Newly Engaged... Help from Aria and Joe's brides!

DixeChik19 · February 2014

Hi everyone! I just got engaged on Feb 1. My fiance and I LOVE Vegas and have been looking into planning our wedding there in spring 2015. When we're in Vegas, we always stay at Aria and eat at Joe's, so naturally we want to incorporate those two venues into our special day. I just have a couple questions for those who have used these two venues.

My question for Aria: Is the Chapel well decorated or do you need to provide additional flowers, etc.? Is the one hour photography session (in addition to the ceremony) enough time to get some good shots around the property? Are they flexible on the packages (meaning, if I want to add/subtract from what is included, will they work with me) and the prices?

My questions for Joe's: Is the room decorated nicely or is more needed (centerpieces, etc)? Is the dance floor worth the $400 for the four hour reception? Are they flexible on price/menus? If they negotiated on price, how did you approach that conversation?

Thanks so much! This is all soooo exciting!

vegasgroom · February 2014

I can't answer on their chapel as I have not seen pics of it yet but regarding photography, Aria is part of the group of resorts who have a contract with Cashman Photography, which basically means you're going to get ripped off on photos during the ceremony and there's no way to avoid it. They tend to provide mediocre photographers, but sometimes good or even great, and if you want the complete digital image package, your bill will probably be over $2000 for just the ceremony photography, which would include taking the pictures, the photo dvd and a small assortment of prints, which they'll later charge you astronomical postage to mail (i.e. $30 for six prints in one case).

More info on Cashman here:

http://www.vegasgroom.com/Cashman-Photography_42.html

My recommendation would be to have your own photographer for before and after, including reception, use Cashman as little as possible and then let them do the photos around the grounds. You're probably not going to have much time if you try to fit it all into their one hour since the clock will probably start ticking slightly before your ceremony time, so you'd be left with perhaps 15 or 20 minutes at most to get out of the chapel and to your first location, take pics and then the hour hits.

It will be pretty hard to resist buying the dvd of all the digitals, but I wouldn't buy it up front in case you're not pleased with the pics they show you post-ceremony; no sense spending $1500+ on the dvd add on if you don't like the pics.

a13049 · February 2014

We are getting married at aria. I love the hotel chapel. It is fairly simple, but I think less is more sometimes. I'm not a big fan of flowers either. The lighting can be changed to change the color and ambiance of the chapel. I just got the basic package and didn't try to make adjustments because we don't want a lot of bells and whistles with our actual ceremony. We are spending our money in creating a unique vegas experience for our reception.

missmo14 · February 2014

I really cant add a lot of advice.... just wanted to say congratulations and welcome! There are some great reviews of receptions at Joes if you check out vegasgrooms site. There was also a bride on the board who posted pics from her reception (search joe's on the forum search). I do love their menu and the dark wood.

Enjoy your wedding planning!

thesepinkdays · February 2014

Hi welcome! We are getting married at Aria. You will have to buy any floral you may want to decorate with. I agree with vegasgroom get your own photographer for before and after for any shots you may want around the property. We have permission for our photographer to sit in on the ceremony and shoot from a seat. :-) We have been working with Marissa and she has been wonderful to work with! Please ask any other questions you may have.

DixeChik19 · February 2014

Thanks everyone! Guess I will have to look for a photographer. I wanna do a photo tour as well. Would it be best to get a photographer for say 6-8 hours to do before, after, tour, and reception?

missmo14 · February 2014

It all depends on how long and what you want photographed.

Our ceremony is at 3:30pm, Our photographer is coming at 1:00pm - 10:00pm. It is a bit early, but I want a LOT of detail shots (dress, rings, bouquet, invitations, getting touches up of make up done, getting laced into my dress, pics of the groom getting ready etc.)

We are doing our photo tour between the ceremony and reception (cos FI doesn't want to do a first look). But we have hosted our guests with a 2 hour double decker bus tour so they can join us at the sign for pictures, then they will stop at the Bellagio for the Fountain Show then just ride up and down the Strip (depending on traffic).

Then I also don't need a photographer right til the end of my reception either. Cos that last hour is really just drinking and dancing.

vegasgroom · February 2014

We did similar; photography started at about 10am and they left about two hours before the end of the reception since by that point it was just partying and the same pics over and over.

[Deleted User] · February 2014

Joe's bride here!

I'm assuming you're asking about the Gigi room - it's a very nice room! The walls are a nice dark wood, there are tall windows overlooking the strip, and the ceiling has a really huge light fixture of glass orbs hanging down at different heights (kind of the same effect as paper lanterns). However, nothing is provided to decorate the tables. We are thinking of just ordering some bulk flowers from Costco - since the rest of the room is so pretty, the tables don't need much (plus gotta leave room for all that fooood).

We are renting the dance floor - but if you don't think you'll have much dancing, it may not be worth it to you. It is just one of those things that we're shrugging and letting go instead of pinching pennies over.

I'm not sure how flexible they are on price, but they have definitely been flexible for menus. We are doing the 4 course dinner menu but probably subbing out the dessert for additional appetizers and/or hors d'ouevres so we can bring in a cake. Just so you know, there is a $5000 minimum for the Gigi Room.

Nicole at Joe's has been one of my favorite contacts - she's extremely professional and prompt. She is so good at fielding all my stupid little questions gracefully, so I wouldn't worry about "offending" her by asking her about ways to trim costs. Start out the gate with what you were hoping to spend and see what she can do!

Newly Engaged... Help from Aria and Joe's brides!

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