blkladylaw

When I was looking at local options in the DC/MD area the budget was like $28k or so assuming we would have hosted at least 75 people but I doubt we could have kept the guest list that low as the FI has a very large family locally and I have a zillion local friends that it would be hard not to invite and it would likely have ended up being more like 100-150+ guests and over $30k.

Now it is about $24k at Lake Las Vegas to host about 50 people. It could be $20k if I do not do the VIP room rental at the 40/40 club.

Includes dinner reception for 50 on a chartered yacht cruise, open bar, ceremony package (which includes minister, chapel use, florist, 3 hrs photography and pics package), wedding bands, 1st silver dress that I decided against and am trying to sell on ebay, new dress and alterations, guest transportation from the Vegas strip, Hawaii honeymoon, our airfare and hotel in Nevada and Hawaii for just us, my mom's dress, a camcorder, engagement pics, a trip to Vegas in June to preview places and taste cake, VIP room rental at JayZ's 40/40 club for after party, invitations, cake, and thats it I think.

If I didn't save as much money as I thought by going away I did save a lot more stress and work. The local wedding would have needed a coordinator or I would have had to find all my individual vendors on my own as the venue money just got me the empty venue and food with nothing else in the package. In Nevada everything is packaged and I have much less to do, which is worth a lot more than money to me as I am a busy legal executive that works a lot of hours and can't take the time to do all the stuff that would have been required locally.

Thanks ladies!

Ok I think I figured out how to get the pics to post now...here goes

Love the infamous "Sex in the City...Carrie's stolen shoes" Manolos dollbird! I also got those for my wedding shoes when I was originally going to wear a silver dress. I decided to go with these fuschia Manolos instead but I am keeping the classic silver Sedaraby as they are very versatile. Dress is white with black lace trim but I wanted the shoe to be a pop color.

I have been resizing pics to the teeniest proportions and cannot get the accept to post on the forum. Any tips for resizing? I just tried 200 x 150 pixels and that was too large also.

I used Trish at Embellishsp.com and she was amazing to work with and did a fabulous job of capturing my style.

Here is a link showing the various drafts she created.

Snapfish: Share:Registration_Opt1

I started off wanting more silver detail as I was going to wear a silver dress. She created the silver gatefold design with an envelope when that was the plan. Then I got the dress not long after getting her initial draft and found that I did not like the dress. I switched to a white dress with black lace trim (though I am adding material to make it full length).

Nia Long at an Essence Luncheon (Tadashi Collection Weblog)

That set her off into a whole new direction.

Then she came up with two versions one with the invite in a box of fuschia pink feathers and the other with the invite in a pocket covered in black lace and then that in a box with black and silver feathers. The invites have swavorski crystal accents.

I couldn't get over the original gatefold design so we decided to do a gatefold with lace trim sealed with a fuschia ribbon and placed into a white box with a clear top. I may but rose petals in the box...not sure yet. The FI did not like the feathers....but 'over the top' is so me...but he is the exact opposite...Mr. Low Key..I caved since I got the lace. I guess thinking about it from a guys perspective he is Mr. Ultra Macho former football player and felt funny sending out invites with feathers and lace and pink ribbon lol. So I ditched the feathers.

This thread has been so helpful. Thank you for the input.

I am glad I decided on a regular white evening dress that was not meant to be a wedding dress and I plan to wear it again in the future.

I am planning to use an Ipod or CDs for the reception during a yacht cruise. They have speakers on the boat and since I doubt there will be serious dancing on the boat...it will mainly be non-dance music and love songs. We plan to book a private VIP room at a club on the strip so we can hear the music from the club so that will be the dance time. It is nice to hear theat the Ipod music went over well.

I did over the top invites also so it is good to hear that people are glad they did them....I feel like they are keepsakes with all the intricate details....I think guests will appreciate them...well the women will be sentimental about them anyway Men will likely toss them afterwards

Thanks for the note about chair ties...I was considering using the chairs as is...maybe I should by some off of ebay for cheap to dress them up more.

I agree with everyone on the cake. I am not getting a large one just something simple because I want it and the groom is excited about it also. Every wedding I have been to people hardly ate the cake or so much was left over. I am having 40-50 people but plan to tell the cake maker to make it for fewer people.

