I proposed to my fiance in Vegas back in August (we stayed at PH, and they were wonderful. Even got us and our friends a comped pool cabana to celebrate). We're looking at doing a Vegas wedding now. I've got 5 comped nights at Paris in December, and we're using it for a scouting trip. :)
We've chose Vegas because we want to do something relatively inexpensive (we'll spend money, but it's still cheaper to do a wedding package than something local), that everyone can have fun together as a group at, and will be extremely memorable.
I've been looking at Flamingo, PH, Paris, CP so far. They all seem reasonably priced and nice. We especially like the Flamingo garden weddings, but aren't tied to an outdoor spot.
Anyone have any thoughts on location or anything else? I haven't been anywhere off-strip (went downtown last trip, but wasn't a huge fan). Is there any place else we should be considering nearby? It would be especially helpful to hear from some locals (Wiz, JB, anyone else), as most of the threads I've found on sites like TA only have out of towner views in them.
Thanks!
I'm sure you know the pros and cons of a Vegas wedding. It is a great way to get the whole thing over with easily and inexpensively. However, as the years roll on, you lose out on the memories of a big grand wedding. Short term gain, long term loss. We've toyed with the idea of doing a more formal renewing of vows, but just never got around to it. If we do, I'm going to ask DJTeddyBear to do the honors.
The only place I can compare the Little Church of the West is the wedding chapel at the Imperial Palace, where I attended another wedding. Of the two, I'd go with the Little Church. It was just had more atmosphere and makes for a good pictures. The IP wedding chapel was basically a room with chairs and minimal decorations.
If you are going for the kitschy Vegas wedding, I'd go with an independent chapel. Somehow, marrying in a casino doesn't seem romantic to me.
The cool thing is that it was very very easy to get the marriage license at the county hall with absolutely no waiting.
We dined in the Stratosphere (which was quite good for my immature taste buds at the time) and stayed at the Monte Carlo. I don't set foot in that hotel anymore... bad luck... we were divorced a few years later. I remember winning about $500 on the trip though, mostly at NYNY on the final day playing Blackjack.
Vegas weddings can be fun, and I wouldn't make a correlation between the length of the marriage and the fact that you were married in Vegas (unless it was a result of a rash decision made that night!!!) It really doesn't matter whether you have tons of people there or whether it's done on short notice. It depends on the relationship with your mate.
Thanks. I appreciate that.Quote: WizardWe've toyed with the idea of doing a more formal renewing of vows, but just never got around to it. If we do, I'm going to ask DJTeddyBear to do the honors.
FYI: In addition to being a DJ, I'm an Ordained Clergy Person. I can officiate weddings. For the record, it is probably NOT the mere fact that the Wiz knows that which leads to him saying he'd ask me. It is more likely because I spoke passionately about being a wedding officiant at the Wiz Lunch, describing some of the things I do to make a wedding fun and entertaining, while maintaining the dignity that the day deserves. For more info: www.ReverendDaveMiller.com
Vegas weddings was something of a topic at the Wedding Merchants Business Accademy convention I attended in Vegas three weeks ago as well as last year.
Many Vegas hotels have wedding chapels. No big deal. Many hotels all over the country have chapels too. The Vegas hotels may, or may not, put a Vegas spin on it.
However, Vegas is know for having independent chapels almost on every street corner.
The convention included a bus tour of three chapels. I took the tour last year. This year, a friend invited me to dinner that night. Here's my memories from last year:
On the way to the first stop we passed several chapels on the Strip that looked like run-down converted houses. The electricity was on, so I guess they were still in business, but they looked like they should be condemned!
The first two stops were also on the strip, but in far better condition.
The first stop was Chapel Of The Flowers. It was very nice, with several chapels of varying sizes. Only one chapel stands out in my memory. It is outdoors, in a garden setting, loaded with flowers. It's only upon closer look that you realize that all of the flowers are glass. The sad part is there are no photos or mention of this on their website that I could find.
The second Stop was Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. They also have several chapel rooms and do a variety of themed weddings, most notably, the Elvis wedding. (To be fair, I'm sure you can get an Elvis wedding almost anywhere.) When we were there, they took two random people from our group to do a demonstration wedding. The rest of us didn't even know it, until, after a partial tour, we all were seated in the big chapel and the back wall opens to allow a pink convertable to enter, driven by Elvis, with the bride & groom in back. Then Elvis officiated. It was a lot of fun, and I could see it being a good coice for an Elvis fan.
