Azul Beach Hotel - POST HERE!

[girltravel77]

hrztrtz - thanks for all of your posts as well as your review! It is VERY helpful. I'm so glad your wedding sounds like it went very smoothly, the coordinators were extra helpful and it sounds like your wedding was everything you dreamed of! Congrats! -as for your advice on the hair and makeup - do you think we shouldn't book rehearsals for hair and makeup in advance either? is there any risk that we might not be able to book our appts at convenient times if we wait until arrival? is the discount significant? -Ok, I have a few more questions for ya'll. =) -Did anyone you know use their kayaks? Did they have to be reserved in advance, and was there a fee or deposit? -Does the hotel give you a list of all guest room #'s once they check in?

[KaelaMcD]

Originally Posted by Amanda Hammett 

 

Kaela,

Do you mind sending your programs and menu cards to me in an editable format?

[email protected]

 

Originally Posted by asposeep 

 

I would love to see those also! Anything you have (including OOT bag letters) is amazing. [email protected]

Thank you!

 

Ashley

 

Originally Posted by asposeep 

 

Thank you Amanda and Kaela for all of your help!

 

I would love to see the menu cards and programs as well! Anything you have (including OOT bag letter if you have that) would be amazing. [email protected]

I don't know what I'd do without you guys

 

Thank you!!!

 

Ashley

 

Sorry for the delay everyone. I have been traveling! I am not sure I still have the menu/programs/welcome cards in the editable formats...I may have to do some digging...If I can find them, I'll send them your way. Just wanted to respond so you wouldn't think I was ignoring ya! I'll see what I can do.

[KaelaMcD]

Originally Posted by girltravel77 

 

I echo what Asposeep said - I don't know what I'd do without you guys! =) Kaela and any other brides out there - I was wondering how you organized your bridal lunch? Was this the free reservation that they give you for up to 25 guests? Did you plan anything as far as decor for this? I was thinking that me, my mom and my bridesmaids could have an informal brunch on the day of the wedding before we start getting ready. Will it be easy enough to go to one of the restaurants that day, rather than having anything formal planned? When you went for your makeup trial did you happen to see what kind of cosmetics they used at the spa? Would you recommend bringing everything myself? I was thinking if I had my own foundation then I could just use what they have at the spa for most everything else. Do you recommend a certain foundation to use down there? I'm not a big makeup person, so don't know too much about it though I've started doing some research. Do you mind telling us what time you set your hair and makeup appointments for with a 5pm ceremony time? My WC is saying that hair should only take 60 minutes, but I read somewhere on here that hair usually takes more like 90 mins for an up do. Did you give your DJ a list or CD of all songs to play or did you just give a must play/do not play list? It seems like I've seen it more often where brides have given the DJ a full list of all songs they want played - this seems like a lot of work, though I'm sure that would guarantee they play only songs you like. Thanks so much again!!!

 

I had my bridal luncheon the day before the wedding. Yes, I used the free reservation included in the wedding package. Originally, we were going to use that for a rehearsal dinner, but we had more than 25 guests and with such a smaller-ish group of guests, we didn't want to not invite some people (especially since they come so far!). So we did a rehearsal dinner/cocktail party at Wave Lounge the night before the wedding, that all the guests were invited to, and I invited all the women to the bridal luncheon. My Mom, sister, cousin and aunt basically organized/planned the luncheon. They brought some decorations of their own, and gifts for everyone. They organized a few games for us to play. They did order a few floral arrangements for the tables, and they did that when we met with the wedding coordinator's when we first arrived. We had the luncheon at the Blue International Restaurant, and we had the entire inside completely to ourselves. I'm sure because it was "brunch" hour, I think it was 11am, it's much easier to make the reservation private. Not sure how well that would work if someone wanted to use it for an evening reservation...

 

I think it should be pretty easy for you to have an informal brunch the day before the wedding. We were there in October, which is considered the "low" season, so I'm not sure how crowded it is other times of the year, but for a group on the smaller side, I doubt you will have any problems getting a table together. We had giant groups at every meal for four days straight and never had a problem!

 

I can't remember what kind of make-up they had at the spa! I remember thinking that it seemed like quality materials during my trial, but I ended up doing my makeup on my own. I'd say I'm a little bit of a makeup snob (only a little) and after my trial, I just didn't think they could do $85 worth of a better job than I could do (I think it was around that price...). So I canceled the wedding day appointment and did it myself. Any quality foundation will be best. You want something that will last. I personally use Laura Mercier foundation and love it. I would recommend a foundation primer (Smashbox makes a good one) and even a finisher to "set" your makeup so that it will last all day.

