Azul Sensatori Brides - POST HERE!

[mbowling]

Yes, unfortunately that seems to be what the Karisma resorts charge as their outside vendor fee.  Needless to say, we have found a photographer from home who we are bringing down with us - ends up being much cheaper!
 

Originally Posted by amylou1983 

Hi Ladies,

 

Really disappointed as I have just learnt that we would have to pay a total of $1600 outside vendor fees alone if we opt for DJ Mania / Doremixx and Elizabeth Medina for photography.  I find this scandalous!!  Can anyone shed any light on the justification for paying $1600 dollar fees on top of the DJ and photographers own fees?  Am devastated to say the least.  Anyone been through or going through the same situation? 

 

[1106wedding]

We've all been through it in one way or another and we all agree its the worst policy ever. Basically if the resort isn't making money from us using one of their preferred vendors (as they get a huge kickback), they're going to make their money in charging us a fee. I understand it to a point but what pisses me off the most is that their vendors aren't up to par which really leaves us no option. When I was choosing my resort, this was almost enough to send me elsewhere. I'm paying $1k for my outside photographer and DJ as much as I hate it. As long as brides keep booking weddings there and keep paying the fees, I don't see them changing policy. All we can do is keep voicing our outrage to our TAs and coordinators. I know I have!
 

Originally Posted by amylou1983 

Hi Ladies,

 

Really disappointed as I have just learnt that we would have to pay a total of $1600 outside vendor fees alone if we opt for DJ Mania / Doremixx and Elizabeth Medina for photography.  I find this scandalous!!  Can anyone shed any light on the justification for paying $1600 dollar fees on top of the DJ and photographers own fees?  Am devastated to say the least.  Anyone been through or going through the same situation? 

 

 

 

[1106wedding]

GORGEOUS!!!
Do you mind if I ask how much your bouquet was? All roses, right?
 

Originally Posted by melfaybik 

Hi!

 

We just got a some Teaser photos from our photographer! Samuel Luna was our photographer...  www.SamuelLuna.com

 

Let me know if you have any questions about him. We booked him for 8 hours on the wedding day and TTD/Honeymoon photos.

 

I can't wait to get the rest of our photos and our video!

 

[Jessie]

I agree.  The policy is COMPLETELY ridiculous, and I get mad every time I think about it.  It is just throwing a lot of money away on nothing.  But, I know at least as far as the DJ goes, Sensatori's preferred DJ cost so much ($1500), that you can get away with hiring an outside DJ for maybe just a little bit more.  In my contract the outside vendor fee is $500. DJ Doremixx charges $800 for 1-5 hours, so it costs me $1300 to hire him.  So it is cheaper than the DJ you can hire through AS.  Now that the fee has increased, that isn't necessarily the case, but it still might cost you just a little bit more to hire a good DJ than use Sensatori's.  So it isn't much money wasted. 

 

I haven't looked into the photographers, so I don't know how their prices compare.  My uncle is a wedding photographer, so he will photograph my wedding and I will not have to pay the outside vendor fee since he is staying at the resort for 3 days.

 

I know it is soooo frustrating.  It's a terrible policy. 

 

Originally Posted by amylou1983 

Hi Ladies,

 

Really disappointed as I have just learnt that we would have to pay a total of $1600 outside vendor fees alone if we opt for DJ Mania / Doremixx and Elizabeth Medina for photography.  I find this scandalous!!  Can anyone shed any light on the justification for paying $1600 dollar fees on top of the DJ and photographers own fees?  Am devastated to say the least.  Anyone been through or going through the same situation? 

 

[melfaybik]

Thank you!!  My bouquet was $250 less the $50 credit from my wedding package so I ended up paying only $200.

 

Its white, light pink and fuchsia roses and white orchids.
 

Originally Posted by 1106wedding 

GORGEOUS!!!
Do you mind if I ask how much your bouquet was? All roses, right?
 

 

 

[1106wedding]

Very pretty! Did they wrap it in the ribbon for you? Same for your bridesmaids? Thanks!

Originally Posted by melfaybik 

Thank you!!  My bouquet was $250 less the $50 credit from my wedding package so I ended up paying only $200.

 

Its white, light pink and fuchsia roses and white orchids.
 

 

 

[melfaybik]

Yes, they wrapped my bouquet in ivory ribbon and my bridesmaids in white ribbon. I gave them a picture of the bouquet that I wanted and they made it the exact same...I was a bit worried about the size (I wanted a large bouquet) but it ended up being exactly what I wanted. I told them that I wanted 2 dozen roses just to make sure the size was what I wanted.
 

Originally Posted by 1106wedding 

Very pretty! Did they wrap it in the ribbon for you? Same for your bridesmaids? Thanks!