I am still undecided on the video so would love to hear more about this. I have seen an edited wedding video of friends and it is cute but I am not sure if I want to pay for that. If I did it would just be for the ceremony. There are many who can't attend so maybe it would be nice to have for a party back home. We also thought we could use the money to just buy our own video camera and have my brother or others just video tape it and then we have our own camcorder for the honeymoon and future special moments like taping our first kid! I don't want to regret not having a nice edited video set to music though....hmmm.

I am a Sept. 5th bride! I wanted Sept. or Oct. to avoid some Nevada heat but wasn't sure of a day so I picked the date after reviewing numerology and astrology. Note that mercury is in retrograde Sept. 24 - Oct. 15th whatever that means. I forget all the details of why but I avoided those dates.

I got formally engaged April 6th but knew we were planning to do it later this year so since he was taking forever with the ring I got started in February. I ordered the dress in Feb. and it arrived April 16th as my size was a special order and not off the rack. I didn't like it but I liked a shorter dress that I had also ordered for other parties so I am getting that lengthened with a duplicate of the dress that I bought since I couldn't just get material. Appt. with seamstress/designer is this Friday.

I went to Paris on vacation like 2 weeks after we became official so I had to rush a lot of ordering before I left so I wouldn't lose the time. I spent February and March looking at local venues but once I realized having it local meant having 100s of people and what that would cost....I decided at the beginning of April to do Lake Las Vegas in Nevada. We are guessing about 40-50 will come.

I knew I wanted fancy unique invites so I found Embellishments - Custom Designed Invitations after googling for unique invitations. Trish did an amazing job. Will post when I get them uploaded to a share site. She sent a draft before I left and worked on a couple other designs while I was gone. I came back to 3 samples in the mail and we tweaked one of the lace options and got rid of the feathers in the box as the FI wasn't liking it. I gave final proofing 2 weeks ago and they should be here in a couple days.

I didn't do a save the date...I did put up a website immediately and updated it with info as we figured out the plans. I emailed it to friends and those without email found out the when and where by word of mouth so they could start booking. People have booked tickets and I havent gotten the invites out yet!

About 7 days after becoming official I booked an engagement portrait session at the local Sears...because they could do it that same day that I got the idea and we could have the pics instantly so I could add them to the website before I left for vacation.

Since I already had a plan about where I wanted to do it before getting engaged I put deposits down before I left for vacation also...like within a week of engagement.

We booked airfare to Nevada and from there to Hawaii last weekend. No idea of hotel yet for Hawaii. I used AMEX points to get a free suite at the new Trump hotel in Vegas for a few days. Thats booked.

I picked two places to taste cakes when I go check out my venues in June.

I picked the menu last week.

Ordered a veil online last week.

Finally got baby and younger years pics of the FI so I added those to the wedding site.

I have mom and grandma working on any bible verses or poems they suggest.

Set up registries over the last few weeks and constantly update my wedding site.

I've got a draft list of music I want during the ceremony and of songs for the Ipod to play during the yacht reception cruise.

Lost 15 lbs so far toward weight loss goal for the wedding.

Found FI wedding band on ebay and we dropped it off to get it sized.

Finally forced FI to go get fitted for tux and pick out style.

Photos, florist, minister, etc is included in my package so I don't have anything to do with those except tell them what I want.

Ordered a camcorder today....in lieu of using that money for a videographer....cheaper and we'll have it for the honeymoon vacation and other moments.

No bridesmaid tasks as I am not having any.

And I think that is it so far!

I just set up a myregistry and love it! I used the cash fund for a new marital bed as we both still have old garage sale beds form the college years. I also liked that you could add spa gift certificates from FTD.com that can be used at thousands of spa locations...you can see if there is a participating spa near your honeymoon location or maybe as a bridal shower gift use some of it for the pampering before the wedding. I added travel guides for Hawaii from BarnesandNoble.com. I love the flexibility of the items you can add! I moved a lot of things from Target.com to this registry instead.

Last night I actually decided to keep a few things on the Target registry and just hope I have nothing to return. I moved most of the Target items to Myregistry.com instead. As an idea others may be interested in, I used Myregistry.com to add travel guides for my honeymoon location, the popular A New Earth audiobook for us to listen to during travel which I hope will inspire us in how we move forward in our life together and also a couple of guidebooks to making marriage work from Barnes & Noble. I think these make for some nice low cost but useful items for the registry. If anyone is going to Disneyworld or Orlando, Myregistry.com has items from DWTickets so you can get tickets to shows and entrance fees to parks.

