You have to think outside the box when it comes to Las Vegas weddings sometimes, especially if you are seeking the escape that old chapel cliche. Jessica and Gordon are graphic designers, so it’s probably not a surprise that their wedding had such a fresh, contemporary feel.
They were married in the modern Chihuly Gallery at Aria (which at the time was not even hosting weddings, trendsetters, these two!) and then had an intimate cake and cocktails party in a suite at Aria afterwards. So much was DIY I’ll just let Jessica take it away so she can explain all the choices she made with Gordon to make this Vegas gallery wedding come to life just as they envisioned it.
Why Las Vegas?
Neither of us necessarily like being the center of attention so we wanted our wedding to feel more like a party among close friends than a big to-do. That being the case, naturally Gordon and I decided to have our wedding in Vegas, and we knew two things: one, we were having our reception at Aria – although we weren’t sure of the logistics yet – and two, we didn’t want the typical Vegas ceremony that comes to mind when one pictures Vegas weddings.
The Ceremony – Chihuly Gallery at AriaÂ
We flew out to find a ceremony location (and get our marriage license,) but quickly discovered that all of the chapels have contracts with local photographers, which you have to use for your ceremony. Period. Except we had already booked our photographer so that was a non-negotiable item for us.
After spending an afternoon trying to find the “right” location we decided to stop into The Gallery. The instant we walked in we knew it was the right spot for us. Since we’re crazy planners and do-it-yourselfers we asked to be put in contact with the owner and ask about private events. Luckily, he was available the next day so we got everything set up just from a conversation with him only hours before we flew back to San Diego. Easy-peasy. Of course now Aria offers wedding packages, which include The Gallery as a ceremony location option, but at the time we got married everything was still brand new and there was nothing in place yet. We had to contact MGM rentals on our own to set up chair rental for the space.
The Reception: Hospitality Suite at Aria
Our plan all along was to have our reception in one of the Aria suites, but again, Aria was brand new at the time and didn’t have wedding packages in place. So we toured a bunch of suites and the Hospitality Suite was perfect for the size and nature of our wedding; plus a view of The Strip wasn’t too shabby either. The rest was all DIY. We brought all the booze, desserts and decorations with us from San Diego.
Our reception was a cocktail and dessert reception so our guests were on their own for dinner, and what better place than Vegas? Most actually tried Aria restaurants, but a few ventured over to Cosmopolitan since it’s a quick walk. The DIY part actually took a ton of planning and preparation since we executed everything ourselves (while everyone was at dinner), but the result was exactly what we were hoping for! An super fun, intimate night with our closest friends and family, Vegas-style!
 Vendor and Venue Details:Â
Photographer: Sergio Mottola Photography / Ceremony Venue: Chihuly Gallery at Aria Las Vegas / Reception Venue: Hospitality Suite at Aria Las Vegas / Makeup: Bobbie Pin Beauty / Floral: Lula Mae Flowers (San Diego, no longer in business) / Cake + Desserts: Sweet Cheeks Baking Company (San Diego) / Celebrant: Reverend Paula Gold (friend to the couple) / Ghost Chairs: MGM Resorts Events / Stationery + Graphic Design: The War on Mars (Jessica and Gordon’s company!)
Hi Jessica! Your wedding looked beautiful!! I have been looking into the Aria and loved everything about your wedding. Would I be able to email you with some more questions??