Getting Married. Absolutely Clueless.

So the BF and I are getting married and we seem to be the two most clueless people on the planet.

We are going for a small affair, just immediate family.  So 6 on his side and 2 on mine.  We have agreed on Vegas because no place really means something to both of us and we have no interest in a traditional wedding.  We are trying to do things relatively cheaply, just because we don't want to go into debt. Oh, and we plan on doing this beginning of January - so 4 months away.

I was hoping that the large choice in Vegas meant that this would all be really easy but in a way it is much harder.  And neither of us really want to spend gobs of time on this but given the variety of options, I am now worried we will end up with something really tacky and regret.  (I know you are thinking Vegas = tacky but I am convinced that it can't ALL be tacky, right? RIGHT?)

The truth is that I have no idea where to start.  If I could afford a wedding planner, I am probably the perfect person for one because I just really cannot get interested in the details.  And I am getting too easily frustrated at the overwhelming amount of choice in some areas (vegas wedding venues) and the lack of choice in others (retro, short 50s style wedding gown).

I would love any tips on how to get started or recommendations if others have done something similar.  So far, most of my leads have come from Cheesebiscuit since our styles are a bit similar!!

I don't know anything about planning a Vegas wedding, so perhaps I'm off-base here - but I'd start with choosing a venue. Then perhaps they can give you advice about food, flowers, etc. (not sure what you want on those lines).

The venue is the tacky-stuck-at-part.  We aren't doing much more than that.  And there are like 1000 options.  How do you choose from that?

We were married at this place www.littlechapel.com and it was wonderful.  Not tacky in the least.  I can't recommend it enough. 

We are getting married (again) at Treasure Island. Its where we met and has a great chapel. You get a planner included and really dont have to do anything. Flowers, pictures, pretty much everything is included and it is $650 I think. I just called and got the date and sent in a $300 deposit. The girl is going to call me back a month ahead of time and go over the details (colors, music, etc.) and thats all we have to do.

We were married at this place www.littlechapel.com and it was wonderful.  Not tacky in the least.  I can't recommend it enough. 

What a coincidence!  I have been trying to view their chapels for about 30 minutes and can't get the flash to work.  I sent the link to my work email and will have a look tomorrow.  Great to hear it is recommended.  Thanks!

We are getting married (again) at Treasure Island. Its where we met and has a great chapel. You get a planner included and really dont have to do anything. Flowers, pictures, pretty much everything is included and it is $650 I think. I just called and got the date and sent in a $300 deposit. The girl is going to call me back a month ahead of time and go over the details (colors, music, etc.) and thats all we have to do.

This is what I am finding frustrating.  I can't actually find any decent picture. There are 2 chapels and 3 other options and I have found photos of 1 chapel.  I don't understand these websites!

The truth is that I have no idea where to start.  If I could afford a wedding planner, I am probably the perfect person for one because I just really cannot get interested in the details.  And I am getting too easily frustrated at the overwhelming amount of choice in some areas (vegas wedding venues) and the lack of choice in others (retro, short 50s style wedding gown).

I would love any tips on how to get started or recommendations if others have done something similar.  So far, most of my leads have come from Cheesebiscuit since our styles are a bit similar!!

Heh heh We can be wedding buddies  A couple of people here have had nice non-tacky weddings in Vegas, totally possible!

First thing, make a list of everything you need by stepping through the day in your head.
So start with waking up... You need
Hotel Room in Vegas.
If your fiancee isn't there you need 2
Hair, make up, spray tan (ugh), manicure?
Underwear
Dress
Shoes
Mimosas
Bouquet
Button Holes
Transport to ceremony
.... and so on, maybe put it into excel then put some links or pictures of things that you think look fun. That's how I started

Gowns I can help you get started with...

http://www.whirlingturban.com/
http://www.dressmakingdesign.co.uk/
http://www.candyanthony.com/
http://www.dollycouture.com/
http://www.pinupgirlclothing.com/
http://www.honeypieboutique.co.uk/
http://www.vivienofholloway.com/
http://www.stephaniejamescouture.com/

Hats, fascinators etc
http://www.janetaylormillinery.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/velvetowl
http://www.birdcageveils.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/brendasbridalveils

Thanks CB.

