Help from the Knotties

martamax

Hello Everyone... So I have been a lurker for a while... my FI and I have been together almost 8 years, engaged for about 3 of them and friends for 10+ years.

We have had our ups and downs with the wedding.  We do not want local because of all the obligations of who to invite, how much to spend, etc etc... needless to say, I am not a too hot destination person... and originally wanted to get married in AK... I do not think that will work out, and so my back up plan is Quebec City in the Ice Hotel and a cute inn for the reception...

However - it will be FI's and mine 10 year anniversary when we get married, and I want something fun, romantic and mindblasting... what better place than VEGAS !!!!

The thing is, I am a bit of a control freak when it comes to decor, colours, etc.  Where in LV is there a venue where I would have control over this?  I would to incorporate a winter wonderland hollywood night type wedding in LV.  I would like to bring in a lot of my own DIY pieces (including bouquet and add some personalization to my ceremony (not just 30 mins in and out).

We are looking at less than 20 ppl... are considering a strip photo tour and an Elvis impersonator - and I love everyone's reviews re: Travis Allen!!!  We are popcorn eating, chicken fingers lickin', french fries munchin' private but fun ppl.

So knotties...what do you suggest for a venue?  I am not sure re: budget yet, I am trying to figure out just how much we need (within reason and not the cost of a mortgage) to make this happen?

Thanks!!!

klminor17

It is hard to give ideas without a ballpark budget... hmmm...

I believe most of the banquet rooms at the resorts would allow you to have control over colors, etc...

If you do an in-suite, you can decorate how you please (within reason)

The Stardust Suite at the Orleans might be a good option!

Natrasha

In suite is a good option. As you know from lurking, Vista Suite at Mandalay Bay is very popular.

I had about 20 people in the Marquise Suite at the Platinum for a rehearsal dinner. The Misora room at the top of the Platinum would work for you as well. You can bring in your own vendors/decor there as well.

smokeybailey

What colors are you trying to change?  The walls, carpet?  If you do something in a ballroom you can get whatever chair covers, linens, napkins that you want.  With up lighting, you can change the walls or you can use draping.  Carpet, I'm not so sure about.  I bet you can pay them to cover it up though.  It all depends on your budget.

Most ceremony packages come with a bouquet.  If you want to DIY your own, you could but it would mean that flowers included would be wasted.  However, many locations let you make those changes.  The GN was super laid back about that kind of thing but keep in mind that I did not get married in the chapel and all of the weird rules seem to stem from the chapels.

LilMissScareAll

The more personalized and DIY you want to go, ususally means stepping away from the chapels. They have their set packages and though you can modify them, complete personalization is difficult.I wanted my ceremony and reception to be very personalized, so I went for a place that would allow me to bring in my own vendors (for the most part). I was able to have a good friend of mine officiate the ceremony, we brought in our own lighting, a (pro) family friend DJed for us. This was all at the Platinum. I had a large group (77 people) so we were on the pool deck. But they have a 17th floor room & deck that holds smaller groups, Misora, that Trashy mentioned.


Until you figure out a budget, it's going to be hard to find a place. It's really hard to suggest venues if we have no idea what kind of money you're working with. A venue with a $5K budget is going to be a whole lot different than a $20K. Before you do anything else, set your budget. No use finding a "perfect" place and than realizing you can't afford it.

downtownbebebrown

Word of advise...

 They way most vegas hotel wedding salons' work, Is they do all the work and you just show up. This is the typical motto.... You basicallly get limited say.

Sure you can rent a ballroom and decorate you Hollywood Winter theme, but with only 20ppl it would seem like overkill? Not to forget the $$$ for this venture.

Also if you are going to cart, assemble and run-around to decorate your DIY stuff.... Wow, God Bless you! I am stressing over jsut the few things i have to bring on the plane... I could only imagine the stress of all that DIY stuff...

In the end most people choose Vegas, b/c it is aan "Easy" Wedding Friendly place, You have the chance to be pretty much whaever you want... i.e. Elvis will sing our first dance song! How cool is that!

Don't kill yourself on making it perfect... and cheap. Thats very hard to accomplish.

martamax

Thanks everyone... great advice from all of you.  I am not sure what budget I am working with only because I am not sure what to expect re: prices in LV.

I am going to say realistically I would like to spend b/w $5k up to $7.5k.  I guess this all stemmed from my first inquiry which was with the LV Hilton La Bella Chapel.  I loved the gazebo, but the staff was a beeotch to work with!  Every answer seemed to be no, no, and no.  I should mention I believe my date falls on a Monday... perhaps that would help with 'deals'?

I am not going to be ridiculous re: the things that want to be changed, of course I am not looking to change the walls or carpet, and yes I am aware chairs, linens etc can be changed, also uplighting etc.  What I mean was, decor wise as in my own centrepieces, items to decorate the cake table, bouquet (as mentioned), additional items that I would like to put up as decor i.e. aisle runners, banners, falling snowflakes etc.  As for bouqets that are included, I assume that the place would allow me to take those included and allow my BM to use.

Thanks for your feedback... I guess in the capital of weddings, I am just looking for a way to be unique and make it all about me, when there is a wedding almost every 5 minutes ya know?

smokeybailey

Check out everyone's bios.  I think you will find that each of our weddings was unique.  We picked the colors we wanted and made the packages work for us.  Even though a bouquet was included in my package, it was the color I wanted, the centerpieces were what I ordered, etc.  You can ALWAYS upgrade the floral packages and buy additional flowers.

I am sure you can include an aisle runner (but you will probably have to purchase through the chapel).  Falling snowflakes and banners I am not so sure about.  Can you provide more detail around your requirements?

wildstyle

I would not worry too much about being unique in Vegas, I promise you that your guests will think it is very unique no matter what you choose.  That was an issue for me as well - I always have to be different - but really whatever you go with, your wedding will be very unique b/c it will be so different from an at home wedding.  You can do so much in Vegas, don't think everything is the stereotypical Vegas wedding that you see in the movies (nothing wrong with that of course - that was what I wanted going in even though I ended up doing something totally different).

I used Springs Preserve and there is a space they have called the Origen experience that might work for what you are looking for.  I had 25 people and we used that space for our reception.  I wasn't big into customizing anything (I chose Vegas b/c it was easy) but they were very open to any customizations I would have wanted.  It's an extremely unique venue - off strip but not very far.

martamax

wildstyle - Oh my gosh - thank you so much re: SR!!! I am okay with off the strip and love that one of their venue locations have a view OF the strip.

I have looked at other bios - lots of MB and CP brides!!! And I can see why, this venues are LOVELY!!!

I also stumbled upon a VRBO location via the boards so I am considering that to be an option as well!

Either way you are right, Vegas is unique and I do not know anyone (personally) who got married there... so that in itself is unique for me... I just have to decide what I want... and how much I want to do it myself as you knotties are right, the best part of LV is the all incl. wedding pkgs.

Cheers to you all... I adore yu all as a resource!!!!