Black Meringue

Let's Get Kitsched!

Want a wedding that’s more fun than a sack full of fake Elvises? Then hitch up your skirt, don a cowboy hat and hotfoot it to Vegas baby! By Emily-Jane Brain

Marriage is a big step for anyone. There’s a lot of being responsible and decision-making involved. There’s also a lot of work. This isn’t much fun – surely planning the happiest day of your lives should be more like one long, endless playtime? A bit like Neverland but with more booze. And more gambling. And less sleep. Welcome, my friends, to Las Vegas, Nevada; the original 24-7 party town.

If you’ve never been to Las Vegas, think Disneyland on acid. Imagine a full-scale pirate ship parked up next to a gondola, which is over the road from an Egyptian pyramid that’s lit up like a Christmas tree. Meanwhile, in the distance, you can see New York, Paris, Venice and ancient Rome while eating all your favourite foods off the same plate at the same time at a banquet table in a castle, drinking margaritas through a fire hose, gambling away like a gangster with Bette Midler serenading you and a knife-juggling medieval jester waiting on you hand and foot. Oh, and did I mention the fireworks? They’re like the Beatles, only bigger.

Nowhere on earth is there such a feeling that anything is possible. Nothing closes. No-one sleeps – in effect the clocks are stopped – and nothing is too much trouble for anyone. Vegas is a ‘yes’ kind of place. Where better to make all your most ridiculous wedding day fantasies come true?

Casinos and Hotels

Each of the main hotels that line the Las Vegas strip has its own theme. This extends beyond the decor to the extent that the whole building and everything in it is styled to enhance the theme. This may or may not affect your choice of hotel, as in most the wedding chapel itself is fairly neutral. However, this isn’t to say that you can’t adopt the hotel theme and run with it for your wedding. How about getting wed Greek goddess-style at Caesar’s Palace or à la Cleopatra at the Luxor? Dressing up and acting out will also make for some fabulous photo ops in and around the hotel after the ceremony.

It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that hotels in Vegas go up and come down faster than a cheap hooker’s knickers. The strip is constantly changing, so it’s worth investigating if there’s likely to be any work going on in or around your hotel during your stay.

If you choose to go the hotel route, once you have decided where to get married the next step is how. All the hotels offer various packages that cater for cheap and cheerful to downright dirty-rotten rich with plenty of scope in between. Here’s a taster of what you’ll find just off the main drag.

Bellagio

‘Resplendent’ is one word that comes to mind with respect to the Bellagio. Others are ‘opulent’, ‘indulgent’ and ‘a little OTT’. If you have delusions of grandeur akin to that of a European princess, then the Bellagio is for you.

For weddings, the Bellagio has a choice of two chapels: the South Chapel and the East Chapel. The Terrazza Di Sogno (Terrace of Dreams) is also available if you want to incorporate some alfresco fountain action into proceedings. The South Chapel can cater for larger weddings of up to 130 guests, while the East Chapel and Terrazza are more suited to smaller affairs.

The Bellagio offers an impressive selection of 11 different packages, including a ‘proposal package’; and also has special packages available for Valentine’s Day and 09/09/09. W: www.bellagio.com

Bottom dollar
Amore package: $1,500 (£750)
Includes...

• 30 minutes’ chapel time (East Chapel only)
• Bridal bouquet
• Sparkling wine
• Truffles
• Music
• DVD

High roller
Cosa Bella package: $15,738 (£7,870)
Includes...

• Two hours’ chapel time (either chapel)
• All photography
• Limo service
• Champagne
• Two nights in a penthouse suit
• Tickets to Cirque du Soleil
• Live internet broadcast

The Luxor

Fancy adding some ancient Egyptian mysticism to your big day? The Luxor is a giant glass pyramid that dominates the upper end of the strip. By day its panes reflect the desert sun and by night the neon-blue Sky Beam, claimed to be the strongest light in the world, projects from its pinnacle. This ‘stairway to the stars’ is visible up to 250 miles away on a clear night and Luxor boasts it would allow an astronaut to read a newspaper 10 miles into space – a bat signal’s never been so romantic. Inside the Luxor you’ll find sphinxes and sarcophaguses, palm trees, ancient-looking monuments and some of the coolest Toblerone-shaped hotel rooms around with awesome views of the desert.

