What else to think about...!

nicolajane81

Hi all,

We're starting to plan our Vegas wedding for October (coming from the UK). We're already pretty much decided on Wynn Primrose Courtyard as our venue and I've got some flower/enhancement quotes from them.

We're looking at Maggianos/Grand Lux for the reception, and I've also asked the Wynn to let me know what options are available there, but I haven't heard back yet.

I'm currently looking into photographers for the pre-wedding getting ready, a mini strip tour (I really just want the Bellagio fountains and the sign, plus my other half is not to keen on hiking around the strip for 2 hours having really public photos taken!!) and the reception, where we will take the majority of pictures of our guests.

I know there is loads more to think about - but my question is what?? I'm undecided if I want my hair and make up done - I'm quite happy doing my own and did my own make up when I was a bridesmaid for my sister in December.

After the ceremony and when we are having our photos done, what would you recommend for our guests to do? We will probably bring the bridal party along with us to have our photos done, but while we are waiting for the reception, what could they do? I've seen a strip tour option, but not too keen on that. Would it be rude to say to people - have an hour of spare time - drink, gamble, freshen up etc - then meet us at reception site? Or should we perhaps try and reserve a space at a bar ahead of the reception?

And is there anything else I need to think about at this stage?

Probably info overload in one email, but any advice would be really appreciated!

Thanks!

vegasgroom

My only complaint about Wynn is you'll have to pay a steep fee if you want your photographer to shoot the ceremony, which I recommend so you can have the same photog work the entire day.  If you use their in-house photog it's going to be Cashman and you may get great pics, or you may not, and they'll be incredibly expensive in either case.

Regarding the Vegas sign, make sure to allow some extra time there because if you're getting married on a weekend, the sign can be fairly busy so there could be a small wait.

I would recommend having some kind of cocktail hour for the guests during that in-between time.  Perhaps give them 20 to 30 minutes to get to Maggianos and then start the cocktail hour for the following 60 minutes until you arrive.  I think your arrival will definitely be longer than an hour.  You're not going to be able to load up the bridal party at Wynn, unload at Bellagio, get to the fountains, take pics, load back up, get to Vegas sign, unload, take pics, load back up and return to Maggianos in one hour. 

nicolajane81

Thanks Vegasgroom. I've seen on forums etc that its about $750 for external photographers? This will probably be less than the CD of images from the Wynn Cashman photog, which my other half wants - so it will probably cancel it out.

We're looking at a Wedneday for the wedding and I think we are pretty set on the Wynn, as we want to get married outside (coming from the UK, its a luxury for us) and it was the nicest one we looked at.

Maggianos only let you hire the space for 4 hours, and I didn't want to miss any of the reception, hence my thinking that the guests can just have some of their own time if they like. But I don't want them to get out of the wedding mood, so perhaps your suggestion may work. Maybe I can see if wecan get another hour at Maggianos?

vegasgroom

Ah, yeah I guess it depends on the number of photos they take.  I've heard the digital rights (aka the CD of pics) costing $1000+ so you'll have to look into which way comes out ahead.  If it's package price + prints + digital rights, you may come out ahead with the $750 fee and using your own photog since they're just going to be standing around anyway if you need them for before and after.

You should have no problems at the sign on a Wednesday.  I still think an hour is a bit short to do Wynn-Bellagio-Sign-Maggianos with a wedding party in tow.

I like cocktail hour because many guests don't like to go to the casino between ceremony and reception due to the smoke and not wanting to get their clothes smelly before dinner, and casino is about all you can do with a small amount of time to do something before leaving for Maggianos.

nicolajane81

The Wynn quoted between $1000-$1900 for the CD (plus tax) - they also said that we can't pay a release fee to use external photographers, which confused me as I've seen that on this forum and elsewhere.

If we want another hour around the grounds its $225. Not sure what to do now.

Maggianos will also let us host a cocktail hour, adding another hour to our booking, so that's good news

spoon1984

I think you sound fairly on track, I had my wedding in July (I'm also from the UK) and kept everything straightforward. All I booked was ceremony at Caesars and arranged flowers and extra photography with them, a private room in Canaletto and I booked hair, make up etc in the Cosmopolitan's salon where I was staying...and that was it. How many guests do you think you will have?

1SamanthaJones

Hiya, spoon1984 - how would you rate canaletto? We are looking at having our reception there in July..

spoon1984

I have no complaints The food was great, everything went smoothly and they left us to do our own thing in the room, in a good way. I was able to customise the set menu and I was very pleased with the price they came back with for my customised version. Being a small group of 11 I definitely appreciated having the square in the background for a little added atmosphere. You have the room as standard for two hours, I booked it for three and agreed to pay $150 (I think) for the extra hour. I'm not sure what happened but this was not on the final bill so that was a bonus! Looking back I should probably have haggled a bit over this but as it wasn't on the bill in the end I can't complain. I was very happy with my choice. We ate at Canaletto again (on our two week anniversary, not planned!) this time sitting in the square. My reviews at the time - http://forums.theknot.com/discussion/988895/reviews-july-3rd

nicolajane81

Hi spoon - we will probably have between 30 and 50. It's all up in the air until we send the official invitations out, which we will probably do in the next few weeks.

Half of my family live in the US anyway, so I'm assuming they will all be able to come.

Ok, good to know I'm on track, just need to make some decisions and get booking!