 

 

[murmel]

 

 

Originally Posted by Mwise17 

 

Advice!!!

 

Dinner:  I am having the private event plated dinner.  How long does this dinner service take?

Do you just have your speeches etc. in and around the dinner?  Is that normal practice these days?

 

The reason I ask (need advice here), is that I have decided to do the white board guest book, and am trying to decide if I do it at the cocktail hour and have bestman/maid of honor go around and take the pic etc. OR do it after dinner with my photographer...but I only have him for 6 hours - dinner is at 7pm - he is gone at 9pm.....and don't want people getting up/feeling like they have to go over to do pic etc. with him during dinner.  ????

but if we have him do it during dinner, we can have props etc. and it can be a kind of photo-booth at the same time???  HELP.

We had our reception from 6 to 10pm (we had a few kids/older folks and didn't want it to be too late). Anyway I think dinner started around 6:30pm and finished shortly after 8:45pm. We then had the "dance floor" under the gazebo for a good hour, before they slowly started closing down the bar. We had our MC announce the speeches throughtout the evening. So a few speeches were during the meal, or in between. It worked out great.

 

I would suggest getting the your best man/bridesmaids to get the whiteboard photos. That way you can also have a general list, and should they miss someone you can ask them later! (if the photographer does it, you will not know for quite a while who might have missed out). Set out the props on a table (just ask you WC for an extra table) and have your MC announce for people to go over when they have a chance. There was breaks between our courses and lots of our guests signed at that time (we had guitars to be signed as a guest book).

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by justiner57 

 

Ladies I need help with a couple things....

How many light strands / paper lanterns are needed for the Zavas Terrace area for the reception? 

 

How do the lights work that are put inside of them?

I would suggest 10-15 laterns is plenty! I would highly recommend the LED throwies forum on the site, it explains it all.

 

Originally Posted by Mwise17 

 

Another one...

 

What would you use to anchor table numbers if you are planning on having card stock or photos?

(would a simple "stand" used for this normally work?) 

I am worried they are going to blow over.

We just had the table numbers made from card stock, but folded with a bottom tab. Then had them attach a small piece of tape to keep it from blowing over.

 

 

Originally Posted by justiner57 

 

Past brides, where is the coolest place in the resort (lounge/restaurant) to hang out after the wedding? We want to have an after party just not sure where to tell everyone to go?

 

Thanks

The Mojoito bar and disco (teen's club) are both great for music and drinks. We found our guests and us always singing and playing (very musical bunch themselves) under the large gazebo right at the bottom of the large stairs, just in front of the Mexican restaurant. There are plenty of sofas, hanging beds, tables, and chairs. Plus we would just have one of the waiters from the Mojoito bar run down (for a tip!) and he would bring us drinks all night!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by amylou1983 

 

Hi Ladies,

 

Really disappointed as I have just learnt that we would have to pay a total of $1600 outside vendor fees alone if we opt for DJ Mania / Doremixx and Elizabeth Medina for photography.  I find this scandalous!!  Can anyone shed any light on the justification for paying $1600 dollar fees on top of the DJ and photographers own fees?  Am devastated to say the least.  Anyone been through or going through the same situation? 

The policy is horrible! From my understanding Karisma has contracts with these DJ's and photographers, and if you don't use them, the company has to still pay out to their vendors. Hence the extra fee. What really irrates me is that they continue to up the fee...it's all a money grab. Personally I would look into the cost of having a photographer fly in with you! (when I started researching I was shocked to find it actually saved me money- and I got the photographer I wanted. His name is Taylor Jackson, based in Kitchner, Canada) The resort cannot charge you an outside vendor fee if it's a guests who stays for a minimum of 3 days!

 

We didn't bother with a DJ. We just had a Ipod with lots of great music and a sound dock kept us dancing all week!

 

Good luck. I know it's frustrating, but it will improve. Have you tried to see if there are other brides during your wedding week? Maybe you can share a photographer (split the travel/hotel costs with the other bride(s). I know quite a few ladies on here managed to do that and it really worked out pricewise for them as well)

 

 

Originally Posted by melfaybik 

Beautiful photos! Love the colors

 

 

 

[brit canuck]

Love these, sorry if you've already answered but where did you get them from?
 

Originally Posted by karlaandmark 

I don't feel like it - we're still working on our vows and the song list.  But our shoes finally came yesterday, so that was a relief!  Please ignore my daughter's toes in desperate need of a

pedicure. 

 

 

I'm still waiting on a tiara I decided to order at the last minute, and a customized hangar that I ordered more than 8 weeks ago that was supposed to take 6-8 weeks, but I'm trying not to stress out too much!
 

 

 

[karlaandmark]

Thanks! They're from Adorables by Angie on etsy.com