The Luxor has just one wedding chapel and this in itself isn’t very Egyptian, but it is one of the prettier, more tasteful chapels on the strip and it’s currently being updated. There’s a choice of five wedding packages at the Luxor, as well as a vow renewal package and commitment ceremony. W: www.luxor.com

Bottom dollar
Amethyst package: $479 (£240)
Includes…

• 30 minutes’ chapel time
• Music
• Bridal bouquet
• Garter
• Photos of bride and groom only

High roller
Diamond package: $1,425 (£712)
Includes…

• One hour’s chapel time
• One night in a Luxor Spa Suite
• Flowers
• Champagne
• Photos of bridal party

Paris

If you’ve ever wondered what Paris would be like without the French, this is the USA’s take on the romance capital of Europe. Paris recreates the look and feel of traditional Parisian streets and, being one of the smaller hotels, it has an intimacy that’s missing in some of its larger neighbours.

One of the hotel’s main selling points is its Eiffel Tower restaurant, which offers all the flavour of France 100ft above the strip. If you’re planning a meal here make sure you book at least 24 hours in advance, and don’t expect to pay less than 20 quid for an entrée and around £35 for a bottle of house plonk.

Paris offers four wedding locations in and around the hotel – the Chapelle du Paradis; the Chapelle du Jardin; the Eiffel Tower and the Poolside – with a choice of 12 different packages, some of which are only available for certain locations. W: www.harrahs.com

Bottom dollar
Marseille package: $1,000 (£500)
Includes…

• Choice of either Chapelle du Paradis or Chapelle du Jardin
• Bridal bouquet
• Champagne
• 15 4"x6" photos
• Personal wedding co-ordinator

High roller
Eiffel Tower at Twilight package: $10,000 (£5,000)
Includes…

• The opportunity to say ‘I do’ 460ft above the strip at dusk
• Two nights in the Calais Suite
• Couple’s Swedish massage
• Limo service
• Chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of Dom Perignon

Venetian

Ah, Venice! Home of belle amore, singing gondoliers, winding canals and the Cornetto. And if you think it’s impossible to pack all this under one roof then you’d be wrong. The Venetian is a perfect replica of Venice – complete with romantic waterways and a scaled-down St Mark’s Square. Take a stroll down its romantic cobbled streets and you’ll find human statues, live music and more designer shops than you can shake a gondolier’s pole at. And once you’re tired of looking around, make sure you look up. The ceilings in the hotel are designed to look exactly like a summer sky with moving fluffy clouds – unbelievable!

The Venetian offers a choice of nine ceremony packages and three different ceremony locations – the chapel, the bridge and even the gondola.
W: www.venetian.com

Bottom dollar
Ceremonia Sul’ Aqua package: $800 (£400)
Includes…

• Exclusive use of white wedding gondola
• Bridal bouquet
• Two 5"x7" photos

High roller
Courtyard package: $14,950 (£7,475)
Includes…

• Two-night stay in the Venetian luxury suit
• Champagne
• Flowers
• Live music
• Limo service

Circus Circus

Want a wedding with all the fun of the fair? Then check out Circus Circus for some super-affordable silliness. The hotel itself isn’t especially circus-themed, but it does boast a five-acre indoor adventure park with a cracking rollercoaster. There are also live circus performances daily, which are absolutely free. If you want to make your big day a family affair, Circus Circus caters brilliantly for kids of all ages.

The hotel is also home to Vegas’ number one steakhouse. Voted the best steakhouse in Vegas for nearly 20 years running, I can categorically say that theirs is the best piece of meat I’ve ever put in my mouth.

Circus has nine ceremonies on offer in its Chapel of the Fountain, and if you’re the sort of person that treasures gift-shop tat then this is the place for you.
W: www.circuscircus.com

Bottom dollar
Standard package: $145 (£72.50)
Includes…

• Chapel
• Minister
• Music
• Monday to Friday; Saturdays $175 (£88.30)

High roller
Circus Spectacular: $900 (£450)
Includes…

• Two nights in Circus Circus
• Full wedding photo album and video
• Bridal bouquet
• $150-worth of in-hotel dining

Caesar’s Palace

If dressing up in bed-sheets and lording it about sounds like a good time, prepare to don the laurel leaves and be treated like a goddess. Caesar’s Palace celebrates the glory of Rome in spectacular style with marble, statues, columns and fountains. Like the Venetian, it brings the outdoors indoors with a moving sky ceiling and as it neighbours the Bellagio you’re never far from that fabulous water display.

