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Nevada-Las Vegas

Booking! Need timing suggestions :)

Hello all!

After a long time deciding, we are finally putting deposits down for an early December wedding!!! The plan is Bently Wilson Photography, garden gazebo at the Flamingo for ceremony, DDB, and Maggiano's for reception. What we are having issues with is timing of everything! Right now, we have a hold on 3pm for Flamingo and the reception at Maggiano's at 7pm.

My question is... is that to big of a stretch between the wedding and the reception? We plan on the DDB or some sort of party bus (still trying to decide if December is too cold for the DDB), and are concerned that it will be too long for the guests. Does anyone have any suggestions they can share or possibly give insight into their own experience? We are planning on 40-50 people for the wedding, so I am definitely trying to take that into account when planning.

Thank you in advance for your help! It is getting so exciting to think that we may actually be putting down deposits soon! :)
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Re: Booking! Need timing suggestions :)

  • ooh yay I'm getting married at the garden gazebo at 3pm too! But in May. I think It might be a little cold in December for a DDB I was there for my Birthday weekend in early December and I remember wearing pants with a light sweater. You can get a regular bus though maybe do a photo strip tour? That's what we are doing for 3 hours after our in suite reception.
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  • Welcome! Your wedding sounds exactly like mine! We are getting married in the garden chapel at Flamingo at a 3:30pm ceremony. Hosting guests for a cocktail hour at carlos n charlies then taking them on a 2 hour double decker bus til our reception at Maggianos. Oh and we have Todd booked too so definitely watch out for my reviews next month!

    It IS a long gap but you do have the option of starting your ceremony later or reception earlier if you want to shorten it. Our guests love the idea of the DDB cos we all plan to take silly photos at the sign. The bus will also take them to the Bellagio for one of the fountain shows. Im not sure about December weather, you may be better off with a couple of party buses?

    Can't wait to say 'I do' on April 14, 2014 - Planning Bio

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  • December weather is really hard to predict. Sometimes it's 60s and sunny, or it could be in the 30s and cloudy. I would probably opt for a party bus vs DDB. That way you can still drive around, get pictures, drink, etc and have fun without worrying about the weather component. How long is your ceremony? If you're assuming a 30 min ceremony and a 7pm dinner... You'll likely end up with a solid 3 hours in between. I guess it just depends on how many spots you want to hit, how long you want to drive around, etc.
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  • Valeriecruz82, the weather insight is very helpful! I have been looking around for a enclosed bus that can fit everyone, but am not having much luck. We are sure that we won't have more than 45, but I want to at least plan on 50 as a just-in-case...

    @missmo14, thanks! Your posts have already been super helpful! Ohhh the Bellagio fountain show is a great idea!!! We were trying to think of ways to make it exciting and not seem so long. We are also debating moving the reception to beginning at 6pm, but I'm afraid we are going to regret that down the road... I never thought I would be putting so much thought into the timing, lol!
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  • Thanks @tcnoble! We aren't planning on a long ceremony, but I'm also trying to figure out picture timing. I was thinking of maybe a cocktail hour or something to keep the guests entertained immediately after the wedding so that we could take some family pictures, but there is going to be so much food at Maggiano's that I don't want them to fill-up before, lol.
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  • I'm a flamingo bride also! but getting married in July! 
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  • @Pennyluwho I don't think your guests are going to get full up at a cocktail hour 3 hours before the wedding. We are simply putting out platters of cheese quesadillas, chicken flautas, chicken tenders and chips & salsa. There will be LOTS of booze on the bus and im desperate for my guests to not start drinking on an empty belly.

    I want them to MAKE IT to the wedding reception haha!

    Can't wait to say 'I do' on April 14, 2014 - Planning Bio

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  • Lol, that is very true @missmo14!! Would you mind giving me information on the place that you are using? Is it the place that is in the Flamingo... something Charlies? I was looking at their website the other day and couldn't find any party reservation information. That actually sounds like a great/yummy idea! :)
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  • @pennyluwho if you are worried abut finding a large enough bus to fit at least 50 you should look into LD Tours we have a 54 seater bus booked with them. Their prices are great and have been great to work with. Oh and the bus also has a bathroom! lol perfect if you will be having alcohol! lol :)
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  • Thanks @valeriecruz82! I'm going to look into them, that may be a better fit for us! I'm not anticipating anymore than 54 people for sure, lol. I'm going to e-mail them right now!
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  • Contact Julie Twidwell julie@cncharlies.com she can give you all the info. I love that even though I have 33 guests at the cocktail hour, I dont have to order each platter to feed 33. Most guests will only have 2 or 3 pieces at that time of day and quite a few will be in pictures with us. So we are saving a bit of money that way. The platters are between $60 - $70 each and the bowl of chips & salsa for 10 is $40 steep... but it will keep my guests happy.

    Margaritaville was another option... but they wanted me to pay per head and were not flexible at all. I also prefer the location of carlos n charlies.

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  • Great, thanks for the contact info! That may be a great option for us and make me feel a little bit better about taking pictures after if people are eating... ;)
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  • What's the difference between the DDB and a party bus? We are planning to book a bus for after the reception to visit the sign and drive down the strip, sort of as a way to keep the party going. Then onto a casino or a suite. What would be the best bus for that?
  • The DDB is a big red (london buses) open on the top...a party bus is totally inclosed with club lights, a pe for.dancing on couch seating.

    When is your wedding? That will help with what bus is best.
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  • Any idea how much the party bus is vs ddb? I just got pricing back from ddb and it's pretty pricy for 2 hrs but then again if you divide it by the amount of people...however can you have a bit of food on the party bus?
  • I'm getting a bus for $450 for 2 1/2 hours that seats 54
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  • The DDB is a big red (london buses) open on the top...a party bus is totally inclosed with club lights, a pe for.dancing on couch seating.

    When is your wedding? That will help with what bus is best.

    Ah right, great thanks! Our wedding is April next year but the bus would be at night after the ceremony, so 11:30pm? Would it be too cold do you think?
  • Start the bus at 11:30? I'm from Washington state soooo it would probably be warm enough for my group haha if your use to warm weather you may want to party bus it. Here is last Aprils temps image
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  • Aw thanks! That would probably be fine then, I'm from Scotland so we would think that was a summers day! :)
  • @pinkie!! so am i! ( from Washington)
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  • I'm from WA also! GO HAWKS! :D Getting hitched in April next year, so thanks for posting that summary! As long as it's at least mid 60s, and hopefully not into the 80s, we're happy about it!
  • Yay GO HAWKS.
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  • I'm also a Washington girl! :)
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