Weddings in Las Vegas

Ariel1

Hi

Just decided to get married in las vegas next year! Have had a look at a couple of websites and just wondering if anyone has had a vegas wedding before and has any advice on how to go about booking it?

Thanks

BarrierReef

Hi Ariel,

Congrats on getting engaged!!

We're getting married in Vegas this September. We've been there three times before so know what we like there etc.

I know the "Vegas Wedding" websites can be a little confusing. Basically you have the choice of having your ceremony at one of the hotels, or at one of the "Chapels" which are dotted around the place - "Little White Chapel", "Little Chapel of the Flowers etc". All of them offer a wedding "package" which usually includes your flowers, some photography, and some even include hors d'oevres, a reception, and wedding cake.

Generally from what I have seen the strip hotels cost more, but the off-strip chapels have more included, and some of the chapels have some fabulous outdoor areas.

We decided to get married at the Wynn Hotel cos we stayed there before, it was where we got engaged, and we really liked it. Also, the Vegas strip is what Vegas is all about to us so we wanted to have the ceremony and reception on the strip.

I would recommend that you join TheKnot.com - it's like the US version of weddingsonline.ie, and they have community boards for the city where you're getting married so there's loads of other Vegas Brides there generally looking for the same information as you!

We're having our reception at Maggiano's Little Italy (around 30 people). I was looking at loads of funky strip restaurants, and while Maggiano's isn't as sophisticated it does a great wedding package including a four-hour bar for your guests!!

Hope this helps! Give me a shout if I can share any more of my experience with you!

LashingLady

I am actually the author of the last post, posted it under my H2B's account by accident!

Ariel1

Hi Lashing Lady

Thank you for your reply and congrats 2 you 2! September will be here before you know it!

We have had a look at a few websites for the actual wedding and theres alot to choose from, we are not too sure how to go about organising the reception, were thinking of having roughly 20 guests but we are in the very early stages of planning and have no idea what kind of reception to have, where did you get your information from for the reception?

Thanks!

LashingLady

Hi Ariel,

We were originally looking at the restaurants in each of the hotels by going through their website and getting info from the event manager in each hotel about prices etc, but they work out to be quite expensive ($80-$100 per head for dinner).

Also bear in mind that you can't make bookings for any restaurants in Vegas until 6 months ahead of your event. This means that everyone is in the same boat as you bookings wise - so you have lots of time to look around before you make your choice.

After I did all the research at the hotels, I looked at the ranking of top hotels in Vegas on Tripadviser - that was a help cos it's reviews from real people.

In the end I decided to go for Maggiano's cos they had good reviews, do a whole "wedding package", and most of all cos it's $80 per head and that includes a four hour bar, wedding cake, and you can add things like a DJ as part of the room minimum.

Using TheKnot helped me to make my final decison.

Have you been to Vegas many times bfore? Maybe you could do a reccie mission there in the Autumn to check out some of the places there - there's some very good deals on flights and hotels going around at the moment - most of our guests are getting a week hotel and flights for €800 for ours.

Ariel1

Hi Lashing Lady

Thanks for the info! - we have been to vegas before back in Sept 07 and we have decided to go over for 10 days later this year to look into it!

Last question, did it take you long to find your dress? are you takling your weddings outfits ie suits etc over with you or organising it form over there?

Thanks

LashingLady

Ariel1 wrote: »

Hi Lashing Lady

Thanks for the info! - we have been to vegas before back in Sept 07 and we have decided to go over for 10 days later this year to look into it!

Last question, did it take you long to find your dress? are you takling your weddings outfits ie suits etc over with you or organising it form over there?

Thanks

Hey, I had two dress-shopping visits. I went to the Bridal Outlet in Baldoyle and then Bridal Wraptures in Stephens Green where I bought the dress that I picked on my first visit! I kinda knew that I wanted something simple and not to heavy for carrying on the plane. I ordered the Bridesmaids dresses from Gownsales.com and they will arrive in August and will prob need some alterations....

Lads will rent tuxes in Vegas- from either Men's Wearhouse or Tuxedo Junction. As far as I can make out their operations are 10 times that of Black Tie so I think once you contact them in advance they'll be able to organise anything!!

When you go over - I recommend that you do some research beforehand and contact some of the restaurants saying that you wnat to some and check out their venue - you might get some freebies!!

Enjoy!!

smiley25

Hi . .. Sorry for gate crashing this thread!! but do you know are there any legal requirments here that you need to do before goin to Vegas to get married- do you need to contact the dept of foreign affairs?

LashingLady

Hi Smiley

No, you get married legally in the US and notify them here in Ireland when you come back. You have to get a marriage license in Vegas before you get married - you get that from the courthouse. We'll be getting ours on Monday and getting married Wed.

DayDreamer

Hey Ariel

I second what LashingLady has said about The Knot, its really good for getting info from local girls and other Vegas brides. Theres also a thread in Tripadvisor's Las Vegas forum called "Calling all Vegas brides" theres loads of information in there too from English and Irish brides. Also Neon Nuptials is an excellent book for details on each chapel.

We're getting married in Feb in the Chapel of the Flowers and I'm literally counting down the days I'm so excited :D:D I've done a lot of research into it so feel free to pm me if you have any questions x

Munster Gal

Sorry for hijacking this thread but I want to book a Las Vegas wedding as a surprise for my husband for our 10th anniversary next year. My husband always wanted a LV wedding but we bowed to family pressure - we were the first in our families to get married, and had the traditional wedding here. Can we have a proper wedding in Vegas or do we have to have a renewal of our vows? He's mentioned the Graceland Chapel but I don't know anything about it.

DayDreamer

Hey Munster Gal

I'm not 100% but I don't see any reason why you couldn't have a regular wedding and not a vow renewal. I assume you'd need a marriage license in LV before the ceremony.

Here's a linky if you want to contact the chapel ....
http://www.gracelandchapel.com/index.html

Also, theres a live chat on the Chapel of the Flowers website so they may be able to tell you more ...just dont mention that you're getting married in Graceland

Ariel & LashingLady ...how are your plans coming along??

SarahJ

Hi guys,


am looking for some advice on hair and make up for a wddding in Vegas, can anyone recommend anyone?

DayDreamer

Hey Sarah

I'm getting my hair & airbrush makeup done by Glamsquad, they've got excellent reviews and they come to your hotel room. I've heard good reviews about Lori White too

SarahJ

Its funny that you say that, I was reading loads of reviews about them, and they are getting 5 stars from everyone! So we contacted them yesterday, still waiting for a reply. hopefully we are giving enough notice, its not til November

DayDreamer

I had to email them twice before I got a reply but they've been fine at replying since then.

Where are you getting married? Have you booked a photographer?

SarahJ

Its not me, its my friend and I'm bridesmaid. She is getting married in November, and as far as I know the photographer is included in the wedding package.

Diary Day

So did you get married? Was it class?