Azul Beach Hotel - POST HERE!

[TammyWright]

Hello Karisma Brides,

 

We have scheduled our Fall 2012 Wedding Webinar for Karisma Resorts for October 6, 2012 @ 6:00pm PST.

 

Gilberto Machain, an Inside Sale Associate and former Wedding Coordinator, will be a panelist and will give a presentation as well as be on hand for a Q & A session.

 

I will also be a panelist to answer your travel questions about rates, group blocks vs. individual packages, etc.

 

This is a great opportunity for current Karisma brides and grooms or those considering the venues for the wedding location to get your questions answered. 

 

Hope to see you guys there!

[melfaybik]

Hi!

 

I got married at Azul Beach Hotel on 5-28-11 and had an unbelievable wedding and experience!  Azul Beach is an AMAZING resort and you both picked the BEST resort EVER to have your wedding!  We went back in May for our one year anniversary and the resort is even better than when we got married there! We love the resort and want to go back every year for our anniversary!

 

We used Samuel Luna as well and he was great! His photos get better and better every time I see his new posts on Facebook. Here is his blog and my a few of my photos are on there from our wedding.  http://samuellunablog.com/

 

We had our reception at Blue Terrace and it was beautiful! When we got married there was only the option to have our reception at Blue Terrace, Blue Restaurant or the Beach but now they have the ballroom and it is really nice as well!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amanda Hammett 

I am getting married at Azul Beach on May 9 2013.....I'm extremely frustrated with their photographers.  Any suggestions?  I wish SOMEONE had something positive to say about Matias Cano or Caribe.

 

Originally Posted by htztrtz 

I am getting married in Feb at Azul Beach! I have hired Samuel Luna as my photographer - and I have to say that not only do his photos look spectacular, but his prices are amazing - especially if he knows you are booking at Azul Beach where they charge extra. Highly recommend. Also wondering about where people have booked their receptions - I'm debating between the ballroom and the restaurant.

[karyc]

melissa, am so glad you're still in love with the resort! i can't believe it's been a year since you got married; your posts have been so helpful that i've felt like i'm planning WITH you! quick question about the resort: what are your thoughts on the deluxe suites? I keep reading all of these trip advisor reviews that are disappointed in those rooms and talk about a "sewage" smell around them. is it true? the resort wouldn't let us book that many non-deluxe suites in our group block because we're expecting a somewhat large wedding...

[melfaybik]

My photographer Samuel Luna is having a contest on BDW to win a free destination wedding photography! Click the link below for details.  He is an amazing photographer! Let me know if you want to see some of my pics.

 

http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/t/81287/samuel-luna-photography-contest-free-wedding-photography

[melfaybik]

Originally Posted by karyc 

 

melissa, am so glad you're still in love with the resort! i can't believe it's been a year since you got married; your posts have been so helpful that i've felt like i'm planning WITH you! quick question about the resort: what are your thoughts on the deluxe suites? I keep reading all of these trip advisor reviews that are disappointed in those rooms and talk about a "sewage" smell around them. is it true? the resort wouldn't let us book that many non-deluxe suites in our group block because we're expecting a somewhat large wedding...

Hi!

 

The majority of my guests had the deluxe rooms and they were ok but the junior suites are much nicer!  Have you seen photos of the deluxe rooms?  Are the posts on trip advisor recent about the sewage smell?  I have not heard anything about that.  How many people are you expecting?  When is your wedding?  Are you going directly through the resort or are you using a travel agent to book your rooms?  What is the price difference they are quoting you for the different room categories?

[melfaybik]

Hi Azul Beach Hotel Brides!

 

I am not sure if I already posted my wedding video and wanted to share it because some of you have been asking about my videographer.  We used Paul from Playa Weddings and his work is unbelievable!  We ABSOLUTELY LOVED our video and we were so happy that we spent the extra money to have our wedding video of our special day! He is great to work with and having this video to look back on has been SO great. I have a bad memory and now we will always remember all the special details of our wedding day!

 

Let me know if you have any questions.  His work is well worth the money!!!

 

[karyc]

Originally Posted by melfaybik 

 

Hi!

 

The majority of my guests had the deluxe rooms and they were ok but the junior suites are much nicer!  Have you seen photos of the deluxe rooms?  Are the posts on trip advisor recent about the sewage smell?  I have not heard anything about that.  How many people are you expecting?  When is your wedding?  Are you going directly through the resort or are you using a travel agent to book your rooms?  What is the price difference they are quoting you for the different room categories?

 

Yes, pretty recent -- it shows up in a few of the reviews from the last few months. We're expecting about 80 people next March, and we're using a travel agent. They are syaing that we're getting 20% off of the quoted rates from the resort -- I have no idea if it's a good deal. I think the deluxe is going to be 727/pp for 3 nights (so ~240 per night per person), and the junior suite is about $100 more.  Were your guests happy with the deluxe suites?  

 

Did you get a big price difference in negotiating yours? I feel like I should have held out a little longer in signing the contract -- I keep reading about these cheap "bride's rehearsals" that Karisma gives to "potential" brides (4 days/3 nights for $300 to taste everything and view all of the resorts), but we got no deal at all on our site visit because we had already signed the contract!

 

Anyway, I'm definitely excited, but if I were to do it over again I would have tried much harder to negotiate! I feel like my travel agent works with Karisma so much that she's basically more their advocate than mine and hasn't been helpful in getting us good deals/incentives.

[Randi Glassman]

Hi Melissa -- I have to agree with Kary - ever since i booked my wedding at ABH and have been coming on this website, I feel like im planning WITH you! Thank you so much for your great input...

 

Which DJ did you use? I am fine using one of the ones offered, but can't decide between the two. I'm nervous that the less expensive one is cheaper for a reason...

 

Thanks so much!

[njcooney]

Hi Melissa!

Thanks for all of the work you have done on this thread to have open conversation about your wedding details...it really helps the rest of us, as you must know.

My fiance and I are just starting this process, feels like we're at the bottom of the mountain right now, and we're ready to do ANYTHING to minimize the stress along the way. :-)

My first question is about planners- I have found mention of US planners for Azul Beach, and saw the KarismaGI.com lists of planners, but I can't figure out if they are just travel agents and they just connect you with the actual wedding planner for AB? Is Amanda Patek the actual wedding planner for the resort? Can't really make heads or tails of this yet...

 

Thanks for your help, or for anyone's who may read this before Melissa does!

 

J

[Misadelf]

Hi Kary - I feel the same way about my travel agent. I got the hard sell on the Karisma resorts and feel like I didnt look close enough at the full package berfore I signed.

 

Anyway, I am looking forward to getting marred at AB. Our wedding is set for April 20, 2013. Let the fun begin!