15 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Las Vegas Wedding

As a follow up to the post earlier this week of advice from real brides and grooms on the things they would have done differently at their Las Vegas weddings, I thought I might share some more of the common pitfalls when planning a wedding in Vegas.

These 15 nuggets of Vegas wedding planning advice are especially true if you are planning a destination wedding but have never visited the city before, but I think even local brides and grooms will find some pearls of wisdom in this post.

SCHEDULING TOO MANY WEDDING EVENTS
Yes, Las Vegas is exciting and if you are getting married there, you are probably already a convert. And sure it’s great that you have planned an event every day for your wedding guests to enjoy while they are in Sin City — but give them some personal time, too! Overplanning not only leads to your exhaustion, but your guests’, too, and just creates a more demanding, less relaxing wedding.

CHOOSING VENUES THAT ARE TOO FAR APART
I know, it’s hard not to want to have it all. The retro downtown vibe, the beautiful desert scenery and those amazing lights and restaurants on the Strip. And most are all within a half hour of each other. But instead of trying to do it all, limit the number of venues you choose and how far from each other they are. Even better, choose your ceremony and reception to be in the same place. If you must host in a few different locations, try to provide transportation for your guests to keep them on schedule and from getting confused. Do you really want your guests to remember how long they sat on a bus on your wedding day instead of the amazing events you put together?

PICKING THE WRONG SEASON
May through August is traditionally the big wedding season in North America … except Las Vegas. It’s hot and many vendors take some time off because of that and … did I mention it’s hot? It can be less expensive to hold your wedding during these months which is attractive, but try for an early evening wedding, keep it indoors and try to make yourself and your guests as comfortable as you can. Here are some more summer wedding tips.

NOT HOSTING A RECEPTION 
Yes, weddings are expensive. But if you have asked guests to come with you to your destination wedding, please, PLEASE, provide even a small cocktail reception for them. It’s only courteous. Even a couple of pizzas from Secret Pizza and cases of beer from Walgreens served up in your suite will likely only run you $25 a person. It may not be classy, but neither is providing nothing at all. You might seriously consider eloping if you can’t even give your invited guests a small celebration.

BOOKING TOO SMALL OF A VENUE
The Wraparound Suites at Cosmopolitan are beautiful, I agree. But really, they are best for groups of up to 15. Standing shoulder to shoulder and being barely able to move should be reserved for college parties, not your wedding ceremony. Pick a suite or venue that is well-sized for your wedding, not just because you like the view or decor.

MIS-ESTIMATING THE GUESTLIST
It’s really easy to over or underestimate the number of guests that will come to your wedding. For most destination weddings, just 40-50% of invited guests will actually attend, with the number being a little higher for Las Vegas. Leave a lot of time for RSVPs and let people know as far in advance you are planning a destination wedding. Vacation time and travel budgets must be accommodated.

GOING HARD WITH PRE-WEDDING PARTYING
Avoid the siren song of the casino bar the night before your wedding. Rest up, relax and enjoy a nightcap in your room if you must, but avoid the smoke-filled casino floors and nightclubs. Before you know it, it may be 5am and you haven’t gotten a wink of sleep.

NOT STAYING HYDRATED
Every time I come home from Las Vegas, I always wonder if I should buy stock in my favorite skin moisturizer’s company as I deplete yet another bottle. The desert is dry, so keep your skin (body and face), lips and hair well moisturized and drink more water than you need. The wedding aisle is no place for dehydration or flaky skin. While you’re at it, consider a refreshment station for guests at your outdoor ceremony.

GETTING THAT POOL TIME IN
If you come from a very wintery place like I do, it’s tough to avoid wanting to “catch up on the sun” and sit by the pool. Save the cabana rentals for after the wedding, get an umbrella, slather on that sunscreen and limit your time in the sun. Go for an airbrush tan if you must. Sunburns do not look very timeless in wedding photos.

BEING TOO SHY TO UPGRADE
Las Vegas loves weddings. Tell anyone you can that you are in the city to get married, from the airline check-in agent and hotel clerk to restaurant hostesses and spa attendants. And if that fails, you can always try the $20 trick for a suite upgrade. Don’t be shy! There’s no shame in asking and you receive a real bonus perk.

LETTING LOOSE WITH THE BUDGET
Budgets are a slippery slope. If you keep close track of your budget and remain aware of it even up until the morning of the wedding, it is less likely to happen. It’s easy to spend more than you anticipated in Las Vegas on non-wedding events, be it on a meal, a round of cocktails or pre-wedding gambling.

INSISTING ON A TRADITIONAL REGISTRY
When I think of carrying delicate things home on an airplane I always think of the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry is burdened by a wedding gift he thinks is fragile but is actually just a welcome mat. Either have guests ship gifts to your home, have a gift opening back home or set up an alternative registry like these modern recommendations from Zola.

NOT SOAKING IN THE GLOW
Revel in the attention you get as you walk through the casino, and happily pose for photos by well-wishers. Las Vegas loves love, judging by the reaction newlyweds get when they are spotted in the city. Take a moment to really appreciate and enjoy the attention from strangers and your loved ones, alike.

RELYING ON THE STRIP FOR TRANSPORTATION
If you need to travel around the city because you have a wedding ceremony and reception in two different locations, avoid The Strip. It’s a traffic jam for most of the day and will cause delays, not only for you, but your guests. Also that Vegas bus tour you planned? You might be stuck in traffic for a lot of it, so plan accordingly.

UNDERESTIMATING THE SIZE AND SCALE OF STRIP HOTELS
On Google Maps, the distance between hotels doesn’t look so bad — Bellagio is right next door to Caesars Palace, after all! But getting from your hotel room, down through the lobby, out to The Strip where you wrangle with crowds to the next hotel and then into the deep convention area where the chapels normally are, can take a long time. Longer than you thought. Especially when you’re wearing fancy wedding day shoes.

Was this post eye-opening? Get more Las Vegas wedding tips and advice.

Photo: Nan Palmero/Flickr, used under Creative Commons License