Ski lifts, snow drifts and wedding style, oh my! It’s about that time again — Christmas in July! Hard to believe, but exactly five months from today, a chill will be in the air and Christmas will be upon us. This isn’t much consolation right now as Las Vegas hovers around the 110°F / 40°C mark this week, but let today’s wedding inspiration take you away from the heat for just a few blissful moments.

I’m in love with this breath of fresh (and cool!) air from Chelsea Nicole Photography in the form of a styled shoot at Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort (a beautiful venue I’ve featured before.) Magical, snow-covered scenery and fairytale-like forests paired with beautiful details styled by Scheme Events will transport you with its gorgeous wedding theme inspired by the wintery woodland, a world away from Las Vegas!

 VENDOR + VENUE DETAILS :

PHOTOGRAPHER . Chelsea Nicole Photography
SHOT ON LOCATION AT . Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort

PLANNING + DESIGN . Scheme Events / FLORAL . Layers of Lovely / CAKE . Peridot Sweets / BRIDAL FASHION . Sophia Rose Bridal / HAIR + MAKEUP . Makeup in the 702 / RENTALS . RSVP Party Rentals / FAVORS . Welcome Bag Shoppe / DECOR + DETAILS . Scheme Events

Photo: Cognac Lounge at Guy Savoy, courtesy Caesars Palace

You only have to watch The Hangover to realize how badly some Vegas bachelor parties can go. Luckily you don’t have to lose a tooth while gaining a tiger and baby to have a good time. This post is definitely angled towards the guys, but I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I wouldn’t mind doing most of the things on this list!

The options in Las Vegas for bachelor parties seem limitless. Countless lounges and restaurants are there for some bonding time. Adrenaline-inducing wild experiences from skydiving to ziplining will get your blood pumping. Most hotels run packages for bachelor parties, too: e.g. Aria, Cosmopolitan and so on.

There are better sites to steer you to clubs and table service but here are 10 of the more unique, offbeat and ideas you may not have considered for your Vegas bachelor party.

Photo: The Whisky Attic by Berryr3/Wikimedia Commons

1. High Class Boozing
$1 beers are fun, but how about you take things up a few notches and try some unusual or rare liquors to start out the night? Indulge in some fine cognacs by the glass at Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace inside their Cognac Lounge. The menu features a rotating list of sips ranging from $12-700 a pour, including rarities Hennessy Richard and Perfection by Hardy.

Just off Strip is The Whisky Attic inside the Freaking Frog, with over 800 whiskies and private rooms for groups. $75 per person gets you 90 minutes of education, tasting, a personal flavor profile and photos of your whisky experience.

The Las Vegas Distillery also runs tours and tastings or their vodkas, bourbons, moonshines and other boozy goodness.

2. Ride in Style
Don’t cram everyone into a few separate cabs, rent a stylish ride to ferry you around town for the night! Presidential Limo offers Ultra Stretch Escalades for 12, Monster Hummers for 14 and Party Buses for larger groups. $45-175 an hour. Seeking the refined? Seiji Limousine rents a super classy 1928 Cadillac limo with seating for four (pictured) starting at $300 an hour.

Photo: Rare cuts at Carnevino, courtesy Carnevino Las Vegas

3. It’s a Steak Out
Nearly every hotel on the Vegas Strip has a steakhouse. Everyone has their favorite and “best of lists” are a dime a dozen online. The truth is many of them are great and most offer private or semi-private dining.

The spots I consider a cut above are the $150 beef tasting menu at Carnevino at Palazzo (a la carte dining for groups of up to 14, semi-private dining for groups of 10 or more) the $109 tasting menu at Jean-Georges at Aria (a la carte dining for up to 15, private rooms for 12 or more guests including a chef’s table) or the value-laden “cut of the week” menu at Charlie Palmer Steak at Four Seasons, which comes with bottomless wine pairings for $49.