Caesar’s Palace has four separate wedding locations and each of them exudes a little bit of Rome. The three indoor venues are Classico, Romana and Tuscana, and as the names suggest they’re architecturally styled after areas of Italy. If you really want to experience a taste of life as Roman royalty, however, the tropical Venus Garden has it all. An outdoor venue complete with Roman-style temple and koi fish pond, it can cater for up to 140 guests in true Empire-style.
W: www.harrahs.com

Bottom dollar
Ii Bacio: $899 (£450)
Includes…

• Personal wedding co-ordinator
• Bridal bouquet
• Ten 5"x7" photos
• Music

High roller
La Dolce Vita – $20,000 (£10,000)
Includes…

• Dedicated personal wedding co-ordinator
• Live music
• Two nights in a Caesar’s Luxury suite
• Limo service
• Champagne breakfast in bed for two
• Harrah’s show tickets

The Law of the Land

Unlike most places in the UK, wedding licenses can be obtained immediately in Nevada so there’s none of this pesky waiting around. Licences are issued by the Marriage Licence Bureau at the Regional Justice Centre, which is located off the south side of the strip and is open 8am-midnight everyday, including holidays. The License fee is $55 (£22.25), cash only. The minimum age for both men and women to marry in Clark County, Nevada with parental consent is 18. You will need to present proof of age on application at the bureau in the form of a birth certificate, driver’s licence or passport. You will receive your licence on the spot and it’s valid for up to 12 months from the issue date. Appointments are not required at the bureau, so you can expect long queues if you go on a Monday or Friday. Your Vegas marriage will be legal in the UK, although it won’t be registered here – you’ll need to register it when you get back with the General Registry Office, but you can do this any time after your wedding.

Marriage Licence Bureau:
T: (+1) 702 671 0600
W: www.accessclarkcounty.com

Chapels

If you want to get kitsched run-away movie style, get down to one of Vegas’ famous chapels. Like the hotels, most offer set packages that include a range of extras from super-budget to big fancy affairs. A chapel wedding might be more suitable if you’re planning a small ceremony with only a couple of guests, and many now offer deals on nearby accommodation.

Chapel of the Flowers

One of the most versatile chapels in Vegas, Chapel of the Flowers offers five wedding venues in one and caters for parties of up to 70 guests. The site is located on Las Vegas Boulevard, roughly four miles from the main strip, and encompasses the Victorian Chapel, the Magnolia Chapel and La Capella Chapel. There are also two alfresco options: the Gazebo, which seats an intimate eight-guest party, and the Gardens, in the chapel’s grounds, which feature a waterfall and a ‘kissing bridge’. Chapel of the Flowers will also take care of the reception, accommodation, flowers, photography and the cake. It caters for vow renewals as well, and if the constraints of four walls and a lectern still sounds too traditional Chapel of the Flowers can even arrange your wedding in the Grand Canyon.
W: www.littlechapel.com

Bottom dollar
Intimate package: $195 (£97.50)
Includes…

• Max five guests ($25 for additional guests)
• Personal wedding co-ordinator
• Single bridal rose
• Buttonhole
• Traditional wedding music
• Live internet broadcast
• Nine 4"x6" photos of the ceremony

High roller
Majestic Wedding package: $3,755 (£1,888)
Includes…

• Maximum two guests
• Limo service
• Exchange vows in the canyon
• Meal in the canyon
• Helicopter ride over canyon and strip
• DVD and personal photographer
• Personal photographer

Graceland Wedding Chapel

If you want the ultimate rock ‘n’ roll wedding and a blessing from the King himself, the Graceland Wedding Chapel is where it’s happenin’. Home of the original Elvis wedding (thank-yar-var’-murch), the chapel has stood for over 50 years – quite a feat in Vegas – and with its wooden pews and stained glass windows it has a traditional feel about it. The Chapel is located just off the main strip and offers four different wedding packages, all including a professional photography service.
W: www.gracelandchapel.com

Bottom dollar
Traditional package 1: $199 (£100)
Includes…

• Exclusive use of chapel
• Traditional wedding music
• Bridal nosegay
• Six 4"x6" and one 8"x10" photos

High roller
Traditional package 4: $499 (£250)
Includes…

• Exclusive use of chapel
• Traditional wedding music
• Bouquet and buttonhole
• Bridesmaid’s nosegay
• Photos and DVD of the ceremony

Little White Wedding Chapel

Among the most famous and iconic of Vegas landmarks, the Little White Wedding Chapel oozes celebrity and is top of the kitsch list – Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Rita Hayworth were married here.

