Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost?

aegrish

-  Unity candle service with Unity candle and Tapers $150 (plus tax)

-  Rose ceremony for couple includes two presentation roses $150 (plus tax)

This is for Caesars.  I asked my WC for the additionals price list early.  I was planning on having the Rose & Unity candle ceremony, and an aisle runner with rose petals, but now that I know together they would all cost over $500 (the aisle runner is atleast $150) I am definitely going to pass.  I knew Caesars would be a bit more pricey than the original venues I was considering - COF and Paris, but holy moly not this much!

We're going to do some type of rose presentation at our reception instead..and save about $125.

ebonyivory10

Yep, they get you coming and going. We wanted a unity sand ceremony and I know a large part of the price they charge was for the sand and vases. I asked if we brought our own, would it still be additional and it was - $75 just for "allowing" us to have sand and incorporate it into the ceremony.  They get you with all of the little details.

wallacje

I was totally shocked too, we definitely cut things out when the WC told us how much they were going to be.  Extra BM's $100 per couple, Rehearsal $300 for 30 min. 

But I really like the venue so we can forgo a few other things to have the ceremony there.

I still have extra BM's but the 2 that haven't purchased dresses may get cut since they don't seem interested.

aegrish

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_surprised-much-ceremony-additions-cost-am?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6a398d44-84b0-43f8-be50-036b81d4d429Post:87121c20-3e9e-4347-ad69-fd67004a1a7b">Re: Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost? I am!</a>:
[QUOTE]I was totally shocked too, we definitely cut things out when the WC told us how much they were going to be.  Extra BM's $100 per couple, Rehearsal $300 for 30 min.  <strong>But I really like the venue so we can forgo a few other things to have the ceremony there</strong>. I still have extra BM's but the 2 that haven't purchased dresses may get cut since they don't seem interested.
Posted by wallacje[/QUOTE]

me too.

aegrish

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_surprised-much-ceremony-additions-cost-am?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6a398d44-84b0-43f8-be50-036b81d4d429Post:b6da3b32-3c50-48c0-8dd1-4064ec96f084">Re: Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost? I am!</a>:
[QUOTE]Yep, they get you coming and going. We wanted a unity sand ceremony and I know a large part of the price they charge was for the sand and vases. I asked if we brought our own, would it still be additional and it was - $75 just for "allowing" us to have sand and incorporate it into the ceremony.  They get you with all of the little details.
Posted by ebonyivory10[/QUOTE]

I was wondering about that too.  I figured they would still charge you.

mollytn75

Can you do the rose petals through your florist or buy them on your own since you paid the outside vendor fee?

aerinpegadrak

That's a big part of why we went with the in-suite ceremony.  I shudder to think what they would have charged us for our unity cocktail!

aegrish

@aerin: yes a  very small small part of me regrets not looking at that option

@mollytn: yes I would be responsible for ordering and shipping ( or bringing) the aisle runner, and I could bring my own rose petals since I'm paying the outside vendor fee.  Not sure if you would have to pay the fee to bring in just petals though...probably!

aerinpegadrak

It's too bad your wedding isn't sooner, you could buy my aisle runner off me.  I've been meaning to list all this extra wedding crap I have to try to get rid of it, but I'm perpetually too lazy.

wiwicaty

Same thing for us. The unity candles at the wynn are $120 and the runner with petals is $200. ugh

ahhhitsshannyn

Yeah, our package at Little Church of the West is about $950 or something, reasonable compared to most of the strip packages, but DAMN they do charge a lot for the extras,  100 for just the aisle runner, and you cant have the petals without the aisle runner, $25 each for corsages. I should get in to the wedding business, make some big bucks!

aegrish

I think for a 15 minute ceremony I am just going to keep it as simple and cost effective as possible.  I'm just a little disappointed still that they rake you over on those charges! 

clm211

Holy moly is right!  They'll get ya somewhere!  We are getting married at Bellagio and we got a middle of the road package that includes an aisle runner with rose petals so we got lucky there I suppose.  We are doing a sand unity ceremony and we were not charged extra for that and we can bring in our own supplies for it, which I found a vase set with engraving for about $60.  Our package doesn't include flowers for the chapel but we decided not to go with them since the chapel is gorgeous to begin with...less is more right!  Plus they charge so much for their flowers and you can only use flowers from Bellagio since they have their own horticulture department and all. 

aegrish

yeah I heard bellagio's flowers are Crazy expensive! Like $60 for a basic corsage.  That's nice that your package includes the aisle runner!

LilMissScareAll

these are the reasons that I am avoiding getting married at one of the chapels. I don't want to be nickeled and dimed for every little thing.

dvohnout

I think at MB, they wouldn't charge you.

Sara191431

Yep, exactly why we are doing our ceremony off strip (among other things).

