After all the to-do of planning a wedding — with venues, caterers, and the all-important guest list to contend with — you may think that you’re on easy street when it comes to your wedding reception. After all, it’ll be the time to unwind, to kick back and kick off the celebration of your new union with your closest friends and family. But that’ll be the case only if you take the care and attention to book the right venue and hire the right people — people that can help you throw the party of your dreams.
Ultimately, planning a wedding reception is a test in organization. There’s the all-important venue to screen and select, countless vendors to vet, price and integrate, and flowers, seating arrangements and the big question of what to serve and what kind of entertainment would be best. And because it all directly follows the ceremony, it’ll be the punctuating statement of everyone’s time together. So when you’re thinking about how to plan a wedding reception, it’s important to consider, well, everything. Some like to assemble checklists, folders, or digital albums, but whatever you do, you’ll need to budget, organize, and stick to a strict timeline as your date approaches.
All that said, before you can do anything, you need to set a date. It doesn’t have to be exact, but you won’t be able to find a venue, invite guests or hire vendors until you have a date, or an approximate one. Sometimes it can help to be flexible within a few days or up to a week or two since venues frequently book months or even years in advance, and the better idea you have of when you want to get hitched is going to make planning your reception, and your wedding, far easier.
Once you’ve chosen an appropriate date, it’s time to pick a venue. In addition to the obvious location question, it’s important to also consider budget and to have a rough guest count in mind. You might be able to afford that stunning venue, but if it means your guests will have to forego entertainment, drinks, or cuisine, you may be jeopardizing the wedding reception experience for everyone and tarnishing the big day itself. And don’t forget to make sure that your venue matches your desired reception style. If you’re going from sandals and sun dresses on the green to a stuffy and formal dinner, you might be better off planning a cocktail party or a casual buffet, or even food stations to encourage maximum comingling.
With the venue settled, you’ll want to stay organized and on top of it all as you bring in each new piece. Write everything down in your planner, phone, or computer, and make sure you share all important dates, times, and expectations with all your vendors, wedding party members and your reception site manager. Not only will each need to know when to show up or make their delivery, but if there’s a problem with a chosen date or time, they can alert you before it becomes an issue. For these reasons and more we suggest opting for a cloud-based calendar that can be shared and updated from anywhere, such as Google Calendar.
As things start to fall into place, and as soon as you’re able, do a complete walkthrough of your venue, including all locations, where certain points of emphasis will be and what you may need to work around or minimize as you look to highlight the features that appeal to you and creatively downplay what might not be working. While organizing and assessing the venue, you’ll also want to identify your caterer, hire a photographer, and finalize your desired ornamentation and decor. Because there are so many options, juggling various vendors and organizing payments, many venues offer an all-in-one service, which can help save time, money and the headache of integrating each different piece, so be sure to ask your venue if they have trusted vendors to help you pull it all off.
With the vendors and venue cleared, and as everyone starts to coordinate their work together, you’ll want to next turn your attention to your guests. While it’s your big day, the reception is more a celebratory party for all in attendance, so it’s prudent to consider the entertainment, cuisine, and drinks that they would enjoy. At the same time, we all know there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to any of this, so don’t forget to provide alternatives to the food and drink you’re serving so your guests don’t feel left out.
As the day approaches, don’t forget your paper goods. First and foremost, you’ll need reception stationary, which includes table cards, place cards, table numbers, menus, and any tags and other bits. And all that comes after you’ve sent out your save the date cards and your official invitations. Once the RSVPs start to come in, you can then write out all your table and place cards and start to finalize your seating list. Make sure to keep table numbers and names separate, so when you get cancellations or additions down the line — and trust us, they’ll happen — you can quickly change assignments without the tediousness of rewriting dozens or hundreds of cards. Keep in mind that most invites will attend — something like 90 percent in our experience — and smaller weddings tend to have higher attendance since only the closest family and friends will have been invited.
Now that the indoors are mostly settled, you can get started on the outdoors. As the day shifts to night and guests make their way from the ceremony to the reception area, pathways and lighting can add drama to the evening, and even the smallest details, like small gifts to placed at your guests’ assigned seating can be an unexpected special touch.
