Having a tough time picking a venue

bbuckner984

Hola all... first post here 

My fiance and I are v.excited to take our vows in Vegas. I know I want to do a hotel chapel, but cannot for the life of me settle on one. I've been to Vegas several times for business trips, and I thought I was set on the Mandalay Bay. But now that I do all the research on various other locations, Caesars, Paris, and others are starting to look pretty awesome. 

My overall budget is 10 grand, to include our airfare from Texas, our hotel, and my dress. We are expecting from 30-40 people to make the trip and I would like to have something small (maybe an in suite reception) for those guests that decide to come. All of these packages look great, but I would like to take a smaller one and customize it to my wishes. 

It will be my fiance's first time in Vegas so I want to make sure it is a special trip for him (besides the fact that he gets to marry me of course ) 

Any input, experience anyone has with any of these venues would be much appreciated. We are looking at April/May for our ceremony and I already feel like I am behind on planning. 

Thanks! 

kateynjoe

With your budget and your guest count you have great options! Maggiano's seems to be #1 here for receptions. I've been to a Maggs reception and they definately know what they're doing.
There are a lot more places to consider, but Maggs seems to be number 1.
The stickys (tacked info) at the top of the board are great for a rough idea of things, but the girls here are super helpful! Look through the bio's that a lot of the girls have in their signatures....hopefully you will be as entertained and amazed as I was and still am with checking out their "wedding porn". It's a term thats well respected here.
I will be using a "new" to this board venue and reception site, but have gotten so much help from this board and the brides....and groom here. Good luck & so glad you are here planning with us!!!!

queenklm33

If you are looking at doing an insuite, many brides go that route on this board. And you can definitely do one in your budget range.

I am doing one at Planet Hollywood,  A lot of Knotties have run into issues trying to book suites, since they seem to hold them for high rollers and celebrities.  But I was able to book through Total Experience.
http://www.totalexperiences.com/totalexperiences/

"Jewel02" just did one at Cosmopolitan and it sounded like a great space as well.
The Wynn has been used, I believe someone else recently had one at Aria as well.

Many Knotties have used the Vista Suite at Mandalay Bay, but there have been some recent issues with the hotel not giving them the suite when they check in. 

If you are looking at a particular venue just post a new topic and Knotties with knowledge on that venue will reply.

bbuckner984

Thank you both for your input! 

I stayed at the Cosmo for a conference a few weeks ago and actually was upgraded to the Wraparound Suite. It is an amazing hotel and the suite would be great for a small in suite reception. That would be my ultimate if I could somehow work it in. 

You both have me now addicted to checking out other people's plans. What amazing ideas! 

queenklm33

Search for "Reviews" at the bottom and Jewel02's will come up.

vegasgroom

You may want to make yourself willing to sacrifice some on what you want in the chapel if it means you can have the ceremony and reception at the same hotel.  With your budget, transporting your guests from ceremony to reception, and back depending on where they're staying, can start to get pretty expensive if you're talking 40 people plus wedding party, which means multiple limos.  That money could easily go towards other things to make you like the chapel more if the issue with the chapel you found is just decor, etc.

Or, if you don't really care about the chapel, maybe do a different suite for the ceremony and decorate the hell out of it to make it exactly what you want.  We got married and had the reception in the same restaurant at Mandalay.  For the price of the MB chapel, you could get a vista suite for one night plus a ton of decorating using third party vendors, that would also open you up to being able to use third party photography for your ceremony which could save you a ton of money over the Cashman photographer the strip casino's will often force you to use.  There are many officiants that will come to you to do the ceremony.