First a question for you, did you visit the Candy Anthony shop? I am pretty keen on Dolly Couture and really cannot decide if I can be bothered to visit Candy Anthony, particularly as it is much more expensive.

I am really nervous about having a dress made for me and then having to find a tailor separately.  Have you decided what you are doing?

As for lists, I started making a list tonight and it made me feel a lot better because I genuinely am not worried about the smaller details.  I guess I have focussed on a few important things (dress, family) and it makes the other stuff less of a big deal.  Like if I have to wear earrings I already own, I won't die or actually even care that much.

For us the biggies seem to be:

- Dress (I am almost decided) / Suit (We either find a new one or he wears one he has, since he has loads for work)
-Help my family get dressed
-Rings (We are mostly there)
-Date (We have it within a week or two and will see what we can get)
-Venue - Ceremony only (the horrible choice)
-Picture (Not horribly fussed and have thought about doing engagement pics in the UK instead)
-Flowers - Really just a bouquet (Not horribly fussed.  I am sure 1000 florists exist and there will be something I like that they can do)
-License (figured that out tonight)
-Hotel for us and for family
-Hair/makeup (not the end of the world if I do my own)
-Spa (should be plenty of choice)
-Flights
-What to do for the after-wedding (we really want a happy, have a blast type evening)

I think this sounds fairly sensible and not over the top.  But I am mega stressing about the venue and to a lesser extent the hotel.

It doesn't help that BF is away on business for the next month and we need to decide on the more timely things NOW.  It is really hard to do in a short call each evening.

 

This is what I am finding frustrating.  I can't actually find any decent picture. There are 2 chapels and 3 other options and I have found photos of 1 chapel.  I don't understand these websites!

If you email or call them, they will send more.

If you end up going with the Chapel of the Flowers, they have packages that include a bouquet, pictures, transport to and from, and they can even do you a little reception on their lawn.  They have three chapels to choose from, all of them are really pretty, and there's a gazebo as well if you want to have the ceremony outside.  They take care of pretty much everything.  I think our package cost about $300, and was pretty inclusive.  We stayed at the Paris Las Vegas, and that was nice as well, we had a champagne breakfast he morning of the wedding which was really good.  I did my hair and makeup myself, and my mom made my dress.  I can post some pictures tomorrow if you're interested; they're on DH's computer and he's asleep at the moment .     

Oh yes. If you don't mind posting pics that would be fab.

I did a Google search for 'las vegas wedding venues reviews' and came up with a few sites that might help make it a bit easier for you. I don't know if you've seen these sites or not:

http://www.las-vegas-weddings.co.uk/

http://www.aboutvegasweddings.com/reviews.php

http://www.myvegaswedding.com/

If you're still not sure about a location, you might want to check directly with some of the bigger hotels.  My cousin got married in Vegas a few years back, and iirc, they had theirs at the Stratosphere hotel.  There was a chapel in the hotel and, from what I could tell in the pictures, it was a very nice.   Very not-tacky. 

I think the Bellagio, Venetian, etc. all had similar facilities.

Weddings in Vegas don't have to be tacky at all! They can be as fun and wacky as you want them to be, or as low-key as you like. My BFF got married there in The Little White Wedding Chapel and it was beautiful. There were just a few of us there. We all rode in a limo there and back and went to dinner at a fabulous Italian restaurant after that also made a small wedding cake for them which is still the best cake I have ever eaten. It was fabulous! It seems like you have some time to decide on venue and clothing, etc., so don't stress and just have a look at a few websites and see what you think.

We had a tiny wedding at a B & B on fairly short notice (just two months to plan) and it was everything we wanted and not too expensive at all. If you don't want to spend too much time organizing the details, then look into packages and see what they offer. The B & B did a package for us, so they handled the flowers, cake, decorations, etc. and it even came with a honeymoon suite with jacuzzi and all of that stuff. It was great.