While you definitely won’t want to spend all your time planning for absolutely everything that can go wrong — it’s a great way to put a majority of your efforts towards all the wrong stuff — but you do want to consider very real possibilities that could throw a wrench into your reception plans. For example, if you’re getting married in the middle of summer on a hot, sunny day, you may want to consider an indoor reception to follow that bright and sunny ceremony, and to provide adequate shade both before and after the ceremony.
But if for any reason you feel that you’re losing control of the process as you attempt to plan your big day and the after party, you may want to leave most of the planning and execution to the experts. By working with a reputable local venue that comes with preexisting relationships and all the vendors you’ll need to properly mark this momentous occasion, you’ll be able to concentrate on enjoying your day, not planning the details of somebody else’s.
If you’re looking for the peace-of-mind of an elegant Las Vegas wedding miles from the gimmick of The Strip, contact us at Occasions4.us. Get married at one of five fabulous venues (Aliante Golf Club, Primm Valley Golf Club, Spanish Trails Country Club, The Legacy Golf Club and Wildhorse Golf Club) in Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, or Primm, and let our team of planners, caterers, photographers and more design a tasteful and elegant wedding package for you and your partner. Book your wedding today with Occasions4.us.
Of all the people in the world, you’ve found the one you’d like to spend the rest of your life with. You and your partner have some big ideas, and you’ll accept nothing less than the wedding of your dreams.
But the truth is that there are as many ways to get married as there are venues, and thousands of Las Vegas couples decide to get married locally rather than plan an expensive and complicated destination wedding. Yes, Vegas is one of the most popular places to get married in the world due to the state’s flexible marriage policy — you can get married on a whim virtually any day of the year — but a Las Vegas wedding ceremony doesn’t need to be a touristy strip affair. No matter where you’re located in the Las Vegas valley, you can get married at an elegant and relaxing venue that matches you and your partner’s style and desires.
Before you can gather everyone together and walk down the aisle, however, you’ll need to decide what you do — and don’t — want in your wedding ceremony. Whether it’s upholding certain family or religious traditions, or whether you’re looking to buck tradition with an informal or breezy ceremony that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you’ll want to make all your desires known up front, lest you end up with the wrong experience or the wrong ceremony for you, your partner and your guests. Or, if the ceremony is just a steppingstone to throw the party of your dreams, you’ll want to budget accordingly and make sure you’re planning a day that works, first and foremost, for your needs.
Whatever you think it entails, how to plan a wedding ceremony starts with a dialogue — and lots of planning. For entertainment, don’t settle for canned music or something generic. Consider hiring a band, a string quartet or creating a playlist that means something to you and your partner. Bring in elements from your past and your present, as well as where you see yourselves in the future. A wedding can and should be an exercise in creativity if you let it, and thinking outside the box and incorporating the ideas of you and your partner, as well as your family and friends, can make for a more enriching experience — and each little bit of personality will let your ceremony shine.
Sure, you may not want to rock the boat too much by doing away with a ring exchange or ditching the vows, but have fun reimagining the ceremony itself, as well as how you’d like to express your union during the proceedings. But beware of lingering too long. Audiences will only sit tight for about 20 or so minutes before growing restless, so make your ceremony is packed with important activities and actions without any filler or fluff. A wedding ceremony is a performance of sorts, and you’ll want to keep things paced, but not rushed, as the ceremony progresses.
Additionally, with all the exposure to weddings in mainstream media and various movies and TV shows, educating your guests or explaining the value of marriage is likely to bore or trivialize a modern-day audience, so skip the stuff that feels like it was written for another time and place if you’re looking to mix things up. For the most part, your wedding ceremony is about you and your partner, so you’ll want to be focused on your interactions, whatever they may be.
When it comes to walking down the aisle, feel free to change the music or hire live performers to kick things up a notch. From a classy and singular violin or cello to a rocking band or anything in between, it’s your day, so don’t be afraid to do it differently or discuss your options with your chosen venue. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to planning a wedding ceremony, including the whole walking-down-the-aisle bit, and with all the options available, you should be able to plan exactly the wedding of your dreams without blowing up your budget or lowering your standards.
