TandAGetHitched

SOLD!

we'll be celebrating our 1 year anniversary the day you tie the knot! are you sure the room rate is $313/per night for 2 people vs. $313/per person, per night? sounds like your room rate is still cheaper than the resort directly. do you have a contact at the resort? I'd reach out to your contact and ask for clarity on the pricing and make sure the web price is $313/per person per night and your rate of $230/per person per night is a way better deal! our travel agent told our guests that if they booked via a third party (discount travel site) they'd be at risk if the hotel sells out. if the hotel sells out, the first group of guests to get 'walked' are those that booked via the third party site because the hotel makes less money on the discount travelers. So if you know the resort sells out, this is a huge risk - resorts oversell rooms all the time, just like airlines, and then 'walk' the least profitable guests (those booked via third-party). Our resort sold out a few weeks before our wedding and we heard a couple get 'walked' while we were checking in - that couple got moved to a different resort, pretty far away and lower star.

ok- wedding review is posted!! https://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/reviews/r/5863-wedding-was-a-blast/ Our Photographer sent us a message earlier this week letting use know our wedding photos will be done around July 15th so I'll be sure to post a few photos and a review of our photographer - Moments That Matter! they were a really fun couple to shoot with, just can't wait to see the final results! The biggest piece of advice I can give for planning a wedding at Azul or any Karisma property - PATIENCE! planning a wedding via email and a few phone calls may be stressful, but these folks at Karisma are pros! Don't expect a response same day, most responses were 1-3 days, and if you go into the planning process knowing that, you'll be a little less stressed! Overall, the Karisma teams are experts and will execute your vision wonderfully - trust them!! Happy Planning!

We use Kate’s Travel (katestravel.com) she was AMAZING! Our guests loved working with her and she got us some great rates. Here’s the website she created for us: http://tomandamandagetmarried.com/

Yes, I need to get a review written! Overall - AMAZING resort, staff, wedding, experience! We had 1 small small hiccup with airport transfers, otherwise all was AWESOME! I’ll get something written in a few weeks, once we have our photos back! and yes! We did get our resort / wedding credits! We actually got them about 10 days after the wedding - pretty quick! Some of the discounts (wedding package, spa, dinner & cocktail) were applied before we paid the final balance. The airfare and room credits were credited back to my AMEX a few days after we checked out. We ended up getting about $7500 in credits/discounts: $950 discount on always and forever package $500 hair & makeup credit - gift from our TA $550 discount for cocktail hour $1100 discount for dinner $1000 for airfare promotion with our TA $3300 for #of rooms/nights our group of 60 had booked

our guests loved these! they were most pleased with the first-aid kit, sunscreen, aloe and meds. the cups were cute and most guests did bring them down to the pools. I wish I had put in some battery-fans - the ceremony was so hot! we had hand-fans, but the battery ones would have been a nice upgrade. we gave the kids a pool squish ball, a beach ball and a squirt gun - some of the parents took these toys from their kids and brought them into the adults pool - turns out I should have given all the adults squirt guns!

the seaweed at each beach will vary and there isn't a lot you can do about it... the of the 10 days we were in Cancun/Riviera Maya, we had seaweed 6 days, including our wedding day. If it rains/storms, it usually gets worse. Staff will work endlessly to clean up as much as they can, but it's nature. Despite the seaweed, we still had our beach on the wedding. There were no bugs or at least no one on in our group noticed any. If you have the reception on the beach at night, you may notice some bugs, but we only did our ceremony & cocktail hour on the beach, and then moved to an outdoor plaza to party. We were not at the Hard Rock, we were at Azul Sensatori - it was AMAZING wedding experience!

Hi Brides! I have a Wally Bag - 66" available - $90 + shipping (US only) The wally bag typically sells for $120-$180. I used this gown bag once to transport my dress from MN to Mexico for our wedding - IT WAS PERFECT! I was actually able to pack 4 additional maxi dresses, and my husband's wedding attire, plus a few pairs of shoes and some jewelry. I packed the dress the night before we left, and just moments before we left, I zipped the bag and folded it - ready for travel. It comes up with a nice over-the-shoulder strap, making it really easy to carry through the airports. No issues on Delta with the bag as my carry-on - I chose to put in the overhead bin, but the flight attendant did offer to hang it in the closet for me. Once we got to the resort, about 10 hours after I first folded the bag, I unpacked the bag and my dress was perfect - no wrinkles! My dress was mostly lace and had a bit of a train, but it arrived perfectly! Honestly, this is the best way to travel with your dress!

