Azul Beach Weddings 2015

[KaraEbeth]

@@ng2015 I'm not sure what I'm going to put in mine yet. I wanted some things easy to pack but thought about maybe putting a couple tumblers in there or koozies? Definitely some info about the welcome dinner and ceremony and reception times, a thank you note...maybe some Advil and Pepto samples? What do you think you'll put in? Are you the one I was talking to on the Azul Beach Bride Facebook about their private event prices skyrocketing?! I put the NG and your name on Facebook together and thought maybe that was you? Lol

@@MariCorrea23 you are able to send your coordinator pics of what you're looking for and they will give you a quote. I've heard Lomas' quotes are higher than other places (of course) but haven't sent any pics myself yet. Also, I'm not sure what your coordinator is talking about regarding the fake flowers...I've never heard that. Review Azul Beach Weddings 2014 forum, the first few pages in this one, and "Tina's Peacock Wedding" thread from @@talicea7812 - she brought in flowers from an outside vendor and the on site coordinators didn't put up a fight at all. I am pretty sure Lomas put up a fight about it (can't remember off the top of my head) but if you look through her planning thread you'll find the info you need.

[ng2015]

@@KaraEbeth Yes, that's me on facebook

I got my bags today from wedding chicks!! So excited. They're simple but pretty. I wanted the "Hola Amigos" bag and the fiance wanted the "Bienvenidos" bag...I figured I'd let him have this one lol. As for what we're putting in it, I figured I'd stuff the bottom with paper to fluff it up then put in: advil packets, pepto packets, emergen C, water bottles from the hotel, sunscreen and aloe vera gel that we are thinking of buying in Cancun at costco or walmart, and sunglasses.  I found the sunglass website either here or on the fb azul beach page. I called to request a sample and I got it today also. I requested the cheap $0.63 cents Blues Brothers glasses...the link is  http://www.sunglassville.com/BluesBrothers-SunglassesBlack 

They're cheap in quality (what did I expect for $0.63 honestly, but they'd be great for the weekend) and nice for pictures to see everyone in the same black wayfarer sunglasses. Hopefully I won't break the bank on these bags lol. 

 

@@MariCorrea23 I agree with KaraEbeth, take a look at Talicea's planning page. You can bring in fresh flowers from outside but if you want to use a florist (as opposed to buying flowers in town by yourself) they'll try and charge you an outside vendor fee and a setup fee. Talicea figured out how to get around that and not pay the outside vendor fee. If you're bringing some things for your own decorations and/or favors, they'll charge you a setup fee anyway. The amount charged depends on how much you want them to set up but if you have a lot of stuff, it should be a flat fee of $250 total. 

Hope that helps! Keep us all posted  

[MariCorrea23]

Hey ladies just a quick update my Miami coordinator insists that it is against resort policy to have fresh flowers from an outside vendor. And now even though I am paying for a ceremony package they are trying to charge me for the always and forever package that is $950, my fiance is really upset about it I am started talking to outside planners to see if it would viable to have the ceremony and reception outside the resort. We are both really really frustrated with all their fees, restrictions and how hard and delayed communication is. Hope things get better soon because we chose a destination wedding because I thought it will be a stress free process ....

 

Well on a better note we just sign the contract with the Samuel Luna to do our photography we are really excited about it, after looking and literally dozen of photographers he was the only one that we liked and was in our price range

[KaraEbeth]

@@MariCorrea23 what ceremony package are you paying for? I thought the Always and Forever was all there was. I would just tell the Miami coordinator you are bringing your own fake ones and then get a quote from an outside florist and set up everything with them. The onsite coordinators will be okay with it once you're there. Who is your Lomas coordinator? You may want to request a new one.

Edited August 14, 2014 by KaraEbeth

[ng2015]

@@MariCorrea23 I agree with @@KaraEbeth, I think you should switch coordinators because as long as you fulfill their criteria, the always and forever package should be free. See http://www.memorablemomentsweddings.com/Karisma-Design-Event-AlwaysandForever.cfm 

 

Also, I think that that is one of the most frequent and annoying complaints about Karisma, that they are so difficult to deal with. Every wedding coordinator gives you a different answer. I finally got a coordinator that I like and is responsive (usually about a 24 hour turnaround time). Before that (for like 5 months), I had to fight for everything. Every single Azul Beach bride I've spoken with has said the exact same thing...that they had to argue for everything. BUT, all that aside, they say that it was worth it because the on site coordinators make up for everything and are so nice and easy to work with (read accommodating). So with that I say, don't go looking for an off site location. You're flying all that way to have that scenery. Just find creative ways around it. I was told that they can't waive the day pass fee for my 3 out of 70 guests who are staying off resort and coming to our welcome bbq and wedding reception, meanwhile, in some document that was emailed to me earlier this year it says that as long as they are attending a 4 hour private event (which both events are) that they can waive the fee. It's like their head doesn't know what their body is doing.  

 

Check out Talicea's blog at http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com/topic/76182-tinas-peacock-wedding-planning-blog/ because she went through everything recently and had even thought about going off resort as well until they accommodated her (which they always will).

 

Hope that helps!

 

@@KaraEbeth I want to show you my OOT bags but don't know how to attach pics here so I put it on fb lol

Edited August 14, 2014 by ng2015

[malika2014]

Hey I've noticed some of you mentioning a FB page for a chat as well?? What's it called exactly? I can't seem to find it!

[MariCorrea23]

The fight continues @@KaraEbeth we are doing the pure glamour ceremony package I know its expensive but we really like it and we wanted the whole stress free experience but having them pull all this different fees and unreasonable policies completely beats the purpose of the chilled. I might just tell her I will bring fake flowers, and just get real ones from the florist when we get there. But I will keep looking outside until they get their act together ....

@@ng2015 How did get a new coordinator ? Who did you talk to ??

[MariCorrea23]

Ok...

Just had a phone call from my destination wedding agent and she said talked to a one of the wedding supervisors from Karisma and she basically told her that all brides at Azul Beach need to pay the $950 from the Always and Forever package and that the package is never waived and she said that "lies" were been told on social media. I dont know what else to think I just want things to fair and chilled . I am definitely not enjoying the process I told my agent at this point if I could switch resorts I would ... 

[ng2015]

@@malika2014 it's "Azul Beach Hotel Brides!" It's a closed group so you can search for it but have to be approved. 

 

@@MariCorrea23 My first wc left so I was assigned Lucy Menna. I would just ask to be switched to her. Also, that's not a lie on social media. The link I gave in the previous post is straight from the Karisma website. I just checked and for some reason the direct link isn't working however if you google Karisma Always and Forever, it's the first link that comes up (Memorable Moments...) and it'll take you straight to where it says that it's complimentary if you stay for 7 or more nights and book a minimum of 5 rooms at 3 nights (for your guests). Either your wedding coordinator or your travel agent needs to get with it! I've been dealing directly with Karisma for that stuff and they never said that you can't bring in outside stuff. They're just going to charge depending on what it is. So if you want to bring in decor or favors, they'll charge a set up fee of I think $5 per person up to a max of $250 for everyone (depending on how much stuff you want them to set up). As far as outside vendors like photo/video/dj/flowers you can either pay $800 per vendor or book a room and put the vendors names on it for 3 nights (whichever is cheaper). 

Edited August 14, 2014 by ng2015

[malika2014]

@@ng2015 thanks! Found it and requested to join