Azul Beach Weddings 2014

[talicea7812]

As for Azul...if I wasn't so invested already I would back out.  I chose it in the first place bc a TA friend recommended it either Azul or Palace.  I picked Azul bc it was a little cheaper.

 

I wish I had done some research b4 locking in.  All the reviews say that the florida coordinators are horrible and they nickel and dime u for everything.  the mexico planners are supposed to be much better but I don't want to wait til days before the wedding to feel like everything is going to be okay. 

 

Plus, I don't like that they can't give me definite prices for decorating/wont allow guest to do it. As of now im planning on doing a reception but if they don't want to bend on these prices im just going to switch to the dinner reservation.  Im paying $950 for the wedding.  I think that should be enough to include the decorating.  Im not asking for anything crazy.  Some sashes on the chair, centerpieces that I will be bringing, napkins and menus that will already be folded and things to hang on the ceremony chair.  Im not asking them to hang lanterns or drape the ceiling. 

Edited January 26, 2014 by talicea7812

[MandM2014]

@@talicea7812

 

Yeah that really makes me nervous!  Are you paying for a private reception or just doing the semi-private reception that comes with it?

[talicea7812]

at this point we are planning on the private reception...ive already asked guests their menu selections...so I will be paying approx. 700 for the reception.  Then they want to tag on the additional fees? I don't think so.  I understand why we pay extra for the reception- extra staff but I can't understand why I can't have a guest do the decorations. 

 

My next move is to threaten no private reception.  Either they work with me on the decorating or lose that money.  We can have up to 25 ppl for the semi private dinner reservation.  I think im right at that number for guests.  So it will be up to them.  Switching to a dinner rezo will save me a lot of money & they will lose the $$.  Honestly I don't care either way.  The wedding is turning out to be half the amount of guests we originally thought.  so with only 25 ppl is it really worth it spending the extra money?  It would benefit us just to save the $ bc we then save the xtra on dinners, decorations, music, etc. 

 

We are hoping to have a little something here back at home so what we save in mexico can always be put towards the AHR.

[MandM2014]

Yeah thats crazy!  I have 22 as of right now and it could be 26-28 once I get final numbers so I am worried about being over the 25 max limit for a private reception.  They said if I had over 25 then I need to do a private reception which we don't have the money to pay for on top of all the additional charges….speakers, cake, ceremony, photography vendor fee, hair, makeup, decorations, flowers ext.   ahhhhh this is turning out to be more stressful than I could've imagined!

[talicea7812]

if you don't have the private reception its just a dinner reservation.  They don't allow you any decorations for that. 

 

As for flowers...im actually making mine.  I don't like what lomas has to offer and what they do have is too expensive for basic flowers.  You should look into fake flowers. My friend used fake lilies for her mexico wedding and everything looked great.

 

Tonight I sent my planner a nasty email telling her that at this point I was planning on doing the private reception but I'm rethinking it bc of all the additional little charges.  It really makes no sense to me.  White chair covers, linens etc are included...but they want to charge me to bring my own stuff...which is the same as what they have just colored. So its not even a case of they need additional staff to set the items out.  its just there way of getting more money. 

 

My planner typically takes days to get back to me but I will let you know. 

 

I also warned the planner that I am documenting and discussing all the difficulties ive had with planning this wedding on several wedding forums.  Hopefully that will spark a change bc im sure they don't want the bad advertising.  if she doesn't care that will speak volumes on how the resort views guests.

[MandM2014]

Thanks for the ideas!  So if I do a regular dinner reservation do you know how are we able to do dancing?  I'm confused….why would they call it a semi-private if it's just a regular dinner in the middle of the restaurant?  

 

Hopefully your wedding planner will make things work for you.

[girlinthecity97]

@@talicea7812 - yikes!!! Can your TA help you with the Miami coordinator. If it makes you feel better, I met Paola the Azul Beach coordinator and she is very nice and strives to please. I also saw other members of her team in charge of doing the set ups and they were really on it! Everything looked great and seemed to be on time. I haven't gotten to the contract phase but I recall reading elsewhere on here you stand a better leg negotiating with the resort WC as they only charge for what is actually done.

 

Having seen that they have staff charged with overseeing all aspects of wedding setups, I am guessing that is their reason for not allowing a guest to do it.

 

Are you using the real touch flowers others on here have used? I am more convinced about going that route after seeing how "vanilla" the lomas arrangements were.

@@MandM2014 - you may be able to get away with 26 but much more than that will be super tight. From what I saw, they call it semi-private because they close off one section of the restaurant and set the tables up so there is a small dance area in the middle.

Edited January 27, 2014 by girlinthecity97

[talicea7812]

@@girlinthecity97

 

I don't know if my TA could help.  Im very close to asking for a new coordinator but the reviews on here say they are all the same.

 

As for decorating... my issue with paying is that im not asking them to do anything they wouldn't have already done.  White linens & chair covers are included.  What difference does it make if I bring my own & they are colored? If I was asking them to do some kind of crazy David Tutera type of set up, I would understand the charges.

the reviews also say the mexico coordinators are awesome.  I just don't want to wait til 3 days before the wedding to feel at ease about everything.  So many things have gone wrong with this wedding already, I just need some control and security on some end.

[isymiyake2000]

@@talicea7812 I got the deal listed below and I only booked 15 rooms when I signed my contract. I now have 18 though.

 

http://www.karismaho...groomstayfreeaz
 

" Book ANY OF THE AZUL HOTELS FOR WEDDINGS AND RECEIVE 20% OFF PRIVATE EVENTS, $250 IN RESORT CREDITS FOR ALL GUESTS, PLUS A FREE SUITE FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM!
Room Details: Current room rate promotions apply
Free Rooms: Bride and Groom can earn free rooms based on the size of their wedding group
(varies by hotel and date range) One free room for every 10 rooms booked

Resort Credit: Guests can receive up to $250 per room resort credit (valid on specific items only)
Private Events Discount: 20% discount on any event the bride or groom purchases from our 
banquet kit" 

[talicea7812]

I've emailed my TA about the bride & groom free promo.  I don't know if it will make a difference bc our date falls in the 20 rooms need to be booked category...but I told her other brides are getting it without the 20.  We'll see what happens.

 

 

As for my Florida planner...she continues to bring the suck.  Five days now since my last email and still no reply.