we ended up using Facebook messenger when we were in Mexico - the hotel had free wifi and at least 1 person from each family/couple had FB on their phone already - it was pretty easy to communicate among guests "hey, we're heading to the beach bbq for lunch." or "everyone is hanging at the small pool today". a plus was that some people tried to get a hold of me via FB on the day of the wedding and I was totally not checking my phone - they were asking if the wedding was outside given the rain forecast, thankful my mom, MOH and a few other friends were on the group and could respond for me :)

another link that our guests found helpful - http://www.sat.gob.mx/bienvenidoaMexico/Paginas/mercancia_puedes_ingresar_eng.html

the general rule is you can't bring more than $300 worth of 'gifts' into the country. https://www.cancunairport.com/customs.html we are leaving for Mexico in 2 days (EEK!) and we have 2 bags of wedding stuff - OOT gifts and decorations. we are each checking 1 bag and have the receipts for EVERYTHING in the wedding bags. we each have less than $300 (gifts & decor), but I wanted to split it up between FH and I - just in case. if he gets the red light and gets inspected - I'll just take my bag and meet him at the transfer later and if he gets the green light - "I'm with him!" I've heard from a lot of brides that as soon as you say "it's a for the wedding" most customs agents are pretty relaxed, unless you have like hundreds and hundreds of items and it looks like you might sell them. I plan on playing up the 'we're getting married' throughout the airport - including a BRIDE hat... I'll let you know how it goes when we get back in about 2 weeks. keep your fingers crossed for us it goes well!

so we did a thing - we got married yesterday at the courthouse. just us and 2 very close friends. it was everything my FH could have ever wanted, it was lovely and simple - perfect. We leave on Monday for our Mexico wedding celebration set for Friday May 11. We have 60 amazing friends and family traveling to celebrate with us. I'm really glad we decided to get hitched stateside first, it takes a ton of pressure off the day in Mexico. bags are almost packed and the hubby and I are ready to spend 10 days on the beach, relaxing with friends and reconnecting before we come back to our crazy lives. Stay strong DW brides - it all comes together

we had our travel agent handle all those details like arranging transportation. we thought about setting up a facebook group so our 60 guests could interact with each other, but most we have quite a few non-facebook users so it didn't seem worth it. we did send a few all guest email blast recently, especially since we're all flying out in the next day or so.

23 days. Where did the last 18 months go? I think we're ready - only a few things outstanding... Groom & BM attire - I changed my mind on the color of slacks - so FH is on the hunt. I'm letting him run with this because I can't think about it anymore and at the end of the day - whatever he wears is fine! Bridal accessories - I can't decide on shoes, jewelry, hair accessories - I've bought at least 10 pairs of shoes and returned 9 - I'm sure I'll pick something soon - not overly worried Communicate day of schedule with family & bridal party - the schedule is done, just need to send to family Packing - UG! this feels super overwhelming, but I'm going to start tackling it this weekend I keep saying "If it's not done, I'm not doing it".

everything my TA has told me is that the room credits is a check back to you after the trip. So 14-30 days after you leave the resort, they send you a check for the room credits. the credit is only applied to rooms with 2 adults (single rooms or rooms with 1 adult + 1 child do not count towards the credit). My TA has been very cautious about using the Cash for your Bash Credit $$ - she says it often changes and is often a bit lower than the website, depending on rooms booked, nights stayed, and your contract. we had to pay our room balance in full a few weeks ago. Past Azul brides - please chime in - did you get a credit back or was it a discount off your room balance?

we were quoted $1000 for a legal wedding at the resort. $500 for the judge & basic paper work + $250 for blood tests + $250 for the apostle seal (required in MN, not required in all states). For a legal wedding, we are not allowed to bring anyone else on the property to perform a legal wedding - the resort has to coordinate the hiring of the judge - which is why the fees is $500. the legal ceremony is a pre-set speech, that after it's complete, we can add our own personalized vows, but there is a set a pre-set speech that is performed and it is in Spanish (with a translator included). For symbolic we can do whatever we want, we can have the resort hire someone or we can ask a friend/family. The symbolic ceremony is FREE with our package - so we're going to let the resort hire someone to perform the ceremony. Since we aren't telling our friends this is a symbolic ceremony we want it to seem as authentic as possible and asking a friend to perform the ceremony would mean we'd have to tell guests that it's a symbolic setting. The hired officiant will do the speech in English or Spanish for us - we just have to write the speech and send it at least 60 days before the wedding.