The Little White Wedding Chapel is consists of four chapels: the Little White Chapel, the Chapel of Promises, the Chapel l’Amour and the Crystal Chapel, and it also has a gazebo for outdoor ceremonies. The highlight, however, has to be the Tunnel of Love – a drive-through chapel. This was originally conceived to make life easier for disabled patrons who found the main chapel steps difficult to negotiate, but it has now become a favourite among Hell’s Angels and limo fans alike. The Chapel also offers a wedding package called the ‘Hummer Special’, or if you’re bored of keeping both feet on the ground, there’s always the Little White Wedding in the Sky – just the bride, groom and the ceremony officiant up in a hot air ballon. Oh, and the pilot and crew, of course.
W: www.alittlewhitechapel.com

Bottom dollar
A la Carte package: $55 (£22.50)
Includes…

• Non-denominational service
• Courtesy Limo
• Traditional music
• This package is available with loads of added extras, including Elvis for $200 and bridal gown hire from $200

High roller
A little white Chapel in the Sky package: $1,500 (£750)
Includes…

• Exchange of vows in a hot air balloon over Vegas
• Limo service to and from launch site
• DVD, photography packages and bridal gown hire are available from $200

Get It Down You

As romantic and reckless as the Vegas wedding is, the ceremony itself will be a very small part of the adventure (a mere 30 minutes in some cases). So here’s BM’s hit list of things to see and do in and around Sin City.

Shoot ’em up

If you fancy a bit of Bonny and Clyde-type action, the Gun Store is located about three miles from the main strip and offers all kinds of pick-and-mix firearms for you to try. You can get your hands on everything from Dirty Harry’s revolver to an AK47, and full instruction and supervision is included. Hire prices start from around $20.
W: www.thegunstorelasvegas.com

Grand Canyon

If you’ve never been to the Grand Canyon it’s a must-see; 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and 5,000ft deep. A visit there certainly helps put things in perspective, and what better place to start the honeymoon? There are various tours available, all offering different packages and modes of transport, but the best way to see the canyon is from the air. Sites such as www.airvegas.com offer 12-hour round trips that take in the Hoover Dam and include a boat trip, helicopter ride and lunch at the Hualapai Indian reserve for around $270 (£135) per person.

On top of the world

For the best view of Vegas there’s nowhere quite like the Stratosphere (facing page). At 108 floors up with a 360˚ glass observation deck, a day trip will afford you a panorama to die for while a trip up the tower at night is like Blackpool on steroids. And for the real adrenaline junkies, there’s a choice of three rides on the roof: one that hangs you 866ft over the strip; one that swings you 64ft from the building at a force of 3Gs and another that propels you a further 160ft into the air at 45mph. Bucket, anyone? A trip up the tower costs $11.95 and rides are an additional $10.
W: www.stratospherehotel.com

New York, New York

The city so good they named it twice – then built another one in Las Vegas. If you’re a fan of live music, loud bars, big personalities and making the night last till morning, NY NY is the place for you. We can definitely recommend the Irish bar and duelling pianos for a bit of drunken rowdyness. And if you’ve got the stomach for it after all that beer, check out the casino’s rollercoaster. Open day and night, it’s 203ft up, 144ft down with 180˚ twists, all taken at 67mph – a bargain at $14 (£7).
W: www.nynyhotelcasino.com

Must-see freebies

Each of the big casinos has its own unique appeal, but our top-three must-see freebie sights are:

Fountains at the Belagio – a choreographed water display set to music, simply stunning Lions at the MGM Grand – yup, real ones Treasure Island free show and fireworks display – semi-clad pirates, semi-clad mermaids and a lot of big bangs

Have a flutter

By no means are we condoning the evils of gambling, but there’s a saying that’s popular among locals: ‘what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’, so who’s to know? If you’re gambling for the first time or you’re unfamiliar with the rules of a game ,don’t let that put you off. Most casinos offer free lessons in poker, blackjack, roulette and craps. Alternatively, you could stick to the five-cent machines and take advantage of the free cocktails.

It’s show time

There are literally hundreds of shows on in Vegas at any one time ranging from comedy acts to conjurers and acrobats and including plenty of camp and kitschy stars. Some may seem a little pricey, but you can almost guarantee it’ll be worth the cost. Companies such as Cirque du Soleil run more than one kind of show at a time to appeal to different audiences, so it’s worth doing your homework before booking to make sure it’s what you’re looking for. Expect to pay anything from $60 to $150 a ticket.

BM