For those that are joining you in the all-important wedding party on the big day, consider giving little roles that can encourage the memorable and spontaneous interactions that will make your wedding unique. Instead of a standard ring bearer or flower girl, mix things up. Incorporate your grandma or great aunt as flower girls instead of the youngest family member. Or give the role to someone that would really cherish the opportunity — it might just make your ceremony more distinct and memorable.
But beware of taking things too far. Foregoing an exchange of rings or vows altogether could come off as shocking to an audience expecting a traditional ceremony, so be sure you’re designing the right ceremony for you and your guests. After all, they’re the ones that will bear witness to all the activities of the day.
If you feel that a typical ring exchange or vow recital is played out, consider a unity ritual, which can be formalized in the lighting of a candle, the pouring of sand or the planting of a tree — anything that symbolizes your love for one another. From a simple gesture to an elaborate dance or other ritual, it’s these personalized touches that will really make your wedding ceremony shine, and it’ll be what you and your guests remember years from now as you look back on this blissful and happy occasion.
And last but not least, be sure you carefully consider your officiant. Unless you already have a relationship with a religious or community leader, this is the time to integrate someone meaningful to you and your partner’s union. These days, pretty much anyone can become an officiant, even a close family member or friend, which means you can say “I do” in front of someone that you love and that will help guide the ceremony forward with benevolence and care.
If a wedding on The Strip sounds like the wrong step for you and your partner, consider Occasions4.us. Our relationship with six elegant venues and passionate vendors across Las Vegas means you can have the wedding of your dreams without all the worry. From Las Vegas to Henderson, North Las Vegas, Pahrump, and Primm, we’re conveniently located near you, and we have the experience and know-how to design and pull off a unique wedding no matter what you have in mind. Click here to book your wedding venue with us today!
Whether you just got engaged or you’re just now turning that burst of initial excitement into an actual plan to tie the knot, there’s a lot to do before the big day comes. Between deciding what to wear, what you’ll say at the altar and what you’ll serve your guests, there’s a never-ending list of items to check off the list, as well as the schedules of dozens or hundreds to organize and host on your wedding day.
For many, this task of planning a wedding is not to be taken lightly, and it’s common to turn to a dedicated wedding planner to help you organize the whole thing and pull it off without breaking a sweat. After all, you’re trying to create the perfect day while also planning to be the center of attention, and you can’t be in two places at once on your big day. A wedding planner lets you enjoy your day while also ensuring that everything goes off without a hitch — except for the two of you getting hitched!
But hiring a planner doesn’t have to mean inviting a stranger in to take over your big day. A relative or close friend can also play this role — preferably someone who’s planned a wedding or two before — and it just might help to make you feel more comfortable on your wedding day and help you save money that can be better spent elsewhere. On the other hand, a professional wedding planner has likely seen it all, which can be beneficial if something unforeseen happens.
Regardless of who you pick to help plan your wedding, and even if you decide to go ahead and do it yourself, the biggest decision you’ll make other than saying “I do” is where your wedding will take place.
Yes, the all-important venue.
You can have a wedding without a lot of things, but a venue is not one of them. Forget about dresses, cakes and dancing — none of it matters without a place for you, your partner and your guests to celebrate your joyful union. The biggest challenge is that there are so many venues out there. From homes and places of worship to beach-y, outdoor ceremonies and everything in between, wedding venues are as varied as they are hard to lock down, especially with more prestigious and larger venues. True to form, many venues are booked years in advance and carry sky-high premiums, particularly in the early or late summer months when most couples are planning to be married.
Here in Las Vegas, you could be competing with tourists from all over the world, fighting for your spot in a steady stream of weddings each and every day. We say don’t. Our relationship with six stunning venues in the Las Vegas area means that you and your partner can tie the knot with dignity and style in gorgeous settings that have nothing to do with “the strip.”
