wedding/honeymoon trip report

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wedding/honeymoon trip report

Here goes for my first trip report on my first trip to Vegas and for my first wedding...

First, I would like to offer a big thank you to everyone on here who offered great advice over last few months while I frantically, single-handedly organised our wedding and trip.

Sunday 6th April -

Woke early as Vegas anticipation took over. Said goodbye to my little puppy Bert(he was being watched by friend)and headed to airport. Things moving well as we took the motorway, had checked and re-checked tickets everything organised and at present looked like nothing could go wrong. Alas, the sky opened up and the most awful snow-storm started, still we thought it will pass. This wont hold us back!!!

In airport.....huge check in queues, eventually get to front, %26#39;Sorry madam, no flights to London Heathrow today as they closed due to snow%26#39;....%26#39;what?%26#39; this is ridiculous....it is commonly known across all of Great Britain that Scotland always get the bad weather while the rest of the country basks in the sunshine. Had to leave queue and go to British Airways ticket desk and wait in ridiculously long queue (again!!!) Nearly two hours later...get to front. I politely say that I am aware everyone%26#39;s holiday is importat to them but THIS IS MY WEDDING....after some tears and pleading and saying don%26#39;t care how I get there....we are on our way to London City Airport....taxied across London (courtesy of British Airways..they picked up the £100 bill) and put on a late flight from Heathrow to JFK.

Stewardess took wedding dress for safe keeping and we settled. Hooray we on way to Vegas!!!! Just to make it better....kind stewardess appears with complimentary half bottle champagne. Love my wedding dress....people very kind when they know you off to get married!!!!!

Arrive JFK midnight...find airport hotel (those kind folk of British Airways picking up bill...again!!!) and get three hours sleep. Back to JFK, heading through security and they pull me over for extra screening. Now I%26#39;m starting to think maybe the Gods are doing everything they can to prevent this wedding. Start laughing, explain the situation to security, the woman who was %26#39;patting me down%26#39; saw the joke and said %26#39;if it%26#39;s raining in Vegas, it%26#39;s a sign...don%26#39;t do it%26#39; Move through security and eventually board flight to Vegas....no half bottles of champagne!

I%26#39;m seated next to pleasant New Yorker who is on way to Vegas for business, get chatting...he regular so we pick up more information about Vegas and New York (we heading back there for three nights after)It turns out he works for Scoop (shop in Ceasars and in NYC) and he organising big social event on Tuesday night, shop closed and it only invited %26#39;special people%26#39; and it is champagne all the way....gives us an invite!!! We going I tell HTB.

Monday 7th April

Land in Vegas.....look out window, hooray no rain, wedding still on!!!off plane quick enough and heading through airport. I love Vegas already. Get luggage and find our town car. Get to strip quickly enough and pull up to Palazzo. I am just amazed by the sight. It is really beautiful. Luggage given to bell boy with strict instructions on wedding dress. Get to reception, they got about six desks open and it is moving quickly. Check in fast and painless...hand over bank card to put hold on (more about this later). Asked why we in Vegas and strike two for wedding.....we get an upgrage. Strip view....saving $45 per night. It%26#39;s better than nothing. Find way to suite....it is perfect. I know many on here had some gripes about missing items, so I looked around; robes there, flowers in all vases, remote controls there, towels there, lots of toiletries there. No complaints here, we love it. The suites are massive with huge bed, huge modular sofa, dining table, office area, three lcd televsions (one in bathroom). The bathroom is good sized, with a separate room for the toilet. There are 2 sinks and a vanity/grooming area for hair and make up. The bathtub is so deep but no jets. The shower is also huge with four nozzles. This is much better than our house!

We quite happy here but itching to get out to see and epxerience Vegas. We head to...

Grand Lux Palazzo

seated quickly, great menu with loads to choose. Burger for HTB and tuna ahi for me....two beers for him and one gin and tonic for me (it%26#39;s strong). Had good lunch with big portions and reasonable prices, get check.....drinks not so reasonable, they verging on the ridiculous. Move on to...