4. Mobster Style
A testament to the city’s history, the Mob Museum downtown offers their amazing Board Room as the perfect venue for the Good Fellas Blood Oath Ceremony for up to 8 guests. Become a Made Man as actors induct you into “The Family” at this unique bachelor party experience. Follow it up with a tour of the bars nearby on east Fremont…number 5 on the list!

5. Vintage Vegas Fun
Take things downtown and go old school Vegas by partying it up on east Fremont. Visit the legit speakeasy inside Commonwealth for 1920s inspired cocktails, get bottle service and play some video games at Insert Coins or visit the trendy Container Park for some brews. Fremont Street Bars is a great resource with frank reviews of the bars in the neighbourhood making sure you don’t waste an ounce of your precious drinking time.

6. Smoke It Out
If relaxing in a leather chair in a humidor smoking a few good cigars is more your style, friend of Little Vegas Wedding and cigar aficionado Mitzula recommends Casa Fuente at Forum Shops at Caesars Palace on Strip. Off Strip, he says En Fuego on West Sahara, La Casa at Tivoli Village or West Wing offer comfortable lounges for the perfect cigar experience with the guys.

7. Play the Field
Go beyond the sportsbook and visit Score! at Luxor, the ultimate sports exhibit that offers sports fans an immersive fantasy sport experience. Score! offers over 200 pieces of sports memorabilia from basketball, hockey, football, soccer, boxing and more. Want to see how your stick handling compares to The Great One or how your vertical reach stacks up against the pros? Live the dream and participate in challenges designed to measure you against sports pros.

Photo: Taylored Photo Memories

8. Shoot It Up
No, we don’t mean guns (but see below for more info on that.) If you and your mates are looking fancy, why not have a photographer shoot a few cool, moody portraits of you all for posterity? Check out this post for some photos of a awesome bachelor photo shoot from Taylored Photo Memories.

9. MMA Fans…It’s Time!
Las Vegas is a hot bed of boxing and MMA training gyms — how about getting an insider’s view during a tour of them? This 5-hour tour has stops at various boxing and MMA gyms including Fight Capital MMA, UFC headquarters, One Nick’s Gym and Floyd Mayweather Jr’s boxing center, normally closed to the public. $79.99 a person at Viator.

10. Stripped Down
Despite the title of the article, it’s impossible to mention Las Vegas bachelor parties without talking about exotic dancers. I would be a terrible blogger if I didn’t at least make a mention of the quintessential bachelor party experience: strippers. A little birdie shared a few tips with me for the best experience at a gentleman’s club in Las Vegas, which might be a little different than your local strip club:

• bring bills to avoid hefty ATM fees at the club. Lap dances run about $20 a pop (ahem) plus tip
• instead of hopping in a cab and paying cover charge, make sure you call the club for a free limo pick up for your group
• start your night at Sapphire’s comedy and burlesque show before transitioning into the strippers. Tickets are $20, but VIP bottle service package and is $350 for five guests
• a quick overview: Little Darlings offers fully nude dancers but serves no booze, offering hookahs instead. Spearmint Rhino is pricey but is said to have some of the best views in the valley, if you know what I’m sayin’. And whatever you do, and no matter how drunk you are, steer clear of the Girls of Glitter Gulch on Fremont

As you can see, the options are nearly endless in Vegas for bachelor parties. Other great options include taking your wingmen on a bachelor party flight, a round of golf, playing some pinball, shooting guns or dune buggy races.

For the more chill experience there are hundreds of lounges, cabanas and restaurants to visit. Let’s face it, Las Vegas is a great place to do a bachelor party up right!

Fact: stylish photo shoots with your best friends aren’t just for the ladies! This group of gentlemen flew in from England to spend some time with the would-be groom, Liam, in Las Vegas for his bachelor party. The gents kept it classy and arranged for a fashion-forward photo shoot around downtown with Taylored Photo Memories.

The sharp-dressed men looked great in front of some old school landmarks including The Mob Museum and historic El Cortez hotel which give the photos a retro feel. Of course there was a stop for some brews at the bars on Fremont East and the Container Park. I love this idea and it’s so great if you’re looking for something new to do for a bachelor party activity while in Vegas! While you’re here, you should check these 10 ideas for your bachelor party out.

