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.

Vegas Weddings For Vegas Residents

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!