Ceasars Palace....it%26#39;s the big push to find wedding rings. Start looking, in Harry Winston, see prices and move on....note to self am not marrying Vegas high roller! However, find jewellers in Ceasars and find rings. Right,I know what I want, something simple, nothing fancy...find one...but what is that sparking in the corner of my eye....it%26#39;s my ring! Put the simple one back and get simple diamond band! Love this wedding!!! Kind jeweller (who I%26#39;m sure I saw rub his hands with glee) said ready Wednesday. %26#39;What?%26#39; we cry...wedding Wednesday, so rush job on resizing, ready Wednesday morning (more on that) Move on to...

Tropicana...now looking for suit rental place for HTB. Find it, leave HTB to sort out what he going to wear. I go exploring for bathroom....on way I realise I don%26#39;t like Tropicana. Nothing in particular makes me think this, just my feeling.Suit sorted. We move on to...

Palazzo again....we head to the casino, now I have never been in a casino before, I have no idea what you do. Sit at a slot, slip in some money and start hitting buttons (I don%26#39;t and still don%26#39;t know if there is a system or if it is all just ramdom), nothing happened at my slot. However HTB, also casino virgin, got some luck and one about sixty dollars. I made him get the ticket. We head upstairs and sit at our flor to ceiling windows. What a view....throughout the week I never tired of looking at the view. We get ready and move on to

Cut in Palazzo... had some cocktails and steak, the service and the restaurant great but we very tired so we leave sharp. Head to bed for 9pm....sleep till six.

Tuesday 8th April,

we up early and walk up to Paris for breakfast buffet. No queues, pay and start feasting. We have

elatively healthy breakfast, we got wedding outfits too look good in. Food and service very good. Would highly recommend. Great way to start the day.

Leave restaurant and see the massive queue...get there early if you going! Move on to Casino and play slots for little while. No win for me but my HTB got the lucky fingers, he wins just short of $150...get the ticket I say. Move on to ...

Downtown for wedding licence.....easy to get and uneventful. We taxi both ways, don%26#39;t have time for Deuce. On way back to strip we see bad looking wedding chapels...oh no, hope ours good? Move to ...

Miracle Mile Shops and Fat Tuesday....have two large HIGH OCTANES and feel bit happy!!!! Realise quite strong when found self surrounded with items just purchased!!! Move to ...

Palazzo....we get ready for meeting at Flamingo withour wedding witnesses. They fellow trip advisors...head up there and look for blonde lady (I never met her before, it%26#39;s a very small m and g) find them, they lovely and we have drinks. Wedding info given, we move on ...

Harrah%26#39;s for dozen oysters. Perfect and good sized. Wash these down with glass white and move on

Treasure Island - Mystere %26#39;wow%26#39; we loved this but body clocks killing us and found eyes closing and heads bobbing. Move on...

Scoop at Ceasars for invite party. We chat to some %26#39;special vegas folks%26#39; and have couple glasses champagne but now we exhausted. Back to Palazzo

Wednesday 9th April

Wedding day....wake four in morning and hungry. We go to Denny%26#39;s but it closed for repairs till six, head to Casino Royale (bit smelly) but we need to sit somewhere till six. %26#39;cocktails%26#39; we hear, well why not...two gin and tonics and some slot play (we classy on the day of our wedding). No win. Back to Denny%26#39;s for big breakfast. Now I tired again...back to bed for two hours. Now if it raining today, it a sign from the Gods. Peek out windows and ....yes GLORIOUS SUNSHINE

Wedding morning...nerves kick in...so two champagne cocktails ordered and smoothies. They arrive but take a very long time, nearly an hour!!! HTB off to collect rings and I get ready. James from Glam Squad arrives and hair and make up perfect and so quickly. No sign of HTB....where is he? He returns, can%26#39;t see me as I want surprise so I hiding in bathroom and we speaking through doors. RINGS NOT READY...THEY WILL DELIVER TO HOTEL...it%26#39;s a sign!

