***Iberostar Laguna Azul Brides***

[DwBride2Be]

Hi Edmontonbride I am not getting married until Dec but I bringing 2 photographers to my wedding. They just have to enter as tourists, (not enter for business). And bring a reasonable amount of equipment ( not big lighting things an only a few camera's/lenses each) And it will be fine. On another note, Car rentals should be fine as well but be careful because there are all types of "vehicles" on the highways including horse carriages! Can you share your photos when you get back? We are going to do TTD photos after the wedding, so I am looking for cool places To go...what is mazanta's? Can't wait to hear from you! Laurie

[DwBride2Be]

Sorry for the spotty grammar and spelling, I'm on my iPad..

[edmontonbride]

Thanks for the reply!!

 

Good to know!

 

I will not be doing TTD, but can definitely share some photos

 

Matanzas is the name of a province in Cuba, but it is also a small town I guess about a 30 minute drive from Varadero. Many of the people that work at the resorts live there. If you don't feel like driving 3 hours to Havana to get photos done in historic Cuba, you can just go to Matanzas. It is obviously smaller, but there are quaint streets, some colourful elements in the streets, as well as a few older churches... We are thinking of getting photos done by the old crumbling Matanzas cathedral.

 

[DwBride2Be]

Oh sounds awesome, that's exactly what I was looking for, to avoid having to go so far. Thanks for the feedback! You don't have long to go! I hope everything is going smoothly for you!

[Rita]

Hello,

 

are you able to get through the coordinator Giselle? I found out in February through Giselle that my original coordinator Yahimara has left the position, since then I have send them my guest information and not a single reply. I haven't heard anything from them since February 21, 2012. My wedding is May 17, 2012. My travel agent has been calling and leaving messages and no reply. I am getting really worried. Has anyone got married down there in the past few weeks??????? What is going on??? I am getting really really worried!!!

[Rita]

Have you heard anything from Giselle. My wedding is on May 17. I haven't heard from Giselle since February 21. I am getting really worried. My travel agent has been leaving messages and nothing is happening. I am getting pretty freaked out.

[SarahMichele]

My wedding there is June 1st and I also found that it was hard to get a response, although I hear it's perfectly normal. There's an assistant named Lisset who eventually responded to my emails (after 3 and still weeks after the last email). A lot of the questions I asked still haven't been answered but I've been reassured they can work all details out the day before our ceremony. 

[tinkerdanz]

Hi! I'm very happy I found this forum, altough it seems a bit dead nowadays compared to when ILA first opened (I read the whole 36 pages of it!). Let me introduce myself : My name is Annie-Danielle and I'm getting married to my cuban fiancé, Karel, next February! ...or January, or March... I am waiting confirmation from my best friend/MOH to book. (she is that important. Her presence and that of my witness/bridesman are the 2 single most important ones! ILA is a sure thing though. I will have the chance to be back in Cuba this fall, but I'm not sure I'll be in Varadero... we might still go over to look things over and speak with GIselle. Things are slightly more complicated having half the guests being cubans, but it should be just fine! I've asked to join the FB group (ILA brides) but I'm still waiting to be accepted. So far I think there will be about 30 guests (with half of those being "day-passes" cubans), I was thinking of doing 10 days in the hotel while my guests will be doing 7 days... that way me and Karel can have a 3 days "honeymoon" (since that'll be it). I'll be in Cuba before the other guests anyways, unless we have to do the wedding early January. So far we are looking at a terrace ceremony and palapas dinner-private party. Our people won't be particularly young and I know my family is definitely not the type to just say "hey, great, let's join the hotel guests in the disco!". If they want, they will be able to on every other night of the week... I want to keep our reception private and special for that one day. Has anyone done a cocktail hour for the time between ceremony and dinner, while you went to do pictures? Or is it simply not necessary since the guests can just go to any bar of the hotel... and who cares if, for that small period of time, it's not private and planned? With my small budget I'd be tempted to go that route but I'm curious if others did something different. One last question : A friend of mine offered me an MC. As in, she knows a professional MC guy, who does radio ads and voice-over work, etc. She would pay for him to come, everything. ...But is there really the need for that in a ILA wedding? Wouldn't it just feel silly to have an MC? Did any of you have one? Thanks!

[deanneeileen]

Hi everyone,

 

I am planning a wedding at the Iberostar Laguna Azul in Varadero next Easter.  I am a little concerned about some of the negative reviews.  It seems as if the last ones to post, who had their weddings planned for May and June 2012 should have been married by now!  Can I ignore the reviews, and any recommendations about the resort, particularly the wedding day?

[Kelly62]

Hi Ladies!

 

Matanzas is the area in and surrounding Varadero town.  There are lots of great places to go for wedding shots...Al Capone's place, Xanadu Mansion, etc. 

 

Regarding your photographer, Cuba HAS been cracking down on photographer's coming into Cuba to do photo sessions without applying for a work visa.  We had ours turned around by the Cuban government upon arrival as she had been there 3 or 4 times already that year.  If this is the only wedding that they are doing this year in Cuba they should have no issue as long as they do not bring a lot of equipment as this will definitely put them under scrutiny.   There are several photographers ~ both Canadian and Cuban ~ who can advise you further on this matter.  Just visit the Facebook page ~ Iberostar Laguna Azul brides. 

 

Renting a car is not difficult but be aware of the implications should you be involved in a car accident!  It probably would be best to hire a car AND driver and then you he will take you wherever you like to go and you won't have to be concerned with the worry.  Just remember to negotiate your price upfront and I'm sure you will have a wonderful experience!

 

I was married at this resort last May and have been to Cuba over twelve times.  If you have any questions/concerns, I would be happy to help.

 

Kindest Regards,

 

Kelly Neonakis-Morash