The most heavily populated city in Nevada, Las Vegas is considered not only as a major vacation and shopping destination but also the center of gambling in the United States.

Although it is often called Sin City because of legalized gambling and prostitution, availability of alcoholic beverages, and various forms and degrees of adult entertainment, its glamorous and enchanting image has made it a popular setting in the movies and television programs.

Dubbed as “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” Las Vegas is as well known for its infamous ‘Las Vegas Weddings’ as it is for its tourist attractions.

Las Vegas is by far the most popular destination-wedding spot in the United States (and perhaps the world).

About 120,000 weddings are held in Las Vegas every year, and it is a perfect place for couples (especially celebrities) who want to get married in a quick and different (or unusual) way.

A lot of couples prefer to have a Las Vegas wedding because of the following advantages:

· It is affordable. Las Vegas weddings cost less than traditional wedding ceremonies.

· It can be held on short notice. Most chapels in Las Vegas allow couples to book for their wedding right away - others even accommodate walk-ins!

· It is convenient. Hotels in Las Vegas usually have their own wedding chapels, with a wedding coordinator that takes in charge of all the preparations - from the flowers and music to the officiant and the souvenirs - and can get in touch with the couple on the phone or even online.

· It is fun. Las Vegas weddings offer couples with a fun and amusing way to get married - even with an Elvis impersonator as their officiant!

· It allows couples to start their honeymoon early. After the wedding, there is no need for couples to board a plane and head out of town - Las Vegas is a great honeymoon destination in itself!

Are you (and your partner) thinking of having a destination wedding? Below is a step-by-step guide that will help you get married in Las Vegas:

1. Set a wedding date.

2. Decide on a Las Vegas wedding chapel (check out the chapels in casino-hotels).

3. Speak to a wedding coordinator to know about the information on wedding packages.

4. Book for the date and time of the ceremony that you desire.

5. Make plane and hotel reservations for your friends and families who will come over (and for you if you are not yet in Las Vegas).

6. Make reservations for a festive lunch or dinner (don’t forget the wedding cake!)

7. Obtain a marriage license at the Clark County courthouse at least a day before your wedding.

8. Slip away after the ceremony and the celebration.

Aside from these guidelines, below are the things that you also need to consider when getting married in Las Vegas:

· The holidays. Watch out for ‘peak seasons’ that result to busy wedding days, such as Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve.

· The weather. An extremely hot weather in Las Vegas can be uncomfortable when you are in a tuxedo or a heavy gown (not to mention your makeup and the icing on your wedding cake).

· The dress. There are a number of places in Las Vegas where you can rent wedding dresses for that ’spur-of-the-moment’ weddings.

· The legalities. Make sure that you meet the legal requirements and that you are issued a marriage license before you hold the wedding ceremony.

Now you are ready for the wild and wacky experience of a Las Vegas destination wedding.

Just remember that the most important thing is to recite your vows from the heart, and live them all throuh your marriage.

All the best!

Destination Weddings | No Comments »

If you live near Austin, Texas - or you are looking for a unique, affordable destination wedding options - check out the Chapel Dulcinea. This gorgeous, open air chapel is located on the Wizard Academy Campus, 20 minutes from Austin. The small chapel is perfect for a intimate wedding, with seating in the chapel for only 12 - but up to 100 people could view the wedding from just outside the open air chapel for a larger wedding as well.

The chapel is available for wedding bookings at no charge, though donations towards the upkeep of the chapel are appreciated. There is a reception pavilion available as well, though no food other then wedding cakes are allowed. This would be perfect for a late evening wedding with a cake and punch reception.

Destination Weddings | No Comments »

Looking for something unique as a wedding favor? What about a Sea Glass Candle? Each of these Soy Candles comes in a glass jar and has an authentic piece of sea glass hidden inside for guests to discover later as they are burning the candles! Tons of colors and scents are available!

Candles are made with NVSoy wax, so they burn evenly right to the bottom and clean up easily with soap and water - so the jars become keepsakes for years to come!

Tie a ribbon with a little note card around the rim with you names and date, and a sweet message, for a very unique beach wedding favor! The jars can also be handpainted with a beach motif and your names if you perfer!

If you are having a candle light evening reception, place one at each place and light it for a romantic glow. There are also larger versions that could be used as centerpieces as well!

Beach Weddings, Decorations, Destination Weddings, Theme Weddings, Wedding Favors | No Comments »

When I saw the thumbnail for this black & white wedding gown, I was a little unimpressed but something told me to take a closer look and I actually really like it! It has a VERY sexy low-cut back with just the slightest train - perfect for an informal or beach wedding. The black and silver embroidered pattern really gives it a whole character all on it’s own! This gown would be lovely for a unique bride, and for a more formal wedding, it would make a great bridesmaid’s gown as well!

For a bridal gown - it is REALLY affordable ($185!!).

Beach Weddings, Black & White, Bride's Attire, Destination Weddings, Think Outside The Box | 3 Comments »

Here’s a cute dress for a semi-formal or informal wedding. It’s a Calvin Klein Long Gown with Beading and just a hint of a train which gives it a bridal look without being to much. It’s perfect for a beach or garden wedding, and it’s also VERY budget friendly - $238 at Macy’s. Very cute.

