, so...we will pay all deposits up front. The awkward part is asking all 200 people on the list if they are a yes, no, or maybe. How did YOU handle this? Any tips our tricks? Our invite list is huge but we realize a big portion will likely unable to attend. We're at an age that everyone's getting married or having babies so we recognize it could be hard for them. Do we just guess and hope we booked enough and the resort doesn't sell out? Thanks brides and brides-to-be ♥️

@@Smellsey she heard it from someone at her place of work that visited AF a year ago. They didn't like the bars and didn't like that there weren't any shows. I get it, what one person likes is not necessary what another will like but I have read many more good reviews than bad. My MIL was just disappointed to hear there would be no shows in the evening - she doesn't care too much for the bar scene. What I haven't heard much about is evening entertainment. When you go to larger resorts they have shows every night - is this the case here with it being a "smaller" resort? My TA is getting back to me with some information and I will post here when I get it.

Hi Ladies, Throughout the past few weeks I have read every post in this thread - If I missed the answer to the question I am about to ask, please forgive me. We are inches away from booking our May-April 2016 DW at Azul Fives. Last night my MIL called and said "I heard the nightlife is terrible at a Azul Fives and they don't even put on good shows". I get that I am not going to make EVERYONE happy and trust me, I am not even going to trying to. I picked this resort for a 1000 other great reasons but looking back, I don't know too much about what the evenings look like. My TA said the nightlife is great. She has been multiple times with her husband and on seperate trips with her girlfriends and they said they spent a ton of time at the club because they loved it. Does anyone have any feedback in terms of the nightlife? My fiance and I love a good party...we don't go "clubbing" very often anymore, nor was that ever really my scene, but we love a good night out with our friends. A good night for us is a pub with live music with the drinks flowing. What about the evening shows? My TA said they have an indoor cinema type theatre but she said she never went as they wanted to be outside as much as possible. I've heard they do movie nights on the beach as well. What else is there in the evenings to look forward to and to pre-occupy my guests? *read: what can I tell my MIL to get her off my back?* Again, I apologize if I have missed this in a previous post. I hope you ladies can help me out! Thanks! xx

@ I am fairly confident that i'm not being mislead by the TAs I am dealing with. Two seperate TAs have both said that its 1 in 21 (right now) and that I just missed out on the 1 in 16. I think it has to do with the fact that Azul Fives has an exclusive contract with Transat. That's the thing...I haven't booked yet! The resort is picked just trying to figure out the best time. I have quotes for March 2016, May 2016 and October 2016. I am leaning towards May. Prices are slightly higher than October, but less chance of rain. How ridiculous is it that I can't wait to update my "profile" on here to say my location and date lol

@Wafflesmom @perianjay @@calgarybride2015 okay so good news! i do get most (not all) the perks you've received One of the three: one hour cocktail, photo credit or spa package. As well as the Transat group offer: bride and groom receive a $500 voucher to be used towards future travel, priority check-in at the airport, priority luggage tag, complimentary seat assignment for the bride and groom, an extra 10kg baggage allowance, two 200ml glasses of champagne on departure, a reserved overhead compartment for the bride’s wedding gown, onboard announcement (thanks, but no thanks ). AS well as a $100 credit to be used for a pre-booked excursion. Planning a DW is VERY time consuming. It's impossible to focus on anything that isn't our wedding. As always, I appreciate ALL the help

@@Wafflesmom okay so I didn't even think to ask about where my dress was going to go - I just assumed they would make room for it. Time for me to wake up - never assume anything! Thanks to your message I will also ask about priority check in, extra luggage and of coarse two small bottles of champagne (@). @ when did you book? my understanding is these offers change all the time, with little or no notice. like your cable promotions, one person signs up they get three months free, the second person signs up and only gets the movie channels free for three months. maybe a poor example but from what my TAs are saying, you're either lucky...or you're not.

@@snswedding2016 I will have lots in the near future; so thanks in advance. Hoping to book ASAP so I can start planning all the fun little stuff.

@@snswedding2016 it's all about the timing! happy with something rather than nothing. Were you able to work out anything special when booking? How has your correspondence been with AF? So many questions!!

@@LiannaBanana @@gannonham great to see two Whitby brides on here

Looks like May 2016 at Azul Fives. Working out the details now I CAN'T WAIT TO FINALLY HAVE A DATE! It must feel amazing ♥️

@@calgarybride2015 wow, 11 would have been amazing! Only Transat flies to Azul Fives so looks like were stuck with 21. Better than nothing!

Looks like this forum may be done but thought I'd try. I'm a 2016 that has yet to nail down a date. I am thinking Azul Fives end of March or end of May. I thought I was going people a lot of time but according to these posts, I'm behind! Any tips on what to ask my TA before booking?! I listened to the brides on here and got a GI TA and she has been fabulous. She's able to give me one hour cocktail hour for free. I'm Canadian and don't get to take advangtage of the free basic package. Looks like I will also get 1 free for every 21; just missed out on the 1 free for every 16. Anyone else been able to negotiate this? Happy Planning!

@@tan38 I haven't dress shopped yet but I can tell you two places we had great service while shopping for my best friends wedding dress and our bridesmaid dresses. 1. Bliss Bridal in Whitby, ON. We had Kerrie as our consultant and she was great. The bride ended up getting her dress there. 2. Jealous Bridesmaids in Toronto, ON. Much bigger store than Bliss but they still offered that great dressing room bridal experience. They have better rates for bridesmaid dresses than Bliss. We got our bridesmaid dresses here. We shopped both for bridal and bridesmaids and had great experiences. Negative experience - DB Scarborough - it was just awful. I could go on forever about the reasons I will never go back there but, I wont. DM me if you need details. Maybe try the Mississauga location if you want to, but steer clear of the Scarborough location. Good luck!