For example, MB quoted me florals at like $2,300 whereas for the exact same flowers and probably better quality, the Pallette's quote is $711 total including everything.  Ridiculous I say to MB.

lsorren77

Do they also charge extra if you want to have a flower girl and ring bearer?

aegrish

Isorren- not at Caesars
@Sara we are using Pam too and I am so excited!! We had to pay the outside vendor fee at Caesars but even with that we have a huge floral & reception decor order and the total is just under $1000!  I am so glad I found her highly recommended on these boards.

aegrish

**this just in**
 from my WC at Caesars:
We actually have an aisle runner that you can rent for $250 or if you would like to provide your own, the aisle is 46 ft long by 4 ft wide.

$250?!!! seriously? think I'll go with the latter.

Sara191431

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_surprised-much-ceremony-additions-cost-am?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6a398d44-84b0-43f8-be50-036b81d4d429Post:c1016ee7-35b7-492f-bd63-4d9d998b8832">Re: Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost?</a>:
[QUOTE]Isorren- not at Caesars @Sara we are using Pam too and I am so excited!! We had to pay the outside vendor fee at Caesars but even with that we have a huge floral & reception decor order and the total is just under $1000!  I am so glad I found her highly recommended on these boards.
Posted by aegrish[/QUOTE]

Good call on the outside florist, so worth it I think.  And Pam has been really great so far with everything, communication, working within a budget ,etc.  Can't wait to see your flowers!

MeatAuditor

At this rate they'll charge a fee for your first kiss!  Ugh.  The more I think about it, the more I want to rent a mansion or private estate and not deal with any of that stupidity.

LilMissScareAll

I remember hearing one bride out there saying that her chapel was charging them extra not not see each other before the ceremony. Don't remember which place it was but it was a stand-alone chapel not a hotel chapel.

Ch2ndra

I think I'm going to buy the extra flowers from Pam instead of the mb florist. They said no outside vendors but it's not stated on the floral contract.

Natrasha

Flamingo is charging me $120 to bring in a CD of the music we want, rather than use their piano player. How dumb is that?!

I wish I had found the Platinum first and could just do everything there! I did fall in love with the gazebo at the Flamingo though, so I'm trying to stay positive! But our $899 ceremony is now nearing $1400!

aegrish

I did find a blank fabric aisle runner (in ivory) for $125 brand new online.  Caesars wanted $250 to RENT their's (probably not brand new!).  Pam's going to bring us petals to spread around the aisle for $50.  Can't beat that.  Caesars is not charging us any extra to set up the aisle runner and petals (surprisingly).

I am still debating about the unity candle ceremony....probably not going to do it for $150 though.

aegrish

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_surprised-much-ceremony-additions-cost-am?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6a398d44-84b0-43f8-be50-036b81d4d429Post:caaaa2c5-29df-4cf9-a811-819dfa0466ad">Re: Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost?</a>:
[QUOTE]I remember hearing one bride out there saying that her chapel was charging them extra not not see each other before the ceremony. Don't remember which place it was but it was a stand-alone chapel not a hotel chapel.
Posted by LilMissScareAll[/QUOTE]

I think some packages at COF do not include the 'first look' service that includes a separate limo for the bride & groom.  I was originally booked there, b4 caesars.

ebonyivory10

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_surprised-much-ceremony-additions-cost-am?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6a398d44-84b0-43f8-be50-036b81d4d429Post:caaaa2c5-29df-4cf9-a811-819dfa0466ad">Re: Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost?</a>:
[QUOTE]I remember hearing one bride out there saying that her chapel was charging them extra not not see each other before the ceremony. Don't remember which place it was but it was a stand-alone chapel not a hotel chapel.
Posted by LilMissScareAll[/QUOTE]

Yeah that was Ellenalabama and she decided to go with Flamingo because that was important to her.  I think it was kind of silly to charge for NOT seeing each other beforehand.  These places pull stuff outta their asses to charge people!

aegrish

and people must pay it otherwise they wouldn't keep charging so much! 

Did anyone pay for anything add'l in their ceremony that they felt was truly worth it?
(I may make this a separate post)

Gribbles

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_surprised-much-ceremony-additions-cost-am?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:6a398d44-84b0-43f8-be50-036b81d4d429Post:30299765-3ee8-4c5f-aa4f-73b2de97e4d8">Re: Surprised at how much Ceremony additions cost?</a>:
[QUOTE]Did anyone pay for anything add'l in their ceremony that they felt was truly worth it? Posted by aegrish[/QUOTE]

COF charge for what they call the 'first look' service, although that does include an extra limo to transfer the bride and groom seperately to the chapel.

What really got me was their photography upgrades. The photos included in the package are the ones taken during the ceremony ONLY - I didnt realise this until a few months ago. We had to A) Pay extra for more time on the grounds afterwards, B). Upgrade our photography package so we could purchase photos outside of the ceremony and C) Pay yet more to allow our friends and families to be included in the photos!

This was essential to me as I really want the confetti shot, but man, it is ANNOYING.

aegrish

Gribbles I feel your pain.  We have an outside photographer but we are not paying for him to come to the ceremony since he'll have to just take photos as a 'guest' and it's going to cost us about $400 for the photo CD and release from Caesars JUST for ceremony pictures!  Our outisde photog is $1350 for 5 hours (comes with a limo and CD) so it's $1750 just for our photos alone!  But at least we'll have the CD's and rights.