The third stop was downtown, near Freemont. I don't remember the name of it. (What does that tell you?) It was the most recently built location, but lacked any charm. It had a couple chapels of varying sizes and was also the only one of the three that had a drive-up window. The most memorable things about it were not what I saw, but what we were told: The City Hall marriage license window is open 24/7. This chapel is also open 24/7 and are the only chapel that can be seen from City Hall - making them the obvious choice for instant weddings at any hour. They are the only chapel in town with an elevator. Despite what is portrayed on TV, City Hall will not issue a license, nor will this chapel perform the ceremony, if you are obviously drunk.
FYI: For those that have never been married, you get your license at City Hall, but use it to get married elsewhere - although in some cities, you can also see a judge and get married there as well. Also, in most cities/states there is a waiting period of a few days. In Vegas (Nevada?) there is no waiting period.
Unless I'm mistaken, all three had video systems to record the ceremony. At least one used hidden cameras. At least one advertises that they can do a live webcast of the wedding.
I'm gonna go thru my convention stuff tonight because I think I have some literature on these places.
Hope that helps.
Our wedding cost were included as part of a vacation package from a travel agent. I cannot reccommend the Little Chapel of the Flowers highly enough. The wedding coordinator at the chapel was amazing, and helped us set up our wedding for the most part via email. The wedding official asks what service you want, religious or otherwise, and asks questions to personalise your ceremony, working in details such as where you met.
From being picked up at the hotel by the chapel limo, to being deposited back at the hotel we felt looked after by the chapel staff for the whole day, even though there was just the two of us, they made as much effort for us as for any of the bigger parties. I would tell anyone considering a Vegas wedding to at least go for a look around and a chat with someone there.
On the down side it is way up by the Stratosphere, so huge parties may have transportation issues.
Mom wife and I were married by a JP at city hall (not in Vegas) and plan on renewing our vows in Vegas on our 50th as my mom and dad did. Another 8 years if you are wondering.
Quote: DJTeddyBearThe most memorable things about it were not what I saw, but what we were told: The City Hall marriage license window is open 24/7. This chapel is also open 24/7 and are the only chapel that can be seen from City Hall - making them the obvious choice for instant weddings at any hour.
Note that the Marriage Bureau on Clark used to be open 24/7, but now is only open from 8am to midnight (everyday). There wasn't enough demand to justify the graveyard shift.
http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/clerk/Pages/clerkhome.aspx#hours
With a set up line like that, I won't even bother... ;-)Quote: kenarman... After all how many people get to take a gondola ride in their wedding dress as my son and his wife did.
OK. Thanks for that.Quote: AyecarumbaNote that the Marriage Bureau on Clark used to be open 24/7, but now is only open from 8am to midnight (everyday). There wasn't enough demand to justify the graveyard shift.
http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/depts/clerk/Pages/clerkhome.aspx#hours
And thanks for the link. From there I was able to realize that in Vegas, you do NOT get a license at City Hall, but at this county office - several blocks from city hall. And, since I now had the correct address, I was able to use GoogleMaps and StreetView to find the third wedding chapel that the bus tour took us to.
It was Vegas Weddings. One feature I forgot about, but StreetView reminded me, is that they have a Las Vegas sign replica on the outside of their building, perfect for an after-wedding photo.
Quote: CroupierProbably the same as nearly everyone else. Say a few words, kiss and get shitfaced.
Vegas weddings miss the whole point. Weddings were originally held so the groom would have to stand in front of all his relatives and friends and her relatives and friends (and usually half the town) and take an oath he won't run away after a couple years of marriage. It got so bad the Church outlawed divorce and kicked you out and banished you if you got one. The whole point of marriage is to force the man to stay with the woman whether he wants to or not. You miss the fun part with a Vegas wedding. Maybe thats why Vegas divorces are so easy to get.
Quote:Maybe thats why Vegas divorces are so easy to get.
Six week divorce and gambling in Nevada were both signed into law at the same time.
here
According to that story, it was one of the most "amazing sessions in law-making history".