With complete packages and all-in pricing that makes even the largest weddings affordable and manageable, we match you with the perfect country club location, with beautiful indoor and outdoor settings, so you and your partner can have the wedding of your dreams, not a tourist trap wedding. Furthermore, because we plan and throw dozens of weddings each season, our experienced and understanding wedding professionals can alleviate any concern by walking you and your partner through the entire process, all the way from arrival to saying “I do” — capping it all off with a night of dancing and celebration.
It all starts in one of our serene locations — outdoors on the green or inside a beautiful clubhouse — with our professional and courteous staff and our highly personalized service, ensuring that your ceremony is one to remember. No matter if it’s small and intimate or large and festive, we’re here to deliver an experience that you and your family will love and cherish forever.
But before you pick from our many options, it’s important to consider your vision. Traditional, modern and eclectic weddings all require different things, so make sure you choose a wedding venue that first speaks to your overall concept. Decor and other items can do a lot, but they can’t make an outdoor wedding out of a big hall and they won’t be able to transform a stuffy room into a light and airy ceremony. Similarly, if you have a gigantic guest list but have your eyes on a cute and small ceremony, you might need to rethink things.
The good news is that we’ve done this a time or two before, and we can help you with that. We can step in and provide an experienced suggestion or two if you’re not quite sure what’ll work best, or, if you’ve got it all figured out, we’re great at slipping into the background and supporting your dream — all so that you can shine on your big day.
Unlike other venues that provide nothing more than a box for your guests, decorations and consumables, requiring you to bring everything else in and cleaning up after it’s all said and done, our wedding venues don’t require you to do it all, or find all the people that can. From executive chefs that whip up incredible meals to our excellent vendors that take care of everything that goes into the perfect wedding, including flowers, music and photography, our customizable packages are as unique as they are all-inclusive, and the only thing you have to do is get married to have it all go according to plan.
Even before the big day arrives, we can host you and your loved ones for any number of unique experiences, including bridal showers and groomsmen outings on the grounds of any of our resorts. From an intimate banquet room or quiet patio bridal shower to a “Men of Honor” golf experience leading up to the big day, you and your guests can have several stunning days with us before it’s all said and done.
But we’re not done after your ceremony ends. As the night begins, let us throw you a smashing party deserving of your new status as a married couple. With flowers, catering, drinks, music, dancing and photography all taken care of, you and your guests are free to party and chat the night away as our team caters to your every whim. We want you to focus on what’s important — your family, your friends and your spouse! — while we take care of the rest.
If you’re interested in how we can help you throw the wedding of your dreams, request an event proposal from Occasions4.us and book your Vegas venue today!
If you’re looking to get married in Vegas, your options are as numerous as all the Elvis impersonators you’ll see on the strip. But if you’re planning — or not planning — a last-minute Vegas wedding, there are still some things you have to do before you and your partner can tie the knot. Without each of these things, your wedding could be delayed or cancelled, so make sure you’ve got everything in order before you embark on this life changing experience.
First, if you want to get married in Vegas you’ll have to ensure that you’re eligible to get married in the state of Nevada. At a minimum, you and your partner must be at least 18 years old, or 17 with the consent of a parent or guardian. Additionally, you and your partner must not be related or have no living husband or wife, otherwise you could face incest or bigamy charges. Most importantly, however, you do not need to be a Nevada resident, which is why many couples from all over the U.S. elope in Las Vegas each year.
Second, you must apply for a marriage license in Clark County, the county that includes Las Vegas. Whether it’s your wedding day or up to 60 days before, you can show up to the Las Vegas Marriage Bureau or preregister online — there’s no waiting time between submitting an application and receiving your marriage license. On busy days, however, preregistering online can save you some time at the marriage bureau, which could take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on how busy the bureau is. Note that the persons to be married must use their legal name as it appears on their government-issued I.D., such as a driver’s license, but you don’t need a marriage license for vow renewals or commitment ceremonies.
