Azul Beach Weddings 2014

[amyeprice77]

We just decided to have our wedding at Azul Beach August 13th 2014!  Any one having theirs around that time?

Hi MandM2014...our wedding is Sept 12th, 2014...did I read correctly that yours is the 13th???

@@BDABeachBum

 

Ummm...not 100% on what I paid but here's an approximate breakdown (3 ppl. me, hubs, and daughter)

 

1. $3,000 for our room (pd 3 nights in deluxe room & 3 nights in family swim up)

 

2. $240 each for airfare- download the skyscanner app to your phone and check it everyday! We flew out of philly to Chicago, then to Mexico.  Our first checked bag was free (Delta) didn't have to pay any xtra fees

 

3. a little over $3000 for photographer- $1500+tax for photo package, $4something for plane ticket, and $8something for her room.  Offered to pay for 4 days for her bc it was cheaper to pay the extra day then to fly her on another day.  So I saved a little and she got a longer vacation.

 

4. $1500 for videographer- paid for a 3 night stay and he discounted his package

 

5.  $570? for flowers- My bouquet, 2 bridesmaids, 1 grooms bout, 2 large centerpieces and 4 small

 

6. $250- Ipod hook up

 

7. $506- Reception dinners

 

8. Wedding ceremony package, cocktail hour and cake- all included. no charge.

 

9. $180 for hair & makeup by Beso brides. No outside vendor fee or day passes purchased

 

 

So I guess those are my main elements.  Of course there were other things.  I brought my own decorations and paid the $250 set up.  I did the math and it still worked out to be a better price than renting...plus I brought a lot home and intend to reuse for an AHR and my daughters bday party.  bridal party gifts etc. 

 

I have a blog on here called tina's peacock wedding.  check it out.  I detailed the whole planning experience. the ups and downs and how I saved money.  Azul is a great place but the offsite coordinators are terrible and they do try to nickel and dime you.  You just gotta be smart!  Hope this helps

Hi there!!! my wedding is sept 12th... and I'm freaking out about the hair and makeup!  I see in your post here that you used an outside vendor.  could you share how that worked and what they charged you?

Thanks so much!

[talicea7812]

I used Beso brides and loved them.

 

The resort approved the vendor bc I used the excuse that I wanted airbrush makeup and the hotel could not provide it. At first they were going to charge me for day passes but I fought that too. Day passes are for guests taking advantage of the resort amenities. Beso came, did hair and make up and left.

 

So I paid $180 for hair and makeup. I forget what the girls were charged. Less than me of course. Beso's prices were pretty close to the resort prices but prob did a better job and spoke English so they were fun to hang out with. No language barrier.

[amyeprice77]

Thanks @talicea7812 

 

This is so helpful!  Did you just let your wedding coordinator know that they would be coming or did you have to handle that separately from the resort?  

How many bridesmaids did you have? And how many people total got their hair/make up done?  Could they just do hair or did everyone do both?

 

You are a SAINT for staying on here and helping those of us who are struggling!!!

[talicea7812]

No problem! Planning was such a pain so anything I can do to help others!

 

I did let the Miami coordinator know. If u try to bring outside vendors they will try to charge u all kind of fees but u gotta stick to ur guns. Say u want airbrush no matter what and refuse to pay the fees. It's been approved in the past so should be the same for everyone.

 

I had 2 bridesmaids. Just the 3 of us used the services and u don't have to do both. My one girl is very particular about her makeup and did her own. The other BM got hair and makeup. So it's up to u and ur friends.

 

Did I read correctly that u are getting married next month? So exciting! I wish I could do it all over again. Azul is a great place! You won't want to leave

[amyeprice77]

THANK YOU!  I just emailed them and have been looking at their pics on facebook.

Our wedding is Sept 12th...so I am PRAYING for availability. We actually went and visited the resort for 5 days in January before we booked the wedding and we LOVED IT! We got to see a wedding while we were there and have been DYING ever since for this day to get here!

 

our experience with the coordinator is the SAME...they are TERRIBLE.  TERRIBLE. TERRIBLE.  So I am going to push to have the vendor come onsite and that will be it.  One of my bridesmaids DOES hair and make up for a living, so more than likely, everyone (except me) will have her do their makeup.  She just told me last week that she's not comfortable doing my hair...so I asked the coordinator to check pricing for the spa, but it SUCKS because you have to rent the bridal suite and it's $137 for 3 hours... there's a lot of us, so it'll be 6-7 hours probably and then the cost of hair.  I'd rather have someone come onsite that is recommended... and I am SO happy I found this thread!

 

Where did you have your reception?  We are doing a welcome dinner (beach BBQ and bonfire) the night before the wedding.  The wedding will be on the beach and the reception in chil terrace.  we rented the sound equipment for both nights instead of having a live DJ and just did our playlist ourselves.  This way, we get 2 nights to party instead of 1. hahahaha.

 

What else do I need to know??  I am so glad you're on here!

[talicea7812]

Most likely your planning experience will not get better with time. I didn't make my final payment until the day b4 I left for Mexico. I refused to pay until everything was right.

 

We did the reception on chil terrace. I loved it for our group size (25) I ended up doing the ceremony in the lobby. There was a chance of rain that day and honestly I loved the lobby. It's so serene plus it worked out for the best bc if we did the ceremony on the beach my hair probably wouldn't have held up as nicely. I have really temperamental hair so that combined with the salty sea air is not a good combo. I was told updos are best but insisted on half down. All I wanted was my hair to last thru the ceremony and pics. After that... Who cares! It was time to party.

 

Renting sound equipment is the way to go. One of the groomsmen was put in charge of intros, dances and speeches and such. Worked out just fine.

 

I attached one of my fav pics from the ceremony! I love silhouette pics

 

I don't know what else to tell you but if u have any specific questions I'll get back to u!

[amyeprice77]

Well, Beso Brides already got back to me, so I'm definitely going to go that way... you said that you argued because they don't offer airbrush make up is how you got the fee waived?  What were they trying to charge you?  

 

My fiance is a chef for a hotel/restaurant, so he does these contracts for a living and we won't be paying either until they get everything right.

 

This hasn't been the easiest thing, but from what I've seen, once you're on the resort, they do an amazing job of executing it all!

[talicea7812]

If I remember right...at first they tried to pull the $800 vendor fee. That's when I complained that the hotel didn't offer the airbrush and that's what I wanted. They didn't fight that too much but then said I would have to buy day passes for Michael n Martina. I looked up what a day pass included and since they wouldn't be staying on the resort to eat, drink, etc... I wasn't gonna pay for it. They gave me trouble about it for a while but I knew I was right. The day of they had no trouble getting on the resort and all was well.

 

Once ur on the resort they do take care of u. My hubs and I felt like the resort ppl were all trying to make up for floridas screw ups. One word of advice...schedule hair and makeup early. We were running late and Paola the on site coordinator does not care. She rushed me alon to the point that my hands were shaking as I tried to put on my jewelry that I almost forgot about. Because of her I also missed out on some pre-wedding pics I would have liked

[amyeprice77]

GOOD TO KNOW.  I don't deal well with people rushing me... I will let you know how it goes with the wedding coordinator.  I'm about to go to battle, I have a feeling!

[MandM2014]

@@amyeprice77  We actually decided to move our wedding back a year to September 13th 2015 because I am in graduate school and it was just too stressful to try and plan while in school.  I will be graduating next year so it just made more sense for us.  Good luck with everything…the day is getting closer!!!