Las Vegas Wedding - Need Advice and Help!!!

[needaring]

Hi Everyone,

I was hoping to get some advice from all of you. I frequented this forum months ago while shopping for an engagement ring.

My fiancé and I finally found a convenient time to have a wedding. We are looking around June – July and planning on going to Vegas (We are coming from Florida). We saw many packages at some of the hotels that we feel will be lovely and fit with our intimate wedding that we had in mind.

Since we are coming all the way from FL, we do not anticipate a lot of co-workers and friends to attend. Should we still invite everyone that like we would if we were having an wedding in Florida? What about gift registration? Do we still send this to everyone also? Also, when should we send out wedding invitations? How much time do we need to give everyone?

Like I said, I don’t anticipate a large crowd since we are flying out there. I would expect less than 20 and most of that number will be family. Should we have another reception when we get back home? Since there will not be a whole lot of people in Vegas, I envision a big dinner while in Vegas, or something of the sort. What do you think? Do we need to do something for people back home when we get back?

Anyway, we both just finished school and have started our careers so taking too much time off will not work right now. We decided on Vegas since it is easier and will work for close family and friends, and also financially.

Thanks everyone and I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[sxn675]

Hello! Good luck with all your planning. You might want to visit the messageboards at theknot.com. There are some SERIOUS brides there. Best wishes to you and your finace.

 

[aljdewey]

Also, you might want to post this in "diamond hangout" forum here on PS. That might help with response.

 

[Mara]

Actually a more appropriate place for this here would be in the Bride WorldWide section where there is alot of discussion on planning and the like.




But theknot.com's message boards are great, I would go there as well! Lots of etiquette information, also on theknot they have a section for these types of questions you are asking, plenty of people have asked them before. You are having a Destination Wedding, so be sure to read up on anything along those lines when you surf the sites.

My two cents because we are doing a destination wedding as well:




--Invite everyone you would in FL out of courtesy, but knowing that not everyone will come. This actually gives you more freedom in planning and inviting, I have found, because while I may have argued the addition of my Mother's random friends from school if the wedding was local and $95 a head...for Hawaii I am inviting anyone and everyone because I know they will not come (and food is much cheaper if they do, hee!)


--Send out Save the Dates for a destination wedding about 7 months ahead of time so that people can determine if they can fit the costs into their lifestyle and save up for the wedding if necessary. If you are not doing an elaborate STD, at least send out a quickie card to let people know with alot of advance time, OR call them all and invite them by phone (the ones you KNOW will come) so that they know of your plans.


--Send out the Invitations about 3 months before the wedding, sooner out than a local wedding (which is about 6 weeks), because that is when they should start to make their travel arrangements (if they have not already), and really committ to going.


--If only 20 or 30 are coming and you are sending invitations to 200, yes have a reception when you get home. But if you are only inviting say 60 and 30 come, you may not need the second reception and instead may choose to send something like a 'calling card' when you get home, letting everyone know of your wedding in Vegas and that if they would like to visit, you'll be home, etc. I've seen this happen as well.




Good luck!

 

[pqcollectibles]

Just a tidbit of info to help you in your planning.

May 30-June 3, 2004, JCK International Jewelry Show, Sands Expo, Las Vegas, NV.

I saw June/July and thought of the big Jewelry Show that takes place in Vegas every year.

 

[Robyn12]

If you want your wedding to be intimate, I’d say invite only who you really want there. There is nothing wrong with having a small, private wedding for immediate family and close friends only (or even just you and the groom if that’s what you wanted). It’s your day and it should be exactly how you want it… If you invite everyone, you’ll have to plan for a larger event, as you won’t know who will and who won’t come until a few months before the day. If you invite only the people who you expect/hope to come, you can plan an appropriate event.

If you decide to have a “private” wedding for yourself and your immediate family, you can still have a party to celebrate your wedding back home down the road… Something simple and inexpensive would be appropriate for this type of celebration. If you wanted to, you could even renew your vows, and then have the party afterwards for the family back home…

Just my two cents! Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[hoorray]

Robyn has a good point. My experience is that if you invite lots of people you may find a few random ones who decide to go since it would make for a fun get away anyway. If you don't want close family mixed with a few random friends, I would keep the invitation list to the serious attendees, and send announcements or some other item to the others.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi,

My husband and I eloped in Vegas, so I just wanted to mention that we did have a small reception when we got back, and this worked out nicely. We were students with very little money at the time and this suited us best and our costs were kept to a minimum.

About gift registration. . .it isn't very good etiquette to tell people where your registered. If they ask, then you tell them. Do not include any notice in your invitation.

I hope you have a wonderful experience. We had a blast eloping and I would, given the chance, do it again! (oh, and in fact, we ended up going back for our anniversary and had just as much fun the second time

)

Do you know where you're staying yet?

Michelle

 

[needaring]

Hi,

Thanks for the info.

I think we are leaning towards one of the packages offered at Caesar's.

We probably wont stay there the whole time but atleast a few days after the wedding are included in their packages.

I would like to invite only close family and friends but I fear that some people who find out would be hurt that they were not even invited at all. I work in a small office and I am sure I needt to invite atleast and a few other people. I am thinking about 50 total invites with less than 20 showing up.

Oh well....

Any other advice about Vegas? Does anyone know any classy, nice chapels (prefferably outdoors) that dont cost too much? We like the idea of Caesar's palace but I am not sure if that will be too large for us?

Thanks again!

Thanks!

 

[hoorray]

Lake Las Vegas has a very nice Hyatt and Ritz with wedding gazebos overlooking the lake. The Lake is about 20-30 minutes away from the main strip, and has a different feel. It's a newish resort development with golf etc for guests.

I've heard that Paris hotel has a very nice chapel. My guess is that most of the big hotels have a nice chapel, but I don't know how many have outdoor spots.

 

[daboyzmomi]

Congratulations!

Just wanted to say my husband and I renewed our wedding vows in Vegas in November at the Aladdin Hotel Wedding Chapel and would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone. The chapel is veryyyy beautiful and intimate enough for the size group you are expecting. I think in total we had 23ish and it was perfect. We also made arrangements with PF Changs which is in the Aladdin for dinner in a private room they have for up to 27 people. It was PERFECT. Everyone that came out for the event said it was the best wedding they had ever been to. The chapel offers a deal on the pricing on the 1300 sq ft Panorama Suites which are AWESOME. We rented one and after dinner had everyone come up to the room for cocktails and dessert. FABULOUS view of Bellagios Water Show and Paris's Tower. FUN FUN FUN. Attached is a link to a few pictures of us in the chapel to help you get an idea. Oh and also, the Aladdin is a great hotel if you are looking for a place to go that isn't HUGE like most of the resorts are now. The Dining areas and salon and chapel are on one level away from the casino which makes it very nice and less "Vegasy" if you know what I mean.

Also, I know alot of people who get married in Vegas and just have a small reception back home. Nothing fancy is needed. A few others that I know just sent out announcements stating they were married and the details...it really is up to you guys what you would like. Just remeber to keep it stressless! Hugs.

PS- We went with the cheesey Elvis theme just because it was our renewal, but their regular weddings there are just as fun and beautiful as well. I also would like to say that Vegas in June/July outdoors is NOT a good idea for a wedding. Temps are well over 100 there..wayyyyyyy hot and not fun at all. Hope this helps!

https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/the-renewal-pics.11087/

 

[hoorray]

Good point on the heat! Las Vegas will be very hot by June/July, (95 - 105 would be my guess -- and the later you wait the hotter). Even tho its a "dry heat"

it's still HOT and probably would not be comfortable for an outdoor wedding unless maybe it's at night.