The third step in our guide to how to get married in Las Vegas is to plan a trip to the Las Vegas Marriage License Bureau. This must be an in-person trip, and you won’t be able to send away for it, but you can visit the Las Vegas Marriage License Bureau on the same day you’re to be married, provided you have enough time. If you’re applying and picking up a marriage license, you’ll do it in the same visit. If you’ve already pre-applied, you’ll just need to pick up the license in person, which should only take a few minutes. For those applying and picking up a license, it’ll likely take longer, especially if the bureau is busy.
Couples can pick up their marriage license anytime between 8am and midnight, but you must bring with you a government-issued identification card such as a driver’s license, passport, I.D. card, military I.D. or resident alien card. The actual license costs about $80, and you can pay with cash or credit, but not traveler’s checks, personal checks or business checks.
Once you have your marriage license, you have up to one year to get married in the state. If your timing is on point you can actually get a license and get married in the same day, which is a common thing in Las Vegas. In addition to the presence of you and your partner, you’ll need one witness during the wedding ceremony, though most chapels and venues in the area can provide one if needed, particularly in the case of tourists and other elopers. During the ceremony, you and your partner can recite your own vows or use a standard set of vows, and within 10 days of the ceremony your officiant must file the wedding paperwork with the Clark County clerk. Legal officiants include anyone possessing a Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages from the County Clerk from the State of Nevada, which most chapels, venues and religious institutions should already possess. Out-of-state officiants will need prior authorization to perform a wedding in the state of Nevada, so if you’re bringing someone in, make sure they’re certified to do the job.
Lastly, within 10 days of the ceremony, you’ll have the ability to order a certified copy of your marriage license from the County Clerk. They only cost $15, but you’ll need one to change your name or get a new driver’s license or social security card. The license legally codifies your marriage, and once you’ve obtained a license, you’re done — your marriage is legal anywhere in the world, though international couples may need an apostille and a marriage certificate to register the marriage outside the U.S.
What if you don’t want to get married like a tourist?
So that’s how to get married in Las Vegas if you’re eloping or going for a last-minute Vegas wedding. But, if you’re a local, you don’t have to get married like a tourist to do a Las Vegas wedding right. There are many venues in the area that cater to Vegas residents and locals — in fact, we work directly with six fabulous venues all across the larger Las Vegas area, so whether you’re in Henderson, North Las Vegas, Pahrump, Primm or in central Las Vegas itself, there’s a beautiful venue near you ready to host you, your partner and your close friends and family, no matter the number of guests or the size of your wedding party.
From beautiful outdoor weddings to traditional indoor ceremonies, our resorts and clubs can give you the wedding of your dreams without the pretense of the strip. We’ll match you with the right venue to suit your unique needs, no matter your style or taste, and our experienced and unwavering team of event professionals ensures that your wedding will go off without a hitch — except, of course, you getting hitched to your partner.
For those requiring a more hands-on approach, we’ll walk you through the entire process, from the ceremony through the reception, and all you have to do is say “I do” when the time comes. From flowers to photographers and all the other little things that make up your special day, we’ll work diligently behind the scenes to give you and your partner the day that you deserve, all at a price that works for any budget. Our customizable experiences means that your wedding will be as unique as your love for one another, and we can even help you throw a bridal shower or a groomsmen golf outing at one of our exquisite resorts in the lead up to your wedding day.
If you’re interested in how we can help throw you the Las Vegas wedding of your dreams, book your Vegas venue today with Occasions4.us!
Whether you’re planning an exotic destination wedding or you’re wondering if your favorite local venue can hang with the best of the best, compiling a list of the best places to get married in the world would be a shockingly long list, particularly because each location and venue brings something new to the table and no two venues or cities are exactly alike.
But when we think of the best places to get married, there are quite a few things to consider.
For a jet-setting couple that loves to travel, a destination wedding may be in the cards. Or, if you’re lucky enough to live in an area with stunning views, lavish amenities and rich culture, the best place to get married in the world could be down the street, not halfway around the globe. It all depends on your perspective and what you want out of a wedding venue or locale, and no two couples will have the same idea as to what they want to get out of their special wedding day.
