In my business of planning weddings in Las Vegas I am often asked what my suggestions are to get the most out of a Las Vegas wedding.
1) The Weather – Before making the hotel reservations for your wedding in Las Vegas, check the normal weather for that time of year. Daytime in July and August can bring hot sun and occasional heavy storms, but evenings are a nice temperature. It may be the desert, but we do have Winter, an outdoor wedding in January would be a little on the chilly side.
2) The legalities – OK, Las Vegas is home of the quickie wedding, but a Vegas wedding is still legally binding. Make sure you are of legal age and you have your photo ID with proof of name and age, and the fee for the license.
3) The Photographer – Most of the chapels offer an hour or so of photography in the chapel as part of their package. If you are lucky, this may include a trip to the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Consider booking some time with a professional photographer for another couple of hours. Walk around the Glitter Gulch of Fremont Street or pose on the Strip at night or during the day, or go out to the beautiful Red Rock Canyon. Be more original and get some exciting wedding photographs that you can enjoy for years to come.
4) The Dress – Many brides spend lots of time and money choosing a dress back home, then packing it up and bringing it with them to Las Vegas. However, not everyone wants to spend lots of money on a dress that they will never wear again, so why not take advantage of being in the wedding capital of the world, and choose from one of the very many dress rental places in town?
5) The Hair and Makeup – Some brides choose to have their hair and makeup done professionally for their wedding day. A lot of the casinos offer this service to their guests, but at a very high price. Some of the local, off-Strip salons will also come to your room for this, and charge much less. Consider having a trial at home before you come out to Vegas and takes lots of pictures, and be sure to book in advance for your Vegas trip.
6) Witnesses – Many couples elope to Las Vegas alone to get married. If you do make the trip just the two of you, then be sure to find a witness for the ceremony, or check with you chapel that they can provide one.
7) The celebrant – If you choose a wedding chapel in a Las Vegas Strip casino or Downtown then it is likely that they will provide their own officiant, and they will perform a standard ceremony. They can usually offer civil or religious ceremonies. If you want a more personal ceremony, consider a more off-the-beaten-track location and talk to your celebrant beforehand.
8) The Time – So many people come to Las Vegas to get married, that the chapels often have several bookings per day. This is especially true on weekends and during busy periods. Consider coming out of season and/or midweek to have a more leisurely ceremony.
9) The Breakfast – If you are getting married in Las Vegas, take advantage of the vast choice of incredible restaurants it has to offer. There is nowhere quite like Vegas when it comes to eating out, so be sure to make reservations somewhere classy with delicious food.
10) Special days and holidays – You may well want a memorable date for your wedding anniversary, but bare in mind that many other couples want that, too. Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve are very popular dates all over the world. In Vegas, that can mean waiting in line at chapels, and having to hurry along your ceremony so that others can fit in.
For more information on planning your Las Vegas wedding, email Claire or visit her website. For updates, “like” the Las Vegas Bridesmaid page on Facebook.
