... And you thought storybook weddings appeared only in the movies.
Well, we've brought a Las Vegas celebration to Postcards this month
that is sure to keep you entertained. (We used our literary license,
but the information is accurate.) Hope you enjoy this odyssey.
When Artie met Kim, marriage was not on their minds. Over the years,
however, their friendship deepened and a mutual attraction blossomed.
Finally, Artie proposed, Kim accepted, and they decided to combine
wedding and honeymoon in the most exciting and convenient city in
the country: Las Vegas.
DAY ONE
9:00
a.m.: The Arrival
When they arrived at the Las Vegas airport, Artie surprised Kim
with a stretch limousine, complete with Tony Bennett on the stereo,
long-stem roses in a crystal vase, and Dom Perignon on ice. Also
unbeknownst to Kim, Artie had researched the top-of-the-line suites
in the high-roller hotels.
9:30
a.m.: Room with a View
Artie called the Mirage, which offered a 29th-floor penthouse suite,
with two bedrooms, separate living room, dining room, kitchen, and
fully stocked wet bar; and Caesars Palace, which had a similar one-bedroom
setup, with a Jacuzzi in the bedroom and a wet bar in the parlor.
He decided on an intimate corner Jacuzzi suite on the 28th floor
of the Luxor pyramid. Artie could tell that he'd chosen well when,
one minute after arriving at the room, Kim was all smiles, especially
when she saw the oversized Jacuzzi.
11:30
a.m.: Taking Care of Business
Kim had planned the wedding for that day; the ceremony was scheduled
late to give them time to pick up their marriage license and to
get ready. They drove downtown to the courthouse and appeared at
the County Clerk's office, where they filled out a short form, showed
identification, and paid the $35 fee. There was no blood test and
no waiting period; within 10 minutes, they were issued a marriage
license ... the sole requirement for their ceremony later in the
day.
Noon:
How Sweet It Is
They kept their appointments at the Spa at Desert Inn, one of the
finest health facilities in the country. Artie had a long swim,
a short steam, Moor mud bath, 60-minute Shiatsu massage, and 15
minutes of reflexology; Kim had a desert-clay body wrap, an aloe
vera revitalizer, and an enzyme facial. She then got a pedicure,
manicure, and a precision cut and color. Artie had to wait an hour
for Kim, but it was well worth it; when she emerged she was even
more beautiful.
8
p.m.: Goin' to the Chapel
The couple went back to their room at the Luxor. Artie donned his
tuxedo; Kim slipped into her gown. A limousine picked them up and
delivered them to Treasure Island and they made their way to the
chapel.
Kim had called around to a dozen Las Vegas wedding chapels. She
was aware that lots of celebrities, such as Paul Newman and Joanne
Woodward, Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford, and Bruce Willis and
Demi Moore, held their wedding ceremonies at "stand-alone"
chapels like the Little Church of the West, the Little White Chapel,
and the Candlelight Chapel. She'd also heard that Las Vegas weddings
could be held at a drive-up wedding window, in a hot-air balloon,
even during a bungee jump.
8:30
p.m.: Less Is More
Kim finally opted for a more traditional ceremony in a hotel-casino
wedding chapel. She selected Treasure Island for its attentive wedding
coordinators and adjacent reception facilities. The ceremony was
beautiful and the party went off without a hitch-all for under $2,000.
"Try that back home," Kim bragged to her sister, who'd
been married the year before in their hometown to the tune of $20,000.
11
p.m.: Happily Hitched
Then Artie and Kim were off on their Las Vegas honeymoon adventure.
They toured the top casinos in town, starting at the Mirage, Steve
Wynn's $650 million high-roller mega resort. There they took in
the volcanic eruption out front, pygmy sharks swimming in a giant
aquarium behind the registration desk, royal white tigers and bottlenose
dolphins on the grounds, and $500 slot machines.
Midnight:
On Top of the World
The couple admired New York-New York, with its mini-skyline, art
deco lobby, casino set in a simulated Central Park, and fast-food
area occupying the back streets of Greenwich Village. Then they
hopped a high-speed double-decker elevator to the top of Stratosphere's
1,149-foot observation tower (tallest building west of the Mississippi),
where the 360-degree view of Las Vegas Valley and environs took
their breath away. Artie knew he couldn't persuade Kim to ride the
Big Shot, the thrill ride that thrusts up the top of Stratosphere's
needle, but he tried anyway, just for show; truth was, he didn't
want to ride it either.
DAY TWO
3
a.m.: Two's Company
Back to the 28th floor of the Luxor.
6
p.m.: More or Less
Finally, they wound up at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas' first themed
casino and one of the world's premier saloons. There, they went
shopping at the ultra-exclusive Forum Shops at Caesars, where Artie
bought Kim a necklace at Cartier and Kim bought Artie a necktie
at Versace. Later, they splurged on a romantic dinner at Palace
Court. Kim was impressed with the hotel's crystal elevator and bronze-balustrade
spiral staircase. Once they launched into the lobster bisque flamed
with armagnac, Beluga caviar with Stolichnaya, the elevator and
staircase paled by comparison. Artie and Kim had such a great wedding
and honeymoon that they lived happily ever after.
Call us if you'd like to get married (or simply renew your vows)
in Las Vegas or just want to enjoy this fun-filled city.
DETAILS
Looking for something besides a Las Vegas chapel wedding? How about
one of the following:*
- Marriage in a limousine on Las Vegas Blvd. ($250), with champagne
and minister.
- Intimate hotel room or suite wedding ($375), with a minister
and 25 photos.
- Helicopter weddings over the Las Vegas Strip or the Grand Canyon
($550), with minister, photos, video and limo.
- Bungee wedding from a 175 ft. tower ($800), with tower viewing
for 20 guests, minister, bungees for the bride and groom, and
video of the jump.
- Skydiving wedding from a private passenger jet ($1,200), with
jump masters, minister, pictures, and video.
*Prices are approximate.
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