If the world is your oyster and money’s no object, you could do much worse than the locations on our list. However, if traveling with your entire extended family to get married sounds like your idea of a nightmare trip, don’t worry — your perfect wedding can take place anywhere you’d like, and in most cases the perfect wedding is more of a mindset than a destination, so feel free to use our suggestions to help you plan the best local wedding you can. After all, any time you can share a union with your friends and family is more important than where you get married.
That said, if a destination wedding sounds like the wedding of your dreams, consider starting with some of the destinations on this list.
With warm temperatures all year round, which makes this an excellent option for an off-season wedding, Tenerife, Spain, is the largest of the Canary Islands, which has been well-known to Europeans as a tropical paradise for years. With stunning landscapes, world-class eating and on-the-water luxury hotels and resorts dotting the island, life doesn’t get much better than this slice of Spain. With two world heritage sites and a national park, Tenerife is a nature-lovers paradise, as well as just a great place to relax and get away from it all.
Lesser known than the more popular island of Santorini, Crete is just as beautiful and more accessible than competing areas. With beautiful pink beaches, White Mountains and cute hill-top chapels, you can experience Venetian, Turkish and traditional architecture and culture in this Mediterranean paradise. With venues suited to every budget and taste, you can have a seaside ceremony or a traditional fairytale wedding on this beautiful Greek island.
Known for its diverse wildlife and beautiful beaches, the western coast of Montezuma marries a small-town feel with an exotic and tropical experience that’s hard to beat. Rent a beach house to throw your own ceremony and reception, or let the professionals treat you at a five-star resort with a stress-free ceremony. Once the deed is done, enjoy an evening turtle watching as newborn hatchlings crawl under the moonlight into the ebbing sea — a sign of the new life you’re starting together.
Just off the coast of Thailand is Koh Samui, a sunny Thai escape that avoids the rains that are so common in the area. With a host of high-end resorts across the island, including a Four Seasons, a beautiful beach ceremony is easy to organize and pull off with local support. But if a smaller or more affordable ceremony is what you have in mind, many budget-friendly options dot the island and provide alternative ways to ring in your partnership together. Prepare to be wowed at the nearby Ang Thong Marine National Park, which boasts dozens of small islands surrounded by cool, turquoise waters.
Complete with charming villas, cypress-tree lined roads and rolling sunflower fields, Tuscany exudes romanticism, and draws many to its picturesque countryside each year. Centrally located and serving various tastes and desires, Tuscany provides everything from elaborate castle weddings to rustic farmhouse celebrations, and anything in between. Wine connoisseurs and travelers alike will enjoy the Chianti region, and the many estates and luxury villas provide the perfect backdrop for weddings both large and small.
More than just a spring break destination for college kids, this picturesque area where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean is the perfect place to exchange lifelong vows with your partner. Far away from the parties and raucous events, luxury resorts offer everything from desert landscapes to vast halls and beautiful gardens — everything could you need to plan the wedding and reception of your dreams. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even get hitched in the Sea of Cortez at Bahia Hotel & Beach House.
Sure, it’s not as exotic as the other destinations on this list, but Vegas is commonly known as the wedding capital of the world. With about 80 thousand marriages taking place each year, thousands come from all over the world to get married in Sin City. From breathtaking Grand Canyon weddings or iconic ceremonies at the Bellagio Hotel to Graceland Wedding Chapel and other cute venues, there’s as much variety right here in Vegas as you’ll find anywhere in the world.
But just because you’re a Las Vegas resident doesn’t mean you have to act like a tourist and get married on the strip or in a tourist trap. Here at Occasions4.us, we’ve partnered with six fabulous venues across the Las Vegas area, so whether you’re in Henderson, North Las Vegas, Pahrump, Primm or you’re smack dab in the middle of it all in central Las Vegas, you can find the wedding venue of your dreams without all the gimmicks.
For the best that Las Vegas elegance and style has to offer, we’ll support you on your big day by taking care of it all and providing you with the wedding of your dreams, all for an affordable price and without needing to leave the area — because what’s the point of a destination wedding if your friends and family can’t share the day with you.
If you’re interested in how we can help you plan and throw the perfect wedding, contact us to book your Vegas venue today!
