Ashhtayy's Planning Thread - Azul Fives - June 7, 2016

[yycbride2016]

@@calgarybride2015

Thanks! Ours was $300 for an hour I think. I don't think my fiance would go for another set of photos haha. Plus we just made our engagement photo album so I'm sure that ship has now sailed Maybe we will do photos as an anniversary gift to each other or something in the future. I just love having photos of us! haha

[calgarybride2015]

@@calgarybride2015

Thanks! Ours was $300 for an hour I think. I don't think my fiance would go for another set of photos haha. Plus we just made our engagement photo album so I'm sure that ship has now sailed Maybe we will do photos as an anniversary gift to each other or something in the future. I just love having photos of us! haha

I totally read your post wrong and was having a blonde moment - duh I've seen your photos. Don't mind me we have discussed doing some yearly now too because they turned out so well but we shall see lol

 

 

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[acw271011]

@calgarybride2015  lol at least you can claim to be having a blonde moment.... in my case it's alzheimer's and old age!!!!

[ashhtayy]

@@ashhtayy

 

Awww I absolutely love your story! It really seems like you two were meant to be together! It’s funny how things always seem to work out in the end, especially in a way you least expect it to. And the proposal is so adorable! What a romantic guy you’ve found! Congrats!!!

 

I love your engagement photos! And it’s such a great idea that you will do more in the summer time to use at the wedding. The practice will make your wedding photos seem so natural and easy! Also how great is it that you got the first set done for free! I’d love more photos of my FI and I if it weren’t so expensive haha. Good for you guys!

 

You got such a good deal for bookings! I’m actually really jealous. I wonder what we were thinking booking in peak season (February) because it’s so darn expensive. I’m really relying on the price drop guarantee to make the trip cheaper for our guests. I’m glad you were able to get reasonable quotes for both departure locations. Are you getting any perks with the bookings? You have so many guests booking that I would imagine they offer you some sort of “rewards”. You will have so much fun with that many guests! I’m sure it will be a week long party for everyone!

 

I’m totally the same way with excel for the wedding. I have spreadsheets for so many different things, I have the budget done and every possible budget outcome as a spreadsheet (depending on how many guests come, or what package we end up doing), I have ones for guest lists, like you with where they depart from, and also if they are coming to the Mexico wedding, at home reception, or both. It’s funny how you rely on having these spreadsheets after a while.

 

I can’t wait to read more on your planning thread! J

 

@@yycbride2016 thank you! thank you! thank you!

 

we were really happy with our rates too. we actually already took our price drop guarentee. crazy? maybe...but i was scared that if we didn't pull the trigger now there is no way the resort would have enough rooms (in our room catergories) available. initially we signed on at $1620 for ON (now $1560CAD) and $1830 for BC (now $1735CAD). i hope this doesn't come back to haunt us.

 

we are getting some nice perks. because we went with a GI TA we have our pick of a free cocktail hour, photo credit or spa credit. the best value seems to be the cocktail hour so we will likely go with that. still haven't decided yet. we also get every 1 in 21 free so right now we are comfortably sitting at two freebees. SO upset we didn't get to take advantage of a 1 in 11 like i have seen some brides get. then we get some other things that I can't really recall - standard stuff though (i think) like upgraded seats, extra baggage, champagne on the flight, something in our room i think (?). what about you? any special perks?

 

i'm following your thread but having a tough time keeping up with everything. will post soon

Edited July 13, 2015 by ashhtayy

[calgarybride2015]

I think your price drops were good! Around $100 isn't nothing to pass up, especially since you have the regulations with enough rooms needed etc. And I believe our dollar plays a role so who knows what will come of prices.

 

I wish we got 1 in 11 too!!! We got 1 in 16 that was with AC.

 

 

 

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[ashhtayy]

The Booking Process with GI TA

This seemed to be more complicated than I think it should have been. Because our resort is smaller and our guest list was quite large, we were worried that blocking the minimum rooms would not be sufficient. Michael and I each paid our deposits ($150/pp – total $300CAD) and that secured 15 deluxe rooms. From the date we said “let’s do this” those rooms were secured for 90 days. That was March 18^th, 2015.

 

Our GI TA suggested that if financially we could do it, we should block additional rooms to ensure all our ‘100% guests’ would have a room. After a lot of deliberation we blocked an additional 10 rooms (on top of the 15 we had already secured). We paid $150/pp, so $300 per room, for a total of $3000. What our travel agent did was as people booked she put them in rooms 16, 17, 18, etc. When our booking deadline hit she released the rooms within the first 15 that we did not require. The only way we were going to lose money was if we did not fill the 10 rooms we paid extra for. This was a slight gamble but we studied our guest list intensely and marked those that we knew 100% would attend regardless of price and time of year (bridesmaids, parents, aunts and uncles) and we knew we would be okay. The extra money that we put forward was then put towards our trip. We were out no money and had pre-paid a portion of our wedding trip.

 

I spent a lot of time on this site asking other brides-to-be if they put down extra money to secure more rooms. It appeared that this was not common practice. In the end it would have been fine if we didn’t put out the extra $3000 down as rooms are still available, but it worked out because now a large portion of our trip is paid.

 

The promotion when we signed on with Transat was 1 free credit for every 21^st person booked (excluding children and taxes). The passenger could board from any gate in Canada, regardless of room type but needed to stay a minimum of 7 nights.

 

Through Transat we get the standard: priority check-in, advanced seat assignment, an extra 10kg of baggage per person, sparkling wine, overhead compartment for my wedding dress and an on-board announcement if we desire (lol).

[vancouverpetunia]

@@ashhtayy Love your planning thread, your engagement story and the photos! They are gorgeous. Can't wait to hear more. Congrats! 

[ashhtayy]

I think your price drops were good! Around $100 isn't nothing to pass up, especially since you have the regulations with enough rooms needed etc. And I believe our dollar plays a role so who knows what will come of prices.

 

I wish we got 1 in 11 too!!! We got 1 in 16 that was with AC.

 

 

 

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@@calgarybride2015 glad to hear you thought our price drops were good. i was worried but couldn't imagine the BC rates going down more than $95CAD. 1 in 16 is great! beats 1 in 21 but hey, anything is better than nothing!

 

we have 4 AB guests too but because there are only a few i forget what their rates are - actually, not sure if we've ever even seen them. somewhere in between the ON and BC guests for sure!

 

@@ashhtayy Love your planning thread, your engagement story and the photos! They are gorgeous. Can't wait to hear more. Congrats! 

 

@@vancouverpetunia thanks so much!

[calgarybride2015]

Our travel agent also suggested we either pay for some extra holds or if we had people who wanted to put their deposit down right away like we did. In the end we took the gamble and it worked out for us. We were at a mega resort though with over 1000 rooms. It did sell out though near the end!

 

Hahha although I say I'm shy, I am a Leo and would love the onboard announcement!! Someone will buy you a drink maybe

 

 

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Edited July 14, 2015 by calgarybride2015

[vancouverpetunia]

We also paid extra to hold more rooms/seats. I think it was $500 for 5 extra rooms/10 extra seats. The entire amount was applicable to our trip, whether or not we ended up using the extra rooms/seats, so it wasn't a gamble. In the end, I think we used an extra room or two and most of the seats. 

 

I also LOVE spreadsheets. I have them for the guest list, budget, boat excursion companies, photographer options, etc., etc.