 VENDOR + VENUE DETAILS :

PHOTOGRAPHER . Taylored Photo Memories, a LVW photography directory member
SHOT ON LOCATION . in downtown Las Vegas

I love a romantic, traditional wedding, and Julie and Gaetano’s wedding at Lake Las Vegas was just that, overflowing with love and personal details. They were married at a venue well-suited to Julie’s vision of a fairytale wedding, the gorgeous Capella Di Amore at Hilton Lake Las Vegas, a dramatic chapel that hovers over water. Despite losing her voice, Julie powered through and married her sweetheart. Soft pink colors mixed with Tiffany blue and a hugely dramatic wedding gown perfected this classic Las Vegas wedding and make this couple’s dream day come true. 

The Ceremony –Capella Di Amore at Hilton Lake Las Vegas
Before I met Gaetano, I was that little girl who dreamt of a fairytale wedding, I always knew I wanted to feel like a princess on my big day. So when my Prince Charming asked me to marry him I couldn’t have been more thrilled to start planning. I chose the Hilton at Lake Las Vegas because of their beautiful chapel on the bridge. It was exactly what I was looking for! Our wedding was beautiful and a very special day in our lives.

Memorable Moments
There were a couple small speed bumps along the way. I completely lost my voice on the wedding day — I woke up and could hardly make a sound! I actually found it a blessing in disguise. I was able to kick my feet up while my sister/maid of honor handled everything. I drank warm tea and saved my voice for my vows. I was able to say them and be heard. Another minor issue was my flowergirl dresses, I decided to get crafty and make them myself. I used the prettiest tulle, full of glitter. Unfortunately glitter is really itchy! My flowergirls were all red and begging to take their dresses off after we took pictures. They sure did look cute though.

DIY Details + Decor
Other than the flowergirl dresses (the only DIY projects that went wrong, thank goodness!) my sister and I made the flowergirl wands, table numbers, menus, seating name cards, bouquet for the toss, favors, garters and much more. I saved a bunch of money making these myself and they gave my venue a unique feel.

Julie and Gaetano’s Wedding Tips
One planning tip I have is pick a good wedding coordinator! I was so lucky to have Debbie (Ravella’s wedding coordinator) she was so good at keeping me organized and on time. She was very helpful in making decisions before the wedding and helping my wedding day to go as smoothly as possible.  We had a guest list of 75 people and everyone knew where to go and what to do.

VENDOR + VENUE DETAILS :

PHOTOGRAPHER . Images by EDI
CEREMONY VENUE . Wedding Chapel at Hilton Lake Las Vegas
RECEPTION VENUE . Ballroom at Hilton Lake Las Vegas

FLORAL . Petals Flowers and Events / CATERING . Hilton Lake Las Vegas

It starts with a true love story – Thuy met her French husband Jonathan while in Paris, and they fell head over heels for one another. With family and friends all over the world, the couple chose Las Vegas to bring everyone together at the Springs Preserve for their wedding.

Their wedding mixed a number of different themes and styles, true to this jetsetting couple’s lives: desert garden combined with tropical Vietnam with a touch of European elegance. The ceremony featured floral details: a calla lily lined aisle, and an arbor strung with glass bubbles filled with chrysthanthemums. Thuy and Jonathan also provided a tea ceremony service for their guests.

The desert garden wedding transitioned into Paris in the jungle, with huge philodendron leaves and orchids at each table setting. Seafoam green and grey dominated, with white and silver to complement the palette. A photobooth with tonnes of fun props entertained guests and the bride and groom, and to end the evening, the newlyweds changed into traditional Vietnamese wedding attire!