HTB gets ready and meets witnesses downstairs...I meet them at bar...to the applause of casino/hotel guests. Order bottle champagne, rings appear.. quick drink and move on to...

Chapel of Flowers...wedding just perfect!!! It is a beautiful chapel with great staff. Move back to..

Palazzo...wedding photo tour with Todd from Bently and Wilson. Great experience, went to Bellagio, Ceasars, Mandalay Bay, Vegas sign, Venetian and back to Palazzo. Lots of photos. Move on to...

Alize at Palms....but we early and I got sore feet. Sit at VP but it $5, hey it%26#39;s our wedding. So money in and chip on my birthday, but Vegas casino virgin can%26#39;t get it to spin. Ask for help....it comes up $4500, we cannot believe it...staff come, we sign and get money. I love Vegas!!! Off to Alize for most pefect dinner. Table at window, view, restaurant and food perfect. Champagne sent over from fellow diner. I love this wedding. Move back to.....

Palazzo.....play slots for couple hours, HTB has lots of smallish wins. Stay up till one and off to bed!!!!!

Thursday 10th April

Up early...body clocks are screaming!!!! Walk to Peppermill and have fine feed. TA tells of another Vegas gem. Move on to....

Chapel of flowers...pick wedding photos (they perfect and much better than expected) Move on to...

Stratosphere... I go on rides, my DH held the bag and watched. I was terrified on Big shot! Move on to....

Deuce bus and get off at Slotsafun...have one marghareta (spelling?), bit smelly here too! Don%26#39;t fancy those hot dogs! Move on to....

Paris...Eiffe Tower Restaurant. More wedding chat, table at window facing fountains. I love this wedding! Pear martinis and two seafood platters (chef agress to make them for us even though they on evening menu). Loads of seafood, oysters, lobster, clams, prawns, crab claws served with trio of tasty sauces. However, best part not on plate. view of fountains great and they start. We love our wedding!

Move on to Ceasars and Bellagio for casino/hotel

hopping. Find feet taking us back to Fat Tuesdays in Ceasars, two more high octane slushies. Move back to...

Palazzo and get ready for Phantom. Loved this show and no more sleeping eyes or bobbing head. Move to...

CarneVino..we order bottle white wine and two big steaks,they come fast and they good. Tiredness starting again and we head back to bed.

Friday 11th April

Breakfast at Bouchon in Venetian. This is a grand dining room with very attentive service. Food was great and we had two Bloody Mary%26#39;s to get us off to good start. We take our time with this breakfast as the room is simply divine and we are enjoying sitting there. After couple hours we head off to see Palazzo pools. They lovely but we too busy for sunbathing...maybe next trip. We potter about Venetian and Palazzo shops and then move on to...

Margaritaville....thanks again to TA. Meet Debra, wedding witness but she poorly and doesn%26#39;t stay. We wait for table outside, not too long and we order nachos and margharetas(spelling again?). Nachos too big and loads unfinished. Getting tired (again) and back for lazy afternoon/sleep. Up ready for dinner and we head...

Downtown on Deuce bus....wander around, bar/casino hopping but I don%26#39;t really get it. See Freemont St Experience, its good but I getting bored. Dinner tonight at Binions Steakhouse....heard good things about this place...move through the casino and again I don%26#39;t like it but upstairs in restaurant that is different altogether. Table at window (wedding!!!!), order cocktails and steaks. DH tries his first porterhouse and I have another filet. Both are huge and very good. Feel terrible about food I have to leave. Back to strip, small gamble, no wins and bed.

Saturday 12th April

Up early for shuttle to Boulder City Airport for flight to Grand Canyon. Travelling there relatively easy, although flight just too long for me and it is very bumpy. Bit of airsick and tears....transfer to helicopter for flight over South Rim Grand Canyon, words cannot describe the beauty of this place. It is so beautiful it doesn%26#39;t look real. Loved the helicopter and not at all like that bumpy little plane. Transfer to bus and head for lunch....buffet lunch looks pleasant enough, DH confirmed but I no appetite(wonder why). Back on bus for Grand Canyon National Park. Wonderful....and worth money. We went with Papillon (some negative reviews) and they were really good, so thumbs up from us. We spend couple hours in GC and then back on that bumpy little plane, but I so tired I sleep all way back. Wake when landing, transfer back to hotel long as many stops before us. Ready for dinner, we off to...

