Booking a Las Vegas Wedding

If you think you can get a marriage license 24 hours a day in Las Vegas or that all Las Vegas weddings are cheesy, think again. As Las Vegas seeks to alter its image to a more elegant tourist destination, the typical Las Vegas events are changing too. While you can still get married by Elvis or the cast of Star Trek, you can also have a seated candlelit meal for 200 and float away on a gondola.

The largest change for Las Vegas weddings are the restrictions on marriage licenses. The marriage bureau used to be open 24 hours a day, allowing slightly adventurous couples the chance to apply for a license at 3 am. Now the marriage bureau is only open 8:00 am to midnight, although you can get married at any time during the day once you obtain the license.

Many upscale hotels offer bridal packages that can be reserved months in advance. Most casino websites have a section devoted to a variety options. Just as many casinos have attracted world class boutiques and spas to the area, they also have many luxurious venues and experienced planners that work on the premises.

Once you decide on a venue, you can plan your wedding in Las Vegas with the help of a casino wedding planner. Every detail can be catered to fit your taste as well as your budget, and many hotels pride themselves on the elegance of the finished events.

If you cannot afford a wedding planner, many upscale casinos offer packages for couples. The Luxor, for example, offers bridal packages ranging from $479 to $1425. The most expensive package includes a night's stay at the Luxor for the bride and groom and portraits of the couple and their family.

If you have a large wedding party, often a hotel will offer discounts. You may also want to ask about spa packages and other amenities to help you and your guests prepare for the event. Not only will you save money, but also you'll be sure not to lose anyone during the wedding preparations.

Remember that a Las Vegas wedding is just like any other, and can be as elegant or odd as you would like. Many people mistakenly think that a Las Vegas wedding must be a tacky affair. However, with the influx of the Ritz Carlton and other hospitality giants into the area, these assumptions are little more than prejudice.