Why Jonathan and Thuy Married in Las Vegas
We chose Las Vegas because it is a great city that is fun and tourist friendly. My husband is from France so we wanted to pick a place where his friends and family can easily entertain themselves, party to the wee hours of the morning, and for our guests to have a great vacation as well as joining our wedding. Also, Vegas has special meaning to us as it is the first place I took my husband to when he first visited me from France when we started dating. We picked Springs Preserve because it is such a beautiful venue that is not your typical idea of a Vegas wedding. Springs Preserve has a nice mix of modern, elegant, and natural elements that makes this venue truly unique.

Thuy’s Favorite Wedding Day Memory:
There were many stand out moments from our wedding day. We did our first look which I enjoyed very much because it allowed us to spend some alone time before the ceremony and seeing my husband’s reaction to seeing me for the first time was priceless. Another stand out moment was when my husband was trying to comfort me when I was crying during my father’s reading of his poem. It was a very emotional and fun ceremony that will forever be remembered. We also loved that we were able to get the Skyline Terrace Suite at the MGM Grand Hotel for our rehearsal dinner and after party, allowing us to spend more time with our friends and family in a relaxed setting with an amazing view.

The Ceremony — Gardens Arboretum at Springs Preserve
The ceremony was officiated by my sister’s husband who made it very personal and heartfelt. We incorporated the tea ceremony to honor my Vietnamese culture and parents. The purpose of the tea ceremony is for the bride and groom to honor our family elders and receive their blessings. During the ceremony, my father read a Vietnamese poem that he wrote in which it was translated in English and French. My bridesmaid read the English version of the poem and my mother-in-law read the French version. We thought it was a nice way to include our parents and friend into the ceremony.

The Reception — Gardens Terrace at Springs Preserve
There is a gorgeous view of the Vegas strip skyline at this reception site. My mother and her florist friends did an amazing job with the flowers and decorations. Our guests enjoyed a buffet dinner and open bar catered by Divine Events. We then danced the night away to the music provided by Elegant Entertainment.

DIY Details and Wedding Decor:
My mother and sister are very creative and talented people. They pretty much did everything themselves. My mother designed and did the flowers and decorations. The wedding favors/escort cards were made by my mom. My sister made the programs, menu, and designed the logos on the backdrop for the “red carpet” pictures. I made the table numbers incorporating our color theme of sea-foam green and silver.

Thuy and Jonathan’s Tips for Other Couples Marrying in Las Vegas
Do your research on your vendors to make sure they are reliable and professional. We would highly recommend reading the reviews. We heavily relied on our vendors since we are not from Las Vegas. Also, ask your vendors for recommendations for other vendors. Our photographer, Gaby J, was very helpful in recommending us to some great vendors. Try to plan multiple events for the wedding weekend in which Vegas is great place to allow that. We had multiple events like the rehearsal dinner, after party, a meet up in downtown Vegas, and a dim sum brunch after the wedding day to allow us to see our friends and family from near and far.

Thuy and Jonathan’s Guestcount + Budget
We had 90 guests with a budget of $25,000 for the wedding weekend celebration

VENDOR + VENUE DETAILS :

PHOTOGRAPHER gaby j photography, a LVW photography directory member
CEREMONY VENUE . Gardens Arboretum at Springs Preserve
RECEPTION VENUE . Gardens Terrace at Springs Preserve

OFFICIANT . Bride’s brother-in-law / WEDDING DESIGNER . Bride’s Mother / FLORAL . Bride’s Mother, Assisted by Absolutely Flowers and Balloons / CATERING . Divine Events / CAKE . Retro Bakery / BRIDAL FASHION . dress - Augusta Jones, shoes – Nina, / HAIR AND MAKEUP . Cristophe Salon at MGM Grand / BRIDESMAIDS . Vera Wang / GROOM’S WEAR . Hugo Boss / LIGHTING . Elegant Entertainment / STATIONERY + PAPER GOODS . invitations – Indian Wedding Card, menus – DIY by bride’s sister / ENTERTAINMENT . Elegant Entertainment / PHOTO BOOTH . Elegant Entertainment  / VIDEOGRAPHY . Neat Event Video