Archive for 2012
I absolutely love vintage photography like Polaroids and Lomographs (I’m not talking Instagram) and love when they are used at weddings. Although brides tend to save them for photobooths or guestbooks, sometimes you might get lucky and get a photographer that believes in the gorgeous depth of film photography or even Polaroids, a once-common, now-obscure photo art. (A Vegas based photographer who likes to use Polaroids is Gaby J)
So what’s the link to weddings? Lomography is gaining in popularity with those willing to get a bit adventurous with their wedding photos, and I think this really works with most Vegas couples. If you are not into tight, posed wedding portraits and favor more spontaneous photo style, you may want to look into Polaroids or Lomography. Lomography is named for the classic LC-A camera which was a cheap camera born in the 80s and includes “toy” cameras like the Diana and Holga. I myself have an action sampler – a plastic cased camera with no viewfinder that takes four photos within seconds of eachother.
The hallmarks to Lomographs are vignetting – darkened edges, bright colors, light leaks and unusual bright and dark patterns, spontaneous moments. It’s a kind of alternative photographic method. It’s a very fun, artistic way to capture your wedding day.
Photos from my wedding, showing Polaroids and the photo table we had set up
Fun ways to incorporate this trend would be to have a toy camera in a photo booth, ask your wedding photographer to use one, or have a friend take shots during the evening. I stocked up on film and left my Polaroid hanging around – people had great fun with it and some of my favorite wedding photos my Polaroids. Sometimes toy cameras do not work that well in dark photos, as is often the case with receptions, but buy a flash or use a Holga at your Neon Boneyard shoot and be stunned by the results.
Drawbacks: They are NOT for perfectionists – light leaks, blurry shots and darkness can alter photos dramatically. But these styles of photography can make a great addition to more traditional wedding photos. Also, it can be an expensive endeavor. You can still buy Polaroid film online through the Impossible project, but it’s pricey. If you go the Lomo route, you have to buy regular film, get it developed and buy the cameras.
You would be well served to use these 10 rules of lomography as you shoot, with a lomo or not, at your wedding or any day!
1. Take your camera with you everywhere!
2. Use it any time of day
3. Lomography is not an interference in your life – but part of it
4. “Shoot from the hip” (try experimental, new perspectives)
5. Get close!
6. Don’t think (by extension: don’t pose)
7. Be fast
8. You don’t have to know beforehand what you captured on film…
9. … or afterwards either
10. Don’t follow the rules (even these!)
[photos from lomography.com: clockwise from top left 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Posted by Little Vegas Wedding
Today’s wedding is LVW’s very first bride submitted wedding, and it is amazing. I’m SO happy Jeannie wrote me to tell me about her big day because it’s so full of amazing details, I know you’re going to love it too as you check out the photos of the event taken by Chiemi Photography.
Jeannie and Salar came from Canada to get married at the Platinum Hotel in September of this year – they said that a Las Vegas wedding was something they always had in mind, since they didn’t want a large traditional wedding nor did they want anything too religious. Salar suggested Vegas as a possible wedding location before they even got married, so it seemed the place to go!
I’m a big time zombie fan, so I loved the details included, especially since they were Vegas-ified! Jeannie writes:
Salar is very into zombies and I wanted to make sure there were also details of that as well – so he picked the cake topper and cake design. We picked up the topper on our scouting trip at the lobby store at the Palms and he painted the groom up to be zombified. Our guest book and poster was a custom portrait done by Rob Sacchetto of Zombie Portraits.
Amazing details – including a guestbook, skull necklace and cute cupcakes from Retro Bakery.
One of the coolest things at the wedding was the Shutterbooth they had set up, with a custom zombie logo. (More photobooth photos here!)
Jeannie and Salar decided on the Platinum Hotel and Spa (just off the Strip) via the forums on The Knot and did a scouting trip a year before the wedding. They wanted something that was unusual, but could hold a fair amount of people – so up to the rooftop it was! Isn’t the view fabulous from up there?
The bride’s dress was altered to tea-length by a seamstress and she added a colored crinoline by Swank Underpinnings in robin’s egg blue to make it pop. So awesome!
One of the best surprises had to have been the Star Wars droids and Darth Vader that showed up though. The groom had no idea they were coming! And the most incredible thing is that they don’t charge a fee, but instead ask you to make a donation to the Children’s Make A Wish Foundation.
That wasn’t all the entertainment at this rocking party though – Travis Allen made an appearance as Elvis and got a conga line going, a DJ from All Night Long rocked out the hits pleasing music fans with very diverse tastes (from heavy metal to classic Iranian songs) and there was even a double decker bus ride to take the guests to see downtown Vegas and Fremont. What a party!
Jeannie was full of great advice for Vegas brides planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas:
Take advantage of all Vegas has to offer for you and your guests. Plan to try and accommodate your guests needs (budget, schedules) so that you can have as many of the important people in your life there as possible. We paid more for a weekend wedding because we knew it would allow people to come using less Vacation time at work. We gave people lots of notice and shared information about flight sales. We chose a central Strip hotel so that people would get the full Vegas experience, and one that was less expensive so that all budgets could afford to stay in the same hotel. Many of our guests had never been to Vegas, and the wedding blew them away – surprised them that it wasn’t a tacky affair at all. Also – if there is any travel required to or from the ceremony / reception venue – definitely make arrangements for your guests – rent a bus to transport them, put yourself in their shoes to make it as comfortable and easy as possible
Love the group shot – I think this is integral to a small Vegas wedding for everyone to remember. Wow.
