Las Vegas (and a visa update)

[Michael B]

Going to Las Vegas tomorrow, taking the daughter, at 16 she's already an 'old pro' at it. (God help the casinos when she turns 21). So why would I post on that on this board? Going to check out a bunch of the wedding chapels that I phoned and got brochures from. Long time ago Martha mentioned that she wanted to get married in a casino (well, our first choice was the C. Church, but they turned down her annulment request) so I reckon that I can give her that wish. Thursday I got the confirmation letter from NVC that they approved their end of the visa (not sure if this includes the dreaded 'name check', they didn't say) and are forwarding everything to the embassy. Took low-life INS/BCIS 182 days to approve the petetion, another 10 days after that to send it to NVC, took NVC only 5 days (including a weekend!) to process it. Let's hope the embassy works as fast.

Anyway, I'm open to "I had my wedding at....." or "I attended a wedding at....." type responses. (If I remember right, Ralph used Mandalay Bay, which is going to be out of my price range, I'm afraid). She's leaning to Excalibur (becasue they rent costumes to let you dress like a king and queen). I'm thinking maybe Stratoshpere (they have a wedding room at the top of the tower, so does Paris, but they want $3200 to use it for 1/2 hour, Stratosphere only wants $189 for theirs). Unfortunitly, it will most likely be just the two of us, no guests (well, maybe her son and my daughter, if we can swing it financialy for the extra rooms and air fare), so it doesn't have to be very elobrate, but we don't want it 'tacky' either. Now, the real trick  will be to convince Martha that the El Cortez or Lady Luck is "Well yeah, Baby, this IS the nicest hotel in town" (she's already figured out that the Gold Spike isn't, darn it)...So here's a good chance to use your new Spanish word 'tacano'--but remember, I'll be fresh off of paying for a trip to Bogota (TWO, if they make her son attend the interview), visa fees and two airfares from Colombia right before this and I am NOT independently wealthy.

[cancunhound]

... in response to Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by Michael B on Aug 9, 2003

Sounds like the spot.  Congrats on the visa, it would probably serve some guys here the steps you actually took - so post!  But seriously, Vegas?

[mudd]

... in response to Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by Michael B on Aug 9, 2003

check into excaliber hotel, my firned got married there and i think it was  around $300 to $500 and it was pretty nice and the priest was really cool. had flowers and a cute litte chapel.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by mudd on Aug 10, 2003

Thanks. Yes, that's where my daughter and I are staying, I'll be sure to check it out, and like I said in the other post, M. thinks it will be neat to rent the king and queen costumes. Well, time to unplug and head for the airport.

[Ralph]

... in response to Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by Michael B on Aug 9, 2003

Actually Mandalay Bay looked great, but since we basically got Married with my buddy and his wife as witnesses, we didn't go that route.

I went the other direction. Got Married in the "Viva Las Vegas" wedding Chapel. Unlike other places where a reverend does the ceremony and then "Elvis" sings a few tunes. . . . .he he eh eh. . . ."Elvis" actually performed our ceremony! It was a blast. Picture someone from a small town in 3rd world country hitting Vegas for the first time, and then having some fat guy in a skin tight spandex suit doing his schtick!

The best part is, I am not really an Elvis fan, just thought it would be goofy. It was.

[moam]

... in response to Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by Michael B on Aug 9, 2003

Michael,
You know that anything on the strip will be expensive, especially on the weekend, Mandalay Bay is my personal favorite, but you already know that rooms there can go for more than $375.00 per night. There are some nice places off the strip but still close and with great views. The Rio is a good option, every room is a suite(so they say)and the buffet is great, they often win awards for "Best Buffet." There are a couple of good night clubs and some great restuarants here also, and since it is just on the other side of the freeway from the strip the views are good.

The Orleans is also a good place to stay if you want nice and clean without the prices on the strip.  I use to go to Vages every weekend for 6 months and when I could'nt get a room at Mandalay Bay, I would stay at The Orleans. This place is very reasonable,($89.00 plus per night)and if you stay there, ask for a room with a view of the strip and you want to be above the 10th floor. Both of these will serve anyone well looking to save money. Hope this bit of info will help.