(also as a bonus read the story just under that about the "Freed man snubs mother;Lawyer punches jaw")
It's funny you should say that.Quote: CroupierProbably the same as nearly everyone else. Say a few words, kiss and get shitfaced.
When I have consultations with the bride & groom about officiating the ceremony, I often tell them that, legally, all I gotta say is: "You two love each other? OK, witnesses sign here. OK, let's eat!"
Of course, most brides want it a little longer than that....
Quote: DJTeddyBearWhen I have consultations with the bride & groom about officiating the ceremony, I often tell them that, legally, all I gotta say is: "You two love each other? OK, witnesses sign here. OK, let's eat!"
Not to say you're wrong, but I don't recall any weddings I've attended where that was asked. I thought both parties had to agree to the marriage and the witnesses had to sign something. I was a witness at my brother's wedding, but I forgot what it entailed. I think I had to sign something.
Still, I wonder at what exact moment does a couple become married. For example, suppose the couple had a big fight 5 minutes after the ceremony. If it was mutually agreeable, could they ask whoever did the wedding to just pretend it never happened?
You're right. But the question is there. It's usually phrased such as "Do you ____, take ____, etc, till death do you part?"Quote: WizardNot to say you're wrong, but I don't recall any weddings I've attended where that was asked. I thought both parties had to agree to the marriage and the witnesses had to sign something. I was a witness at my brother's wedding, but I forgot what it entailed. I think I had to sign something.Quote: DJTeddyBearWhen I have consultations with the bride & groom about officiating the ceremony, I often tell them that, legally, all I gotta say is: "You two love each other? OK, witnesses sign here. OK, let's eat!"
Still, I wonder at what exact moment does a couple become married. For example, suppose the couple had a big fight 5 minutes after the ceremony. If it was mutually agreeable, could they ask whoever did the wedding to just pretend it never happened?
You'll never see a wedding where what I described happened. And maybe I should have included '(wait for a positive response)' in my goofy five second ceremony example.
I was just saying that, LEGALLY, that's all that's required. Mind you, I base what I'm saying on NJ and NY law, but should apply nationwide. Because of the separation of church and state, the state does not dictate the content of the ceremony. Whatever the church requires is acceptable, because the state only cares about the license and witness signatures. That means that if the church accepts it, a wedding can take place in complete silence.
Although usually done in private, I do the signatures in public, usually during the cocktail hour. I explain to the witnesses that they are signing a court-sanctioned document similar to an afadavit, stating that they believe the bride & groom intend to uphold their wedding vows, or uphold the sanctity of marrige, if there were no vows.
In most states the bride and groom do not sign the license. They signed the application.
For the record, I was ordained by an internet church that does not beleive in God. While that seems somewhat odd, NJ and NY accepts it. PA, with it's large Quaker population, and general conservative attitude by non-Quakers, only accept religious officiants that preach to a congregation on a regular basis (or retired preachers). As whacky as it sounds, the home of the instant wedding, Nevada, has the same rule. But that's probably more to protect their current wedding industry.
My church makes no requirement of the content, so, technically, if one of my clients wanted that goofy 5 second ceremony, I'd have no objection. My typical ceremony lasts about 7 to 10 minutes.
The 'exact moment' a couple becomes married is open to debate. It could be when the officiant says "I now pronounce you man & wife" or some similar phrase. Or when the witnesses sign. Or when the state gets and approves the signed licence. But since the state back-dates the certificate to the date of the ceremony, I guess it's when it's signed. For some religions, it's not until the marriage is consumated.
If the bride & groom got into an argument five minutes later, and asked that the license not be submitted? That would be up to the officiant. For example, if the officiant is a judge, he might take a hard-nosed stance, since, as I said, the license is a court document. Me? I'd say that they should both contact me the next day, either way. After they slept on it, I'd abide by their wishes. If they don't call, it goes in the mail.
FYI: I've never had that situation, but it seems every DJ I know, has one of these same stories, that he heard from a friend where it happened.
Story 1: At some point in the reception, the bride takes the microphone and instructs the guests to reach under their chair, and remove and open the envelope. Inside is a photo of the groom and some woman other than the bride, in a compromising situation. If I was the officiant at that wedding, she wouldn't even have to ask me not to submit the license, since having photos like that means that there was no real intent when she gave her vows.