 

I'm pretty sure my up-do took close to an hour. It may depend on how elaborate the style and how much hair you have as well. This was my wedding day schedule:

 

Sleep in! (Get a good nights' rest, you want to feel good!)

11am-Sat out by the pool with bridesmaids and other friends/family.

12pm-Quick lunch with family at Chil.

1pm-Wedding party came to my room to "start" getting ready (ie; laughing and having fun, drinking champagne ;-) I gave them a few gifts, we all had matching robes, fun girly stuff!). We had the honeymoon suite which was so nice and roomy! 

2pm-Hair appointment (the stylist came to my room which I recommend so you can stay with the "party"). 

3pm-Make-up, then dress and finishing touches (and the photographer showed up at 3pm, in both our rooms).

4pm-Pre-ceremony pictures

5pm-Ceremony

5:30ish-Cocktail party at Wave Lounge (we took more pictures, too)

7pm-Reception at Blue Terrace (our order was first dance, sang a duet, toasts, prayer and blessing, dinner, mom/son and father/daughter dance, cut the cake, done!)

11pm-Headed to Agave Tequila Bar for the after-party. :-)

 

We did make a list for the DJ...I wasn't picky about what order the songs were played, but I had the time to list the ones we liked so I figured why not? He stuck to our list, and when he did play some that weren't on the list, they were a similar "style." We did give a few don't play suggestions and they definitely stuck to it. I wanted to stick with more universally pleasing music. You know, the typical classic wedding songs! You should see a page on the Lomas contract where you can add the songs, etc. On ours, that's also where you indicate what time you want certain elements of the reception (first dance, toasts, cake cutting, etc.).

[Amanda Hammett]

htztrtz - what is the brand and model of the bluetooth speaker you purchased?  Was it loud enough?

[htztrtz]

Originally Posted by girltravel77 

 

hrztrtz - thanks for all of your posts as well as your review! It is VERY helpful. I'm so glad your wedding sounds like it went very smoothly, the coordinators were extra helpful and it sounds like your wedding was everything you dreamed of! Congrats! -as for your advice on the hair and makeup - do you think we shouldn't book rehearsals for hair and makeup in advance either? is there any risk that we might not be able to book our appts at convenient times if we wait until arrival? is the discount significant? -Ok, I have a few more questions for ya'll. =) -Did anyone you know use their kayaks? Did they have to be reserved in advance, and was there a fee or deposit? -Does the hotel give you a list of all guest room #'s once they check in?

Yay I'm so glad it was helpful info! The discount the hotel offered me and my guests was 30%. Not a bad discount! I didn't notice that the spa was in high demand and since there is only one wedding a day I think your chances are pretty good. Also - I didn't have a lot of people who wanted to get their hair or makeup done. If you have a lot of ladies who want to get their hair and makeup done - that might change how you think about it. The hotel didn't give us a list of guest rooms - but we also didn't ask for one. 

[htztrtz]

We purchased a Bose- I think it was this one: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Bose%AE+-+SoundLink%AE+Wireless+Mobile+Speaker+II+-+Dark+Gray/6449688.p?id=1218737492901&skuId=6449688&ref=06&loc=01&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=6449688&extensionType={adtype}:{network}&s_kwcid=PTC!pla!{keyword}!{matchtype}!{adwords_producttargetid}!{network}!{ifmobile:M}!{creative}&gclid=CIaTvc3XsbYCFW7hQgodxjgAAw

 

There was a sale at Best Buy at the time which is why we bought it. We were also considering the Jawbone.The sound was loud enough - we had also thought about bringing 2 stereo speakers and syncing them - but we didn't end up doing that because of luggage constraints.

[TarynM]

Would you mind emailing it to me too, please? [email protected]

 

Thank you!

[Amanda Hammett]

Thank you!! Do you know if it was version I or version II? I noticed on amazon there are two different ones. The older version for $219 and the newest version for $299. Also did it have an outlet for a microphone and did you bring your own mic for toasts, speeches, etc?

[Amanda Hammett]

Taryn and misadelf, I sent the information to you

[htztrtz]

Originally Posted by Amanda Hammett 

 

Thank you!! Do you know if it was version I or version II? I noticed on amazon there are two different ones. The older version for $219 and the newest version for $299. Also did it have an outlet for a microphone and did you bring your own mic for toasts, speeches, etc?

It is version II - my hubby doesn't think it makes a difference. We didn't bring a microphone but looking at the back of the bose speaker - there is a line-in for a mic. We didn't have toasts until the main reception so we didn't need anything but music for the pre-party we were using them for.