hi friends! so we recently changed our minds and switched from a legal to a symbolic ceremony for our May wedding in Riviera Maya. Why? cost is the biggest factor - the whole legal package is about $1000 and the license in MN is $40. anyways, when it was a legal ceremony - there was no question about the script/speech - it's a pre-set speech. but now with the symbolic ceremony - we have more flexibility... so questions for you gals.... can you share your symbolic ceremony script/speech? who performed your ceremony? was it in English or Spanish? yes, we are going to be terrible people and not tell our guests we're taking care of the paperwork a week before we leave for Mexico. We'd like the ceremony in Spanish or as close to the legal ceremony as possible. We are not planning our write our own vows - FH says he'd never get through them without crying so we agreed to skip them at the ceremony. thanks!

photo of OOT bag for reference

looking for some honest feedback regarding OOT bags... as I look through past posts I suddenly got a sense of FOMO (or fear our guests will have FOMO). here's what we're including in each person's OOT bag: color-changing tumbler travel first-aid kit aloe sunscreen hand sanitizer SPF chapstick kleenex gum advil pepto wedding brochure/book/info (not pictured) all in a standard paper gift bag with all that, we've spent about $450 for the 60 bags/adults we have attending. the 5 kids will get some sand or pool toys instead. I had planned on fun beach totes/bags, but after talking with FH and MOH - sounds like most wouldn't use it. Sunglasses don't really make sense to me, since I think (*hope*) most people pack their shades for Mexico I don't know - maybe I'm overthinking it, but is this enough of a gift bag for our guests traveling all the way to Mexico? I'll also add, we are bringing some adult pool toys like beer pong and floats for everyone to enjoy. thanks friends!

anyone not use the free semi-private event included in the package? or better yet, not a host a formal welcome dinner? The free semi-private event is maximum 50 guests, but we have 62. So either we host the event on a different day (Wed or Sun) when fewer guests are at the resort, or we exclude people - both options feel crappy to me. So after talking with FH and MOH and a few other friends - we're deciding to scrap the semi-free event all together. Yes, it's a perk that get, but who cares. Instead, we're going to have an informal cocktail hour at one of the resort bars on Thursday evening. This lets our guests stop by if and when they want. I know this sounds 'cheap' and we should really spend more to make their travel to Mexico worthwhile, but some guests are only there for 3 days, and I feel like a jerk if I schedule dinner Thursday and the wedding is Friday, that only leaves them Saturday to enjoy their vacation and do their own thing.

holy crap - only 83 days to go! (79 until we depart for Mexico!). The last few weeks have FLOWN by... We have our wedding shower (couples style) in 2 weeks and I am SUPER excited for the event. my MOH and our close friend planned a great afternoon at a local brewery, which fits us perfectly! I must say, there has been very little drama around our wedding. a few folks were upset last year when we decided on a DW, but most people have gotten over that and are just generally happy for us. The FH and I haven't had any knock-down fights or disagreements. I dare say wedding planning has been OK. (I probably just jinxed myself now...) Still plenty to do on our list, but a lot of things may end up in the F*ck It Bucket because I just don't care or want to care that much about a few things... Last week I ask FH to make the biggest decision - legal or symbolic ceremony. We had been planning legal ceremony in Mexico for the last year, but now that the budget is being stretched, we realized we could save about $1000 by getting married in MN before we depart. FH always wanted a courthouse wedding, so this is a compromise... courthouse before we leave for him and a beach wedding for me so I gave him the full power to decide... and he decided to get hitched in MN before we leave. With his decision (which I fully support) I also gave him the task of getting the marriage license, finding a date/time/judge and also finding 2 witnesses who will keep the secret until 'death do us part'. Our families cannot know we got married before Mexico, they'd be heartbroken and this would cause all the drama in the world and make up for the lack of drama over the last 13 months. We'll see if FH actually get this planned, but I vowed not to step in and save the day another thing we threw in the F*ck It Bucket - a formal welcome dinner. The free semi-private event can only host 50 guests, but we have 62. So either we host the event on a different day (Wed or Sun) when fewer guests are at the resort, or we exclude people - both options feel crappy to me. So after talking with FH and MOH and a few other friends - we decided to scrap the semi-free event all together. yes, it's a perk we're going to not cash in on, but who cares. Instead, we're going to have an informal cocktail hour at one of the resort bars on Thursday evening. this lets our guests stop by if and when they want. Some guests are only there for 3 days, and I feel like a jerk if I schedule dinner Thurs and the wedding is Friday, that only leaves them Saturday to enjoy their vacation. otherwise... the planning continues, I feel like I'm missing stuff, but oh well! Travel Next on the to-do list: Book airport parking/transportation in MN (T) Ceremony Next on the to-do list: send legal documents to WC (A) Select ceremony music (T) Load music to iPod (T) Cocktail Hour Next on the to-do list: Load music to iPod (T) Find a friend to play DJ at cocktail (T) Reception Next on the to-do list: Finish painting centerpieces (A) Entrance music (T) First dance music (T) Welcome toast (T&A) Send song list to professional DJ (A) Flowers Next on the to-do list: NOTHING Bridal Attire Next on the to-do list: Alterations appointments - scheduled (A) Find shoes and accessories (A) Groom's Attire Next on the to-do list: Find new white shirt (T) Find FH's wedding band (T&A) MOH Attire Next on the to-do list: NOTHING BM's Attire Next on the to-do list: Find new white shirt (T) Photographer Next on the to-do list: Finalize shot list (A) Finalize day of schedules (A) OOT Bags & Gifts Next on the to-do list: Order last items (bags) (A) setup mock-up (A) create brochure / welcome letter(A) finish bridal party gifts (A) finish MOB gift (A) finish MOG gift (A) Pack items (A) Pre-Events Next on the to-do list: Couples Shower in March (A) Bachelorette party in April (A) find outfits for shower & bachelorette (A) find hostess gifts (A) invite all guests to informal cocktail hour on Thursday (T) Misc Next on the to-do list: prepare tip and vendor envelopes (T) send pre-travel email to guests (A) book pre-travel beauty appointments (A) find a few new outfits / bathing suits (A) request mail hold (T) order groceries to be delivered when we get home (A) book pre-travel hair appointment (T)