Thank you SO much Jeannie and Salar. Your wedding looked like a blast, there were some amazing details and you had some great words of advice. Please remember brides, the submissions are open to everyone. Read more about submitting your wedding here.
– — – — –
Wedding & Reception Venue: Misora rooftop venue at Platinum Hotel / Afterparty Venue: Double Decker bus to Fremont / Photographer: Chiemi Photography / Cinematography & DJ: All Night Long / Elvis: Travis Allen / Wedding Dress: A tailored Paloma Blanca from Heirlooms Bridal Shoppe with colored crinoline by Swank Underpinnings /Makeup: Lori White / Cupcakes and Cake: Retro Bakery / Stationery: Zombie Portrait and Poster by Rob Sacchetto of zombieportraits / Photobooth: Shutterbooth
Posted by Little Vegas Wedding
Some of us love adrenaline more than others, and for those people, I recommend one of these totally awesome, totally exciting Las Vegas wedding ceremony venues. They’re for the couple who wants something even more memorable than a Las Vegas wedding, something a little out of the ordinary, something CRAZY!
photo: Stratosphere Hotel
We’re on a ride!
Roller Coaster Ceremony: Perhaps not the best for anxious or nervous brides and grooms, NY NY offers a roller coaster wedding. Getting wed at 67 miles per hour sound up your alley? With limited windows available you can get married in 15 minutes at a cost of about $600-$700.
Thrill Ride Wedding: If roller coasters are too tame for you, maybe you’d prefer to get married on the edge of the tallest building in Las Vegas while on a ride. The Stratosphere Chapel in the Clouds offers wedding ceremonies on the observation deck of the Stratosphere tower, then a ride on one of the rides they have 855 feet above the Strip. Packages ($339-429) include champagne, tower admission for 15 guests, a thrill ride on Big Shot, Insanity or X-Scream for four guests. Photography is extra.
photo: Lazy Toad
We’re on a boat!
Pirate Ship Wedding: T.I. (Treasure Island) in Las Vegas has a unique wedding for those of you who love cannons, sexy pirates and ships – “Song Ship Wedding“. This package ($1675-$3760+) allows the couple and two guests onto the ship at Siren’s Cove along the Strip for their ceremony, with room for other guests within 100 feet of the ship. There isa bit of pirate pomp and circumstance involved in the nuptials, so this is a bit themed more than exciting, but no telling when the Captain may swing in and try to snatch the bride away. No word on if a puffy shirt are mandatory for the groom.
Yacht Wedding: Not far from Las Vegas is Lake Mead, and that would make for a great day on the water, getting married on a yacht ($1300-$7000+) and partying after the fact, maybe even on jet skis. Another excellent option would be to rent a houseboat for some time, have the ceremony and get to spend some time with a group of people playing on the water before and after the wedding.
photo: Silverton Lodge and Casino
We’re almost in a boat!
Silverton Scuba Diving Wedding: The Silverton casino, a little ways off the Strip offers a unique package that allows a couple to get hitched while scuba diving amongst 4000 fish, stingrays and sharks in their amazing 117,000-gallon aquarium. You can even request mermaids to serve as bridesmaids. Crazy!
Mandalay Bay Shark Reef Wedding: If you’d prefer to wear more traditional wedding attire as opposed to a wetsuit, you can get married beside the sharks at the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef. The package ($1500-1600) includes fees, champagne and a honeymoon suite. There are no outside photographers. The ceremony can only happen at 9am, before the aquarium opens to the public, and there is only room for 10 witnesses.
photo: Taylored Photo Memories
We’re in the air!
How about taking the plunge while flying through the air? Vegas Extreme Skydiving offers wedding packages to those who are truly seeking thrills ($1299+) While you do not actually get married while in the air, it is up to you if you want to get married on the ground then take the leap together, or do it after you’ve safely landed.
Helicopter Wedding: There is also the option to ride a helicopter to your wedding destination, ensuring privacy, and a thrilling memory to have forever. I’m told the views are also pretty special as well, both from the helicopter or the destination you touch down at to say your vows at, like the Grand Canyon or Red Rock Canyon. (Several companies offer this service) For photos from real Las Vegas helicopter weddings, check some out here!
We’re wearing runners!
A Marathon Wedding: Just this past weekend, the Las Vegas Rock n Roll marathon happened, and did you know they do weddings during it? Although they recommend it is for vow renewals, people have gotten hitched in the very quick (who wants to ruin their running time?) group ceremony. It happens at 5:45 outside NY NY Casino, and is free for entrants.
This list is certainly not the limit of what amazing wedding ceremonies you can have in Las Vegas. What’s your favorite Vegas wedding venue for adventure seeking couples?
For more wedding venue lists, check out 8 modern Vegas venues and spooky, gothic, Halloween style Vegas wedding venues.
Posted by Little Vegas Wedding
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