Beach Weddings, Bride's Attire, Destination Weddings, Garden Wedding | No Comments »

With the growing popularity of Destination Weddings, a new class of wedding gowns has been emerging!

A Destination Wedding Gown is a design that takes into concideration two factors:

1. Location: Most destination weddings are held in Beach like settings, were a traditional wedding gown may seem out of place!

2. Shipping: A Destination Wedding gown is generally designed so it will be easier to pack and bring with to your destination.

For those reasons, destination wedding gowns are usually:

1. Made with light, breezy fabrics like linen, crepe, chiffon, organza, etc.

2. Slimmer fitting then a traditional wedding gown.

3. Semi-formal or informal while still elegant and beautiful.

4. Made with little or not train.

Chrys Cross Bridal is proud to introduce our own Destination Wedding Gown collection! With a stunning selections of gowns available, you will find something for every style and every budget!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bride's Attire, Destination Weddings, Theme Weddings | No Comments »

Destination Feature: Dublin, Ireland

Looking for a unique wedding or honeymoon destination! Most people automatically assume that a honeymoon at an all-inclusive beach resort is the best bang for your buck - but that’s not always true. Thanks to the internet and the amazing amount of information available online - planning your own honeymoon to just about anywhere can be both a fun and cost friendly option!

Ireland may not be your typical destination for a bride and groom - but it is unique, beautiful and definitely a memorable occasion. And it can be affordable if you are willing to do the leg work to find the best deals on Dublin Hotels, flights, activites and actractions, transportation and even meals. For example, you can find Dublin Hotels for as little as $30/night! Not a bad deal at all - that’s only about $210 if you stay for an entire week!

Who needs to lie on the beach when you can be touring romantic castles, visiting old style pubs, taking in historic sites and museums, and visiting or even getting married in historic churches that date back to the sixteenth century! SO romantic!

Destination Weddings, Honeymoon | No Comments »

The exotic phalaenopsis orchid has been a very popular choice for today’s brides, even making it into the biggest weddings this year (Eva Longoria & Tony Parker, July 7, 07) and last year (Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes).

It’s not hard to see why this amazing flower is so popular - it’s unique in that it works for almost anything! It is formal enough for the most elegant black tie weddings, exotic enough for the most exotic destination location, and still fun enough to fit in and add a touch of elegance to even a informal, casual event. The bright white color matches everything, and works with nearly any theme and season.

Of course, the flowers themselves are beautiful enough that some brides even use the flower itself as the theme that ties the wedding together.

Phalaenopsis Orchid Bouquet Ideas

Phalaenopsis orchids, while beautiful, are also not the most budget friendly flower. That doesn’t mean you can’t have them in your wedding on a budget, it just means you have to be wise.

The key is not to overdue it. An entire bouquet of orchids is nice - but a bouquet of less expensive flowers like roses or carnations - designed to showcase 2 or 3 orchids can be just as stunning and much less costly. Even just a few sprays, tied together into an arm bouquet, is stunning! If you love the all-orchid bouquets above - splurge a little on yours and choose a less costly flower for the bridesmaids, making your bouquet the focal point of the floral decor!

The same goes for centerpieces - the beauty of the orchid is it’s simple, clean lines. A single potted orchid with two stems makes a stunning, modern and elegant statement without overdoing it. By finding places to use your orchids as focal points and accents, you can the elegance without a huge price tag.

Additionally, it is a good idea to compare silk and real prices and see if you can find a great deal on a good silk version that you can use to accent bouquets, centerpeices, the cake, and more.

Beach Weddings, Black & White, Celebrity Weddings, Destination Weddings, Flower Wedding Themes, Flowers, Garden Wedding, Hot Trends, Orchid Weddings, Theme Weddings, Winter Weddings | 1 Comment »

Where I live, Mexico is the winter destination of choice. Why? Because it is warm and the resorts are beautiful, less crowded then in summer. While just as lovely, they are also generally more affordable then other tropical locations!!

What better place for a winter wedding? Rather then spending a fortune on a large local wedding, whisk your closest friends and family members to join you for a week at an elegant Rocky Point resort in Mexico.

Take a look at the SI! I DO section of the Visit Rocky Point website - they have a complete service: providing legal or reenactment ceremonies, professional photographers, cakes, flowers, music, food and decorating! The photos in their wedding gallery are STUNNING to say the least!

Go ahead and get a quote! You may be presently surprised to find that a romantic, once in a lifetime wedding on a gorgeous Mexico Beach is actually a lot more affordable then you thought. In fact, in many cases it is cheaper then a huge wedding at home would be!! Plus, with the help of a wedding planner like SI! I DO, a lot of the leg work is taken care of so you can enjoy your vacation/wedding stress free.

Beach Weddings, Destination Weddings, General Planning Tips | 2 Comments »

I posted this picture with a DIY project idea recently, and someone posted asking if they can get them premade anywere:) Yes - you can:)

I found two stores that carry them:

http://www.weddingstand.com

http://www.weddingmallstore.com 

The larger ones are $24 each, the small one is $20.

Beach Weddings, DIY Projects for Brides, Decorations, Destination Weddings | No Comments »