Vanessa & Ian

Bright Light City.

If you thought that getting married in Vegas was all about drive-thru ceremonies and Elvis impersonators, then you’re in for a surprise. To dispel the stereotype, Vanessa and Ian told us about their uber-cool Vegas wedding. Judging by what they told us, if you want absolute chic without having to worry about whether your favours match your tablecloths, this is for you.

“We wanted a wedding that reflected the type of people we were, so thought it would be the perfect place for us”, said Vanessa. “The entire day and location reflected our personalities – we just had a fun day”.

Impeccable Service the American Way

The first thing to remember about Vegas is that it’s in America, and that means its service is impeccable. People go out of their way to help you, which in turn helps you to retain your cool. And as just about every company in America has a website, and there are so many American wedding planning sites, it’s easy to get recommendations. “We communicated with all our suppliers directly and upon meeting them it was like meeting a friend we hadn’t seen in a long time”, explained Vanessa.

A Ceremony with Timeless Style

Having had the advantage of viewing their possible venues over the internet, the couple settled on the Little Chapel of Flowers for their ceremony which, in the words of Bride’s Magazine, has “the prettiest décor of any free-standing wedding chapel in Las Vegas”. And pretty it certainly is. Evocative of American Victorian interiors with swathed curtains against a backdrop of puritan white, the location has a timeless style. And of course, style is what a Vegas wedding is all about.

Two stretch limos picked the wedding party up from the sparkling Luxor Hotel at 3 pm to whisk them along the Vegas strip to their ceremony, which was wonderfully personal and very beautiful. “During the ceremony, I hardly looked at Ian as I knew he was quite emotional and I thought it could be disastrous if I looked at him”, Vanessa said. On the other hand from what we saw on the wedding video, Ian spent the entire ceremony positively gazing at Vanessa. And if you’re tempted by the idea of having your own ceremony videoed but are wondering if it’s worth budgeting for, just remember that at the Little Chapel of Flowers, your wedding can be broadcast over the internet. We told you it was cool.

Wedding Photos with Celebrity Chic

Following the ceremony, the couple were back in their limo for one of the highlights of their day – a photo tour of Las Vegas, which involved having their wedding photographs taken in and around the famous sites. At the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign, Vanessa described how the passing cars flashed their headlights and sounded their horns in fanfare to the happy couple, and how on seeing them in the marbled lobby of the Bellagio Hotel, the pianist stopped what he was playing to launch into the Wedding March, while all the hotel guests gave them a round of applause. It really felt like there was a sense of “celebrity” about their wedding, and it both looked and sounded a far cry from what you’d assume a Vegas wedding to be about.

Cool, Contemporary Reception

Although not having a formal reception, the bride and groom took the guests to the Gordon Biersch restaurant, where the party had booked a slick, contemporary private room. “The food and the service was amazing”, says Vanessa. “None of our guests were ever without a drink and every so often the waitress would whisper in my ear to check what I wanted and when. I don’t think we could have had a better meal, package & service for the price we paid back home”.

The overall impression is that the guests had an amazing time, and the couple had a dream experience with half the stress of a conventional wedding, but with twice as much style. “Everyone had an amazing time and when we see each other it is all we talk about,” concluded Vanessa. “My dad, who was so worried about the long haul flight before he went, is already planning a return holiday!”

Story: Callie Copeman-Bryant

The Perfect Partners

Ceremony: The Little Chapel of Flowers // Reception: Gordon Biersch // Hair & Make-up: Deb from lvhairdoers.homestead // Wedding Dress: Berketexxx Bride // Bridal Shoes: Sarana // Groom’s Attire: Ted Baker // Bridal & Guest Accommodation: Luxor // Travel Agent: Trailfinders