Story 2: At some point in the reception, the bride takes the microphone and announces that the wedding is off because she just caught the groom and some lady in some back room doing it. While she clearly intends to no longer be married, that event happened after she gave her vows, so I'd probably have to rely on a mutual request to not submit it, although I may include a cover letter explaining the situation.
I hope that answers the question, but do not hesitate to ask anything else.
P.S. The reason I tell them that, is to instill the notion that EVERYTHING is optional.Quote: DJTeddyBearWhen I have consultations with the bride & groom about officiating the ceremony, I often tell them that, legally, all I gotta say is: "You two love each other? OK, witnesses sign here. OK, let's eat!"
I bring a 30 page sample script to the meeting. Usually, by the time the bride is done whittling it down, it's about 4 pages.
What would it take to get you to Vegas to do our wedding? :)
Quote: bluefireSo Dave,
What would it take to get you to Vegas to do our wedding? :)
If you're serious, contact me via private message or thru my website and we'll talk. Or call 973-896-7905.
If you schedule it for during my annual Vegas trip, then it would be around my standard rate of $400. If you want to fly my butt from NJ to Vegas just for your wedding, then it will be $400 plus airfare and a couple other incidental expenses.
There is one catch - as I mentioned already, Nevada requires religious officiants to be actual or retired preachers. I don't qualify. However, neither does the Elvis at the Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel. He told me they have a list of local ministers that will come in after the ceremony to sign the document for a couple bucks. We'd have to do the same thing.
I live in Northern NJ, and tend to only pursue clients in the Northern NJ area - plus Atlantic City.
I recently got contacted about a wedding in Hellertown PA. I said to myself, "Why does that sound familiar?" I've been to the Sands in PA 4 times. The Sands is about 3 miles from the highway exit. The exit specifies 'Bethlehem / Hellertown.' The wedding is 7 miles from my new stomping ground. So, I'm pursuing that one too. I mentioned above that PA is more conservative. But they also have something of a "Don't ask" type of policy.
Yeah, it doesn't take much to get me to a casino....
Quote: WizardQuote: DJTeddyBearWhen I have consultations with the bride & groom about officiating the ceremony, I often tell them that, legally, all I gotta say is: "You two love each other? OK, witnesses sign here. OK, let's eat!"
Not to say you're wrong, but I don't recall any weddings I've attended where that was asked. I thought both parties had to agree to the marriage and the witnesses had to sign something. I was a witness at my brother's wedding, but I forgot what it entailed. I think I had to sign something.
Still, I wonder at what exact moment does a couple become married. For example, suppose the couple had a big fight 5 minutes after the ceremony. If it was mutually agreeable, could they ask whoever did the wedding to just pretend it never happened?
I got Married in MD, and I asked this question of our officiant. He said the wedding is legal when all parties. Bride, groom and witnesses have signed the marriage license. He claimed that under MD law that's all that mattered and the "ceremony" is just for show. I have no idea if that's true, and I'm sure it varies from state to state. But that's what he said and he'd been marrying people for 40 years. It is an interesting technical point. Maybe one of our legal minds could clarify the issue for us.
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I think the wedding was $300 PLUS $200 for the Elvis impersonator, who was fantastic (the bride, not so much).
Reception was a dinner at the Stratosphere. Won $600 that trip playing most BJ at Monte Carlo and NYNY, which paid for an upgrade to first class on the Alaska flight back to Vancouver.
Everything was arranged from home in about a day. We planned the wedding about 4 weeks in advance, including the invitations to the few people that we actually wanted there.
Divorce is fairly straight forward!!! You can order your marriage certificate online for $6 (I believe).
Quote: vendman1He said the wedding is legal when all parties. Bride, groom and witnesses have signed the marriage license. He claimed that under MD law that's all that mattered and the "ceremony" is just for show. I have no idea if that's true, and I'm sure it varies from state to state. But that's what he said and he'd been marrying people for 40 years. It is an interesting technical point. Maybe one of our legal minds could clarify the issue for us.
It varies state by state, but typically a valid marriage requires that an individual from the "approved list" solemnize the marriage, i.e. either a priest, justice of the peace, or judge, and that the couple affirmatively state, in front of the solemnizer and at least two witnesses, that they are then agreeing to marry (or words to that effect).