No-Limit Weddings

In Las Vegas, nuptials can range from bare bones to over-the-top
The idea that “more is more” certainly rules in Las Vegas, especially when it comes to weddings. In fact, some of the most creative wedding perks can be found at Las Vegas’ hotels, which offer everything from basic, no-frills ceremonies to grand events with “celebrities,” “paparazzi” and even “pirates.” Most have onsite chapels and wedding coordinators, as well as unique venues for nuptials. They also offer creative packages and customized arrangements, ensuring that the sky is almost the limit when it comes to fantasy weddings. The following are some examples.

Making a splash. Couples who exchange vows on the Bellagio’s (888-987-6667, www.bellagio.com) Terrazza di Sogno (Terrace of Dreams), which overlooks the hotel’s Lago di Como (Lake Como) and the Fountains of Bellagio, get a unique send-off: At the exact moment of their first kiss as husband and wife, the Fountains of Bellagio soar skyward.

A royal affair. For couples who want the “royal” treatment, the Excalibur Hotel and Casino (877-750-5464, www.excalibur.com) has an array of 16th-century regal costumes that the bride, groom and wedding guests can rent when booking a wedding at the Canterbury Wedding Chapel. Accessories, including tiaras, crowns and swords, also are available. The bride and groom can be king and queen, prince and princess, or knight and lady; and family and friends are encouraged to dress as the royal court. A minister dressed as Merlin the Magician officiates.

Love is in the cards. The Flamingo Las Vegas (800-933-7993, www.harrahs.com) offers several ceremonies that celebrate the destination and the surrounding areas, including its “Two of a Kind” wedding, which includes, among other perks, a poker lesson for the bride and groom with $100 in chips. The Flamingo will even take couples to the Grand Canyon after the ceremony for a picnic lunch, or arrange a ceremony with cake and champagne in Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire National Park for up to six people.

Matrimony on deck. Couples who want a Paris wedding without leaving the U.S. can tie the knot on the observation deck of Paris Las Vegas’ (877-650-5021, www.harrahs.com) Eiffel Tower, overlooking the Strip. There’s room for the bride, the groom, an officiant and up to 12 additional guests.

No autographs, please. Couples can feel like stars at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino (877-333-9474, www.planethollywoodresort.com) as they walk the red carpet after the ceremony, while “paparazzi” take photos, and “correspondents” interview the wedding guests. A videographer also is on hand, and all footage and images become part of the couple’s wedding folio.

Shipmates for life. At Treasure Island (800-288-7206, www.treasureisland.com), couples can wed on a pirate ship, the Song, which serves as the centerpiece of the hotel’s pirate show, “The Sirens of TI.” A minister dressed in buccaneer attire escorts the bride and groom onto the ship. In addition, the couple can have a pirate swing down from the crow’s nest on cue to hand over the wedding rings. Wedding guests watch from a VIP section.

Grand Canal couples. Couples can wed at The Venetian (888-283-6423, www.venetian.com) in a white-and-gold wedding gondola as a gondolier pilots it along the Grand Canal while serenading them. The gondola accommodates the bride and groom, an officiant and a videographer. Those who want the Grand Canal experience but would rather wed on solid ground can use the Ponte al di Piazza (Bridge over the Square), which the hotel touts as “a stairway to longevity and prosperity as man and wife.”

Star witnesses. Looking for something kitschier? At Madame Tussauds (702-862-7800, www.mtvegas.com) at The Venetian, couples can have their favorite celebrities act as their “witnesses”—sort of. The wax museum’s wedding packages include moving two or more figures to the designated wedding area, known as the Chapel of Dreams. You can have Brad and Angelina as the best man and maid of honor, for example. Or Frank Sinatra can give the bride away. Afterward, the wedding party can “mix and mingle” with more than 100 wax figures and include them in the photography session. They also receive a personal guided tour through the museum.

For a complete guide to getting married in Las Vegas, please visit Neon Nuptials: The Complete Guide to Las Vegas Weddings