Lovin' Las Vegas

Words by Jennifer Stein

Lovin’ Las Vegas
By: Sarah Padilla

Forget all you know – or all you think you know – about Las Vegas weddings. Forget about drive-thru wedding chapels and receptions held at all-you-can-eat buffets. And definitely forget about officiants clad in white polyester jumpsuits. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.

Many of today’s Vegas brides, and there are more than 100,000 of them each year, have discovered what has attracted high rollers and celebrities to Sin City for years. Behind the neon façade lie some of the most elegant and luxurious hotels and restaurants in the world, which makes Vegas well-equipped to host equally elegant and luxurious weddings.

Darlene Wilson, Wedding Services Manager at The Venetian and The Palazzo, believes that Vegas is an ideal destination wedding locale. In fact, she says that 90 percent of her weddings are destination events.

“More destination couples are coming to Vegas today because of everything we have to offer – shopping, entertainment, gambling, restaurants. You don’t have to worry about what your guests are going to do, because they can basically do anything they want,” she says.

Nearly every hotel on the Strip offers wedding packages, but if it’s luxury you’re after, a few stand above the rest. The Venetian (and it’s new tower, The Palazzo), Bellagio and Wynn Las Vegas are all synonymous with luxury.

There’s no doubt that price is no object for some Vegas couples – there are few places in the world as extravagantly excessive as this city – but most resorts also offer packages that will appeal to the most budget-conscious couple. For example, a private ceremony with the couple, a basic photo package and a champagne toast can be found for around $1,500 at the luxury properties.

Often recognized for their stellar service, these high-dollar hotels often go above and beyond to accommodate brides. Last year, The Venetian hosted a wedding for a couple with a passion for the musical The Phantom of the Opera, which has a standing performance at the resort. Wilson and her staff helped design a Phantom-themed ceremony just outside the main theater doors.

“We created Phantom-themed welcome baskets for their guests and created a custom drink, which we named the Phantini,” says Wilson. “Both the ceremony and the reception on the Mezzanine reflected the colors of the show.”

The result was so dramatic that The Venetian now offers a Phantom wedding package.

Regardless of the size of the guest list, you’re sure to eat well in Vegas. Whether it’s an intimate table for two overlooking the kitchen of posh Restaurant Charlie at The Palazzo, a private dining room for your bridal party at one of many top-notch restaurants on the Strip or a hotel ballroom filled to capacity, this is a city that knows good food.

It’s also a city that knows a good time, and another advantage to getting married in Vegas is the option of wrapping the bachelor and bachelorette parties into the trip. Not a fan of the Thunder from Down Under? Classier options abound for both the guys and the gals.

The groom can start his evening with drinks and a tour of Lamborghini Las Vegas, home to some of the world’s most exclusive cars, followed by a private poker lesson in the Venetian Poker Room. The ladies can gear up for a big night out with spa treatments at the Venetian’s Canyon Ranch SpaClub, then hit up the Shoppes at the Palazzo – home to some of the city’s most exclusive clothing, jewelry and makeup boutiques. Those looking to dance the night away won’t have to look for long. Tao at the Venetian and Tryst at the Wynn are both see-and-be-seen hotspots.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas? Save it for the next visit. Today’s Vegas brides and grooms will want everyone back home to know every little luxurious detail.

Links To The Hotels:

The Venetian Las Vegas
www.venetian.com
Palazzo Las Vegas
www.palazzolasvegas.com
Wynn Las Vegas
www.wynnlasvegas.com

Back To Articles