100 days! We have a lot of little things left to take care... Travel Next on the to-do list: Book airport parking/transportation in MN (T) Book doggy daycare/boarding for the puppies (T) Ceremony Next on the to-do list: Select ceremony music (T) Cocktail Hour Next on the to-do list

100 days! We have a lot of little things left to take care...see anything I'm missing? I'll post some more photos and ideas now that we've finalized a lot of things! I was feeling a bit overwhelmed last week and spent the weekend ordering everything for the OOT bags and even picked up a few bridal party and hostess gifts. I ordered a few pairs of shoes for the big day, but I'm not quite ready to cross it off my list yet, not 100% sold on the ones I ordered - hoping they "wow" me in person. Also - alteration appointments are booked - which made me feel a whole lot better! I guess things are coming together - but I'm sure these 100 days are going to FLY! in addition to wedding planning, I'm in my last 3 months of my Graduate degree (I graduate 3 days before we leave for Mexico!) and I started a new job in November, which has been a bit more demanding (in a good way!) than I expected. Happy Planning friends! Stay tuned for more updates from T&A #TandAGetHitched #WeAreTheHerberts Travel Next on the to-do list: Book airport parking/transportation in MN (T) Ceremony Next on the to-do list: send legal documents to WC (A) Select ceremony music (T) Load music to iPod (T) Cocktail Hour Next on the to-do list: Load music to iPod (T) Find a friend to play DJ at cocktail (T) Reception Next on the to-do list: Finish painting centerpieces (A) Entrance music (T) First dance music (T) Welcome toast (T&A) Send song list to professional DJ (A) Flowers Next on the to-do list: NOTHING Bridal Attire Next on the to-do list: Alterations appointments - scheduled (A) Find shoes and accessories (A) Groom's Attire Next on the to-do list: Find new white shirt (T) Find FH's wedding band (T&A) MOH Attire Next on the to-do list: NOTHING BM's Attire Next on the to-do list: Find new white shirt (T) Photographer Next on the to-do list: Finalize shot list (A) Finalize day of schedules (A) OOT Bags & Gifts Next on the to-do list: Order last items (bags) (A) setup mock-up (A) create brochure / welcome letter(A) finish bridal party gifts (A) finish MOB gift (A) finish MOG gift (A) Pack items (A) Pre-Events Next on the to-do list: Couples Shower coming up in March (A) Bachelorette party in April (A) find outfits for shower & bachelorette (A) find hostess gifts (A) invite family & bridal party to semi-private dinner on Thursday (T) invite all guests to informal cocktail hour on Thursday (T) Misc Next on the to-do list: prepare tip and vendor envelopes (T) send pre-travel email to guests (A) book pre-travel beauty appointments (A) find a few new outfits / bathing suits (A) request mail hold (T) order groceries to be delivered when we get home (A) book pre-travel hair appointment (T)