Fun Event and Welcome Party Ideas for Azul Beach Wedding?

sfgirl · January 8, 2012

Getting married at Karisma's Azul Beach in April 2012. Any advice from brides that have worked with the Miami coordinators (I'm working with Elizabeth Riff)? I'm surprised the hotel offers very little interms of "welcome gift" options to place in guests rooms prior to their arrival. This seems like standard procedure, but all they can offer is a fruit basket, which is probably useless cause most people will be eating fresh fruit at the hotel restuaurants:)

We are also trying figure out a fun event to "welcome" the guests with. A cocktail party at the hotel seems uneventful since its an all-inclusive and people can drink/eat to their heart's content. We are considering doing a cocktail cruise of Maroma Bay through Lomas Travel for $60/per person which includes appetizers, drinks, and transportation to Maroma BAY. Bit torn b/c it takes 20-30 mins to get their and the boat cruise is 1.5 hrs then another 30 mins to get back. My fiance is concerned the time spent traveling and all wont be worth it since we aren't on the cruise for very long. Any brides have experience with the Lomas Travel Cocktail Cruise? Any other suggestions for a unique or creative event to bring the group together? They now have a sky lounge, but the photos of the area where a cocktail party could be hosted looks sectioned off and not that exciting. Thoughts?