I also added a cash fund option on Myregistry.com for the new marital bed that we definitely need as we both have old college/grad school years beds.

We don't plan to do it.

I'm not doing this either. The last two weddings I went to they had to drag people onto the floor to try and catch the darn things and then it just landed on the floor and no one was going for them until someone finally just picked it up to not spoil it for the couple. I have to say as a single woman I have never wanted to participate in this and I will spare my 30 & 40 something friends who are already painfully aware of their single status with clock ticking loudly from going through this. From feedback, they are all grateful. I plan to probably give my bouquet to my Grandma at the wedding....or I may split it in two and give half to his Grandma also. And no garter.

I didn't do a Save the Date....we did a wedding website instead and updated it daily/weekly as we figured out the plan. Those without computer access (like senior relatives) found out by word of mouth.

Amazon.com (great because it pulls items from a variety of sites so you can have it in one place...it pulls some items from Macys as an example).

Target - I mainly picked it because I wanted one option for folks who will want to go to a physical store...like guests who are not into buying online. After reading the news about returns...I am worried about keeping this one.

and for honeymoon....

Cloud9living.com (things to do in Vegas)

and

libertytravelregistry.com (things to do in Hawaii)

like some other have noted what we really need is a new bed besides the old beds we have both had since college but wasn't sire how to go about getting furniture and I didn't like any of the beds on the PotteryBarn and other typical sites.

Try Tadashi. tadashicollection.com

They go up to 18 and xxxl on some styles. They have several Sprin 08 dresses that come in ivory, white, pearl, silver, etc.

I ordered a long silver gown but didn't like it on me but loved a cocktail dress that I got from them

Nia Long at an Essence Luncheon (Tadashi Collection Weblog)

and I am having it lengthened to a full length dress.

His band is white gold has two princess diamonds and a blue sapphire in the middle...blue is his fav color. I saw it in a store for about $800 but I found the same one on ebay for $400 and am getting it resized.

My engagement ring has three rows of diamonds on the band so it is a bit much already....though I have long fingers and can carry off a lot of ring. Considering what we are spending on everything else, for now my band will be a 2.50 carat 5 stone moissanite in white gold for now. No one looking at it will have a clue....not even some jewelers really. I have a rather large bonus coming next year and can upgrade it to diamonds then if I want or maybe can wait until a 1, 3 or 5 year anniversary to do it. Those funds are being diverted to an amazing honeymoon instead. I figure we can always upgrade the rings over time....there is one shot for a great honeymoon.

I am very happy that the dress I ended up liking is a light silk chiffon. I was never looking for a big complex heavy gown anyway though...just a regular evening dress that could work for a wedding. I'll be in 100+ heat in Nevada!

I'm not having one. I always thought it was silly and never understood the necessity of it. I have two distinct girlfriends that are like family and they have been assisting me with planning, if I need to hand someone bouquet I will just hand it to them as they'll be front row and center anyway, I don't have a dress with a train for anyone to adjust, they are already plotting bridal shower and bachelorette party together...all with no official title and without having to buy a bridesmaid dress, shoes and accessories. Friends are already coming out of airfare and hotel costs...no need for them to buy a special outfit just so we can look color coordinated in pictures. My fiance doesn't care about it either. Also if you have a bridal party at a destination wedding from what I have read aren't you supposed to at least pay for their lodging? Just something else to consider. As people mention doing it because they want these people to share in your special day...I feel they are sharing in my special day even without the official title as they have been supporting me through the process and will be there front row and center in whatever they choose to wear.

I am using Cloud9living.com and Libertytravelregistry.com

and also Target and Amazon to list a few traditional items as well for those that prefer that option. I used Cloud9 for some things to do in Vegas and LibertyTravel for things to do in Hawaii. They can range from hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, romantic dinner on a beach, a bottle of wine for our room, a Grand Canyon helicopter ride, etc. We'd cherish the memories from these experiences (that otherwise we might not do after blowing the budget on the wedding costs and air/hotel for the honeymoon already) more than any electric can openers or pots. I just set them up not long ago so we'll see how people react to it.

Hello everyone! I just posted my details for my Lake Las Vegas Resort wedding here http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t21353

I look forward to seeing what others are doing in Vegas and what vendors you are using.

