Vegas Wedding Trip Tips?

[GlitterGrrl]

Hello Everyone!
My fiancee and I will be going to Vegas in mid November to get married. He and I will be there from early Sunday to very early Wednesday. Some friends and family will be meeting up with us out there and we're all on a budget.
Right now we're trying to plan a loose wedding itinerary for our time there. Neither of us (and most of the people joining us) are gamblers. I guess I'm wondering what you all would do with three days in Vegas.
Right now, we're planning on checking in (at the Luxor), eating at Paris's champagne brunch, getting the wedding license, and that is where we left off in the planning.
Questions:
Does anyone have recommendations for an affordable and reputable spa?
What other buffets should we hit while there (Bellagio is already on the list)?
What adult shows would you recommend? We've already seen the one at the MGM Grand. Are Folies Bergere, Jubilee, Zumanity, Bite, and Splash any good?

I'm also wondering how Vegas people handle people who have obviously just married. I've heard some crazy stories from people who married in Vegas and supposedly had strangers come up to them and hand them twenties! Another person said they got really inebriated because people kept buying them drinks. Yet another said they just got honked at a lot. I'm interested in human behavior, especially Vegas humans! :)
One more question: Does anyone have any interesting/creative picture taking ideas for us after we marry? The plan is to wander the strip and stop at the various hotels and get pictures all dolled up. The "Welcome to Vegas" sign is of course already on the list.
Thanks!
GlitterGrrl

[wildpitcher]

For Buffets, try Mandalay Bay and the Rio (both world market and seafood)

I've not seen the adult shows you mention, but you might find "Showgirls of Magic" fun.

[JLee1709]

My husband and I were marrried in Las Vegas in 1998. We were able to do it very nice and not expensive at A Little White Chappel.(www.alittlewhitechappel.com) They picked us up at hotel in limo, took us to courthouse for license and then to chappel for ceremony. Of course they also returned us to our hotel(or where ever you want to be dropped off).
It was a blast!
As far as how a Bride and Groom are treated in Las Vegas, well its a very, very common thing there. I think more people do that in LV than anywhere else in the US. (maybe the world) People are just more fun in Vegas, everything is just more fun in Vegas, so you will have many well wishes. Maybe a drink or two.
I think the picture taking thing is a very neat idea.... you can go to several exotic places on your wedding day (Paris,Rome,Venice,Egypt... even visit the middle ages@Excaliber) What fun! :)
Enjoy your day and time in Las Vegas.
Congrats!
Janet(SW Michigan)

[Steve]

What adult shows would you recommend? We've already seen the one at the MGM Grand. Are Folies Bergere, Jubilee, Zumanity, Bite, and Splash any good?

I would not waste my $$$$ on Bite. I got a comp to this show and felt like I overpaid.

The new version of Splash is good. We had a members get-together at this show in August and I think I can say that 49 out of 50 members enjoyed it.
Right Angela?

I really enjoyed Zumanity but you must be very open minded as the show has a lot of sexual themes.

I enjoyed Jubilee but Eileen thought it was boring.
She said the only reason I liked it was because of the B ;) ;) B's.

Eileen is usually never wrong.

I wouldn't consider Folies Bergere an "adult" show even though it is topless. The costumes and the scenery are outstanding.

Steve

[slugr]

Little church of the west it's out by the welcome to Vegas sign. Friends got married there. We were there it was nice.

[CeeJayRocker]

I've heard the wait for a license on a weekend can be fairly long, but highly entertaining (remember, I'm a fan of the bus at 1:00 a.m.). I know several people who've married in Las Vegas, but I've never attended a wedding. I've seen several couples waiting in line at the various hotel chapels, and at the seedier chapels north of the Strat. In my line of work, I am required to inquire as to the number and location of marriages, and my standard rule is once you get to four, at least one has been in Las Vegas . . . . ;)

[mturner]

even if it is Vegas!

you should have no trouble finding plenty of things to do even if you don't gamble ( tho i can't imagine )

there are plenty of free entertainment in the lounges, too, that are very good. And don't miss walking thru all of the great hotels. You will think you are in other countries.

Don't miss the fountain shows at the Bellagio. See it as often as possible!

[GaPchy]

Hubby and I were married there last August. We had a limo pick up party to take them to chapel. We chose the somewhat cheesy way out and were so glad we did. We were married by Elvis at Viva Las Vegas. Service from them wasn't the best, but nonetheless, EVERYONE at the wedding (14) had a BLAST. The most fun was the entire wedding party dancing to Viva Las Vegas. Also, the provide internet service and there were probably 100 people from home that viewed the wedding live. That was another reason for our choice of location.
The best things I'd highlight that we did was:
Wedding night dinner with everyone at Top of The World. Fantastic view for all.
Limo taking party to the wedding. We enjoyed our toast will all on the way back to the hotel. We booked a limo bus so we could all ride together.
Cost of wedding, license, minister, and limo was about $700.

[mturner]

someone else was married by Elvis. 10 years ago,my twin sister and i -- who were both big Elvis fans-- went out to celebrate our b-days. we were met at the airport by her family SURPRISE-- and her son and girlfriend were married by Elvis for her benefit on our b-day. what fun we had. Sadly, she died 3 years later.. but that is one present that meant so much to all of us!

[crisndeefromde]

the hubby and I renewed our wedding vowels at the Chapel in the Sky at the top of the Stratosphere and they were wonderful. It was only a few hundred to do such and doesn't cost much more for the license. We just paid the minister on the side as we were already married. We had a luncheon for our guests at the restaurant up there and it was wonderful. They had flowers for us, champagne and a photographer, even tho the best man is a wedding photographer, most of these chapels won't let you bring someone. I can tell you that everytime we see someone just married, I get sappy!!! Many a nite we have just had a "count the newlywed" evening of fun!!! You see the brides and grooms at the tables in their wedding garb and just smile. The hubby's first choice was the Viva Las Vegas chapel until he saw the chapels at the stratosphere and said,,,,well the next time we renew and we will....we'll go there. So my Elvis fan will get there sometime. Just enjoy your wedding day. Everyone will make sure you both are having the time of your life!! May you have many years of happiness and good luck!

[ken's girl]

My hubby and I were there over 4th of July to get married and we had a great time at SF Sally's Wedding Chapel. We had a blast! :p We had a great steak dinner at the Gold Coast and watched the fireworks. A great place to get a picture is at the gondola ride at the Venitian. A trip out to Red Rocks is a great day trip for the non-gambler. I don't gamble either, but just the people watching and the free entertainment is worthwhile. We also had a good time window shopping at the Forum shops.

[marmirdc]

Cant help you out much about the wedding..but I do know that my wife LOVES the spa at the Luxor(check it out on their web site!)..they are open 24 hrs, except Tues and seem to be in the reasonable category as far as price. She makes a trip there everytime we go to Vegas and it used to be if you stayed at the Luxor, you got a free pass to the spa but had to pay for the services. You might enquire about that at check in. A good and very inexpensive Sunday Brunch is at the Gold Coast. When we were there in Feb, I beleive it was $8.95 and had a very good selection. Best Wishes on your wedding!