[Michael B]

... in response to Re: Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by moam on Aug 10, 2003

Thanks, moam (and Freddie and Ralph, too). Wow, every weekend for 6 months, now I can't claim that many trips, but I've been out there probably 10 times (this will be #4 for the daughter, I've been there with her mother when we were still married and by myself too). I've stayed on the Strip and downtown both. Left to my own devices, I'd probably get a room at the Plaza or Las Vegas Club and wind up doing nothing but BJ at the downtown joints. But when I take my daughter, I let her pick (within reason, I mean we are NOT getting a suite at Belagio or Venetian), so this time we're at Excalibur. I've had a rent car a couple of times and honestly found them to be more trouble than they are worth  (parking, and the long lines to pick them up and turn them in, wait for the bus to/from the airport etc.) so I don't want to stay any place 'off strip' (although I have a couple of friends who both tell me the Rio is very nice). I was more interested in the wedding chapels, particularly those inside a hotel, than the hotels themselves. When M. gets here, we might drive out and stay a couple of weeks instead of the usual MLT or FunJet 3/4 day package. We've talked about it a few times, (she knows she's not getting a rich man) and she's cool about not staying in the fanciest hotel in town in order to have money to stay longer, do a couple of shows etc.

[Freddie]

... in response to Las Vegas (and a visa update), posted by Michael B on Aug 9, 2003

We got married at "A Little White Chapel" on Las Vegas Blvd in 2000. I figured if it was good enough for Michael Jordan and Joan Collins it was good enough for us.

http://www.alittlewhitechapel.com/html/opening_page.html

It's the place you often see on the Travel Channel with the drive-thru. They have a large chapel and a gazebo outside (a little noisy on Las Vegas Blvd).

They handle all the arrangements. All you do is make your reservation by phone or email then stop in when you get to Vegas to work out the final details.  They will send a limo to pick you up and return you to your hotel. They also have flowers (real and silk) and even rent gowns and tuxedos.

The rent-a-preacher was Mexican so he did the ceremony in English and Spanish. Since there were only 6 others with us they had it upstairs across the drive-way at their extra building. It was behind a wall to separate it from the rest of the room. They played the wedding march on a boom box and the guests had love-seats to watch. The    
'corner' of the room where the ceremony took place was decorated and had beautiful flowers. The pictures look like they could have been taken anywhere.

I can't remember the cost but I think with the limo ($20 tip for the driver), my wife's silk flower bouquet and head piece and my bouteneer, the ceremony with 12 photos and the preacher it all came to about $250 or less. They have all sorts of mix-and-match packages.

It was nice and we're just as married as someone who paid $10,000.

Be sure and get your license at the courthouse downtown at least the day before the ceremony. It usually only takes 10 minutes but sometimes there is a line. During the week is faster. All you need is a photo ID for each and about $35. They only close from midnight Sunday until 6AM Monday.

We stayed at the Golden Nugget downtown (1 block from the courthouse). We had a regular room for 4 nights ($65 a night) then moved into a suite for the night before and our wedding night ($305 per night). The suite was nice but not worth the difference in price. We did have our guests up to the room for cake (full setup by the hotel for $45 included a really pretty and delicious cake, linen tablecloth, china, silverware and tip).

I bought a couple bottles of champaigne at a liquer store and some plastic champaigne glasses.

If you can go to Las Vegas and stay Sunday thru Thursday the airfare and hotel rooms are much cheaper. You need to sign up on some of the hotel web sites and get their email. Some great bargains can be found.

Avoid weeks that have big conventions (COMDEX - Nov 17-20 for example), the National Homebuilders Convention (January) or the NASCAR race the first weekend in March.

Be sure and get the marriage certificate registered with Clark County. I can't remember the details of how I did this but check the internet. It was only $7 and you'll need this for your wife's U.S. Residency. A few weeks after the wedding I got a letter from someone in Las Vegas who offered to get our marriage registered for $25. If I hadn't done my homework I would have thought that was a good deal.

Let me know if there is anything else. Email me if you like.
Good luck.
ps. Don't make the mistake I did and make plane reservations (Colombia to US or to Las Vegas) until she has her visa in hand.