My situation may be unique as I am not getting married on the strip and am considering arranging for transportation for my 40-50 guests from the Strip to Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV about 17 miles away and then taking them back after the wedding reception. A taxi ride will likely be around $45-$55 one way so I wanted to alleviate some of that cost for them. The Ritz hotel recommended a bus that can transport about 40 people and is $135 one way. Limos are typically not big enough though I found a new Limo that can hold 45 I think at NTS transportation. Not sure of the price on that yet but I think it will be at least $3500+ one way.

I also am considering renting some kind of specialty, classic or luxury car for us for one or two days.

Any suggestions for affordably transporting 40-50 people?

I am wondering about this as well. I definitely would like some references for someone that is experienced with hair and makeup Black American hair and skin complexions.

For our Sept 2008 wedding at Lake Las Vegas Resort we have booked at the new Trump hotel which is near the Fashion Mall and across from the Wynn from what I understand. It just opened in March so I have no idea what it is like. I believe it is an all suite hotel...rooms all have kitchenettes and the best thing that I liked is that there is no casino on site and it is a non-smoking hotel. During prior stays at other Vegas hotels the smoke fumes that hit you as soon as you hit the main areas is nauseating. For my wedding night and the few days we will be there before we leave for the Hawaii honeymoon I prefer not to be in a hotel crowded with gamblers. I figure we can easily walk to plenty of nearby hotel casinos if we desire.

We are staying one night at the Ritz Carlton the day before the wedding as it is near the Chapel at Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV where we are getting married. They are providing a late check out and the concierge has been great with assisting me with finding transportation for guests and other things.

In June I am going with a girlfriend of mine to scope out the places in person since I chose everything online and I am doing cake tastings. We are staying at THE MIRAGE. UPDATE: Just got back from stay at the Mirage and it was really nice. The bed was amazing...I wrote the hotel to find out what kind of bedding they used. It was the most comfy bed I have ever been in. The room was very modern and had a LCD TV. The food options there were a lil too fancy for me. We did the Brazilian restaurant one day, the buffett and a cafe another day. The other places the food was too high and fancy. Free valet parking. They have a clothing optional or topless pool called Bare and a habitat with tigers, lions, dolphins etc. The Habitat had baby tigers they were so cute.

In the past, I have stayed at

Planet Hollywood - we went last April and it was nice...our room was nothing special but nice...they were just changing over from it being the Aladdin so not sure if rooms have been upgraded since we were there. The casino was always high energy while we were there, we barely walked into the hotel lobby from the airport and we were signed up to go listen to a timeshare presentation for the Planet Hollywood timeshares. We went and got a free show, free dinner and a free hotel stay to go listen to another timeshare spiel.

Venetian - I stayed for a week for a prior conference for my job. I was in a suite and it was nice. I am not big on that Parisian style decor ...I prefer modern/contemporary but it was nice. The bathroom was all marble but I remember the tub being pretty small...but then again I am 6ft. There were nice places to eat within the hotel. The smoke was unbearable. The Chapel was quaint.

I just shared details on my Newbie post about my Lake Las Vegas Resort wedding planned for Sept. 2008. Would love to hear from others who are having or have had weddings there.

http://bestdestinationwedding.com/forum/t21353

I am having the ceremony in Chapel Fiorenza and then a reception on a yacht that will cruise around the Lake.

Hello all.

We were officially engaged April 6, 2008 though we moved in this time last year to start saving money. I'm 37 and he is 32 and this is a first marriage for both of us. I started seriously planning in February of this year and as I am not the biggest fan of traditional weddings if there was anything that I could do to buck the norm I plan to do it. I live in the DC metro area and are planning to marry in September at the Chapel Fiorenza at Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, NV about 17 miles from the Las Vegas strip. We are having a reception on a yacht on the lake. Total budget including our wedding bands and a 6 day honeymoon in Hawaii is $24000. It may be $20000 if I decide not to rent out a private room at JayZ's 40/40 club as an after party.

Weddings at Lake Las Vegas

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My original plan was a silver Spring 2008 evening gown from Tadashi but once it arrived I didn't like it on me. Pic of original silver dress is attached.

But I did like the second dress that ordered to wear to other events and decided to make that the wedding dress instead so I bought two and I am having a local seamstress use material from the second one to make it a full length gown....maybe even making the bottom detachable so I can wear it in the original cocktail dress length.

Veil is trimmed in black lace

Manolo wedding shoes are pink satin with black feathers

Pic of a prior draft of my invite is attached (it has been slightly updated to a gatefold design and I am no longer adding feathers to the box) and a pick of the original silver