Hugo%26#39;s Cellar......got rose on arrival, ordered cocktails (they are strong, very strong) and had most fabulous night. Thanks agan TA. Food and service some of best we had in Vegas. Huge portions. We ordered hot stone meat plate to share, waiter cooks it at table. Waiter then prepares salad at table side...again massive and we both had filet and lobster. Too much food!!!!! We received complimentary fruits dipped in chocolates. This restaurant is a great Vegas experience. Time in four queens playing slots and DH had another win, roughly $200. I say get the ticket. We leave and go back to Palazzo.

Sunday 14th April

Up for brunch reservation at Bally%26#39;s Sterling Brunch. We arrive 10am and are seated in steakhouse, not the restaurant to side (wedding chat again). Perrier Jouet champage is poured, fresh orange is brought and off we go. Food on offer, lobster, king crab legs, prawns, oysters, caviar, sushi, fruits, cheeses, cold meats, omelettes, bassorted breakfast items, rack of lamb, filet mignon, chicken, pork and the most beautiful dainty desserts. The champagne poured all morning, till we eventually had to refuse. We left $200 lighter but at least a stone in weight heavier. This was the best food experiene we had all trip and the perfect way to end Vegas. I will be back there on next trip. We left there and moved on to...

Bill%26#39;s, Luxor, Excalibur and New York New York..just seeing as much as possible. Excalibur very generous to husband and he had slot win of approx $250, not bad! We also finish this trip with NY, NY roller coaster. Back to Palazzo and bed.

Check out Monday and airport for New York.

We loved this trip/wedding and we cannot to go back. It will not be so extravagant next time but we happy to epxerience a different Vegas, so I%26#39;ll be looking for cheap eats next!

Thank you again for all help and advice it was greatly appreciated.

wedding/honeymoon trip report

Weddingplanner congrats!! Great TR, very useful as Im off for my wedding in Augest also in chapel of the flowers %26amp; using Glamsquad too. Great to hear good reviews. And really sounds like you were spolied everywhere you went, I%26#39;ll remember to mention its my wedding at every opportunity!!

What a great TR, we are going three weeks today and can%26#39;t wait!!! Will try some of the restaurants you mentioned.

You will love it, I cannot praise chapel highly enough. They are so efficient, professional and courteous. Glamsquad are als great. I loved the fact I looked like myself but just more polished and glam.

What you doing for wedding dinner?

And don%26#39;t forget to mention wedding week....people are very kind and generous when they here those words or when they see you. Throughout the day we had few glasses champagne bought for us.

Look forward to hearing about yours too.

Natalie havent decided on wedding dinner yet but I was thinking Olives. Did you wear your dress to dinner? Gonna be so strange having everyone looking at us! Also did you get ur pics from Todd yet and how long did they take , did he have to post them to you on a cd or how did it work? Did you like them..

Oh by the way, which chapel in C of the Flowers did you use? I have the La Capella booked..

how lovely....we just used Magnolia

Phew...I%26#39;m tired after reading about your whirwind wedding trip! Sounds like you had a great time though!

jonsgirl....we not received pictures from Todd yet..will leave it few more days and then contact him. He did say two weeks, so maybe just post that is slow. He did show us some and they looked really good. He has one of the big, fancy gadgets that can%26#39;t help but take good pictures.

I did wear my dress out...I loved it!!!!!loads of kind comments. My dress was ivory ballerina style, with veil....I want to wear it again.

Photographs from Chapel were really good....spent last night putting them in album. Now waiting for Todds. Will post few photos soon.

Nice hit. Nice TR. Congrats. You did Vegas right.