five ways to save on your vegas wedding.

 

so... you want to get hitched in vegas without having the cliche elopement by elvis and stick to your budget? i'm sure by now you've researched to high heavens and are realizing that vegas is expensive in general let alone throwing in an out of town wedding. don't fret! it's totally doable!

 the hubs and i just celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary at the end of january by having a vow renewal. everything was planned in about six months and being local helped. a lot. upon deciding to actually go through with this my first stop was the local board over on the knot (check it out! so much useful info) and my second was little vegas wedding. i knew i wanted to have it on the strip, but i didn't want to spend a ton nor did i want the traditional hotel chapel. i finally was able to get the vow renewal package at Aria approved for a saturday which saved me over $2,000! Don't be afraid to ask for what you want! the worst they can say is no.

anyway, these are the top five ways to save money when getting hitched in vegas from a local.

1. timing is everything. hands down, the season/month you choose will determine your budget as will the time of day and day of the week. prime time in vegas is spring and fall while august is death in a bag. choose a date in 'deep' winter months (december, january & even february), an earlier time in the day and an 'off' day (monday through thursday) to get the most bang for your buck.

2. do your research. if you're set on a hotel wedding (like me - c'mon! it was january, no one wants to sit outside) try and have everything in one place, including your hotel room (many times if you're using their wedding department you get a discount on your room). it will ease your stress level down a couple notches and will completely eliminate having to provide transportation (public transportation is a no-go in vegas!).
make sure you set up a room block for your guests and if the hotel has a rewards card/program sign up for it and play myvegas (seriously, just do it.)! we were able to get 4,000 free points at Aria because i turned in all our receipts to the promo desk.
also, consider having a restaurant reception. most of the restaurants on the strip (even off) have packages already set out for weddings, and many have gorgeous private rooms. you're likely to get better quality food for cheaper. don't rule out buffets either! we had ours at wicked spoon in cosmo and it was some of the best food we've had!
if you're not set on a hotel wedding check out places off the strip (which in general will save you quite a bit) like the springs reserve, neon boneyard, redrock, a local park (add gourmet food trucks for an unforgettable event), museums, or this awesome venue that you can completely customize called MEET.


3. obviously, diy. the cheapest way is usually to spend hours gluing, tying, printing and cutting your way through the details. but really, it can save tons of money! print your own invites. whether you buy the kit from a craft store (wish i would have done this) or pay someone on etsy to design them (what i actually did - and they were printed with the wrong date!). i know you feel that the invite is the first impression of your event, but seriously, these people are just going to throw them out. unless you're having a black tie event (in which case, why are you reading this?) there is no need to have over the top invites.  some of my diy also included designing and printing all our programs (pictured), favors, signs and hand making my veil (store bought is $100+, mine was under $10).

4. cut back the favors. especially if your guests are traveling. they're already going to buy more shit than they can stuff in a suite case and no one wants stale mints, mini frames, or bubbles. spend that money on a better bar or food or both. that's what people talk about after weddings, not your favors. if you're stubborn dead set on doing favors? great. make it something unique or deliciously edible!  i did mini hang-over kits that i diy'd. also come a day or two early to check out the HUGE gift shops we have and get the favors then. it'll save you on shipping/traveling with them and it would be a real vegas memento.


5. flowers. flowers are expensive, even when their 'in season'. i dreamed of a renewal with flowers EVERYWHERE. along the aisle, at the tables, in my hair, as an archway. ev.er.y.where! that didn't happen because they are damn expensive. and you know what? i'm glad i didn't spend the money. they die and not days later; they start looking god awful by the end of the night. line your aisle with candles (what i did), feathers, faux flowers, book pages, scattered petals, etc. have your maids carry a single flower, fans, clutches (what i did), a feather poof, or nothing at all.


all in all we went a couple grand slightly over budget. expect it, embrace it and plan for it. i also understand diy might not be possible for everyone. i'm lucky to be pretty damn crafty so this was fun for me. if you're the type to end a project with a couple bald spots, 3rd degree burns and a possible murder charge i would steer clear from attempting any diy, but then save in the other areas!


some things i would absolutely NOT skimp on?

• photography - (i fully personally endorse gardenia lane, again!)

• hair and makeup - make sure you feel like a bride. 

• food and drinks - again, this is what people remember. we still have people raving about wicked spoon!

there you have it. my top 5 ways to save money on a vegas wedding. if you have any questions don't hesitate to comment! 

**All people, places or websites mentioned above are from my personal experience. No reward, gift or money was given for my referral.**