Anyone get married in Las Vegas or Gatlinburg, TN?

[lspst8]

My fiance and I are thinking about getting married in one these places later this summer. Anyone have any stories or recommendations?

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

My mom and stepdad got married in Gatlingburg several years back. It was very pretty, and very inexpensive. I think for a small ceremony (it was them and us kids, so only 5 us other than the officiants) with a small photo album, it was less than $500. There are quite a few small chapels in the Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area...and all quite competitive with each other for business. So the prices for similar packages are similar...probably start close to $500 and go up depending on what all you want (flowers, music, portrait pkgs, videography, etc.).

I know that you can call the tourism bureau and get information sent to you (i'm not exactly local, so I don't know the number).

I'm not sure how it compares price-wise to a Vegas wedding, but thought I'd give what little info I know.

GL

 

[olena]

I'm a Vegas Bride and I loved it! We got a package that included everything except the license . Getting a license in Vegas is easy. You just go to the courthouse and they have a special office right up front for convenience. No blood test either. One of the best parts was that I didn't have to worry about anything like flowers, decorations, how to entertain my guests, etc. We got a cake from the hotel and hosted a small reception in a room for friends and family. We were married by a retired minister, too. Our package included 2 nights in a nice room, a room service meal, photos, flowers, music, a video, dinner for 2 at a 4 Star Steakhouse and 2 t-shirts. It cost $750 but that was almost 10 years ago.) I just loved that I didn't have to worry about anything and that I could just relax and enjoy myself. And we all had so much FUN!

In Vegas, you can go nuts with the wedding....get married by Pharaoh, Elvis, rock stars, Italian gangsters, the grim reaper, etc. They cater to everything, including a drive-thru chapel, which was a little too cheesy for me....

Enjoy your planning.....

 

[Wishing on a star]

I think the kicker is whether you want a more upscale wedding, or a more natural/rustic type wedding.

I am sure that there are some FANTASTIC super nice resorts at LasVegas.

I think if you take the time to compare some pictures of resort/accommodations and wedding chapels in each area, you will know which would be best for the two of you.

We lived in E. TN when we got married. Our wedding was at our church, but due to monetary and time limitations, our honeymoon was a few nights in a honeymoon cabin called 'Rustic Charm'. Yes, it had a large jet-tub in the cabin across from the king sized bed. It was WONDERFUL given our limitations. But, yes, rustic and natural and homey. That describes Smokey Mountain area and the Appalachians.

Today, I would definitely go for something more upscale.

You'll know what's right for the two of you!!!

 

[happygirl]

I think Gatlinburg would be really pretty

 

[worm761]

My sister is planning to get married in Gatlinburg in 2011! They have been researching and there really are some great deals for this area.

 

[Jeafl]

My aunt and uncle got remarried in Vegas a little over a year ago. They decided to get married at one of those little white chapels by an Elvis impersonator. I thought the whole thing was going to be kind of a funny, bizarre joke, but I have to say, it was one of the sweetest, most touching weddings I have ever been to.

I was about 5 when they got married the first time and apparently I cried when they picked my sister to be their flower girl instead of me. So, they asked me to be their flower girl this time (yes at 40+ yrs. old!) and we had the best time! The "Elvis" had a very touching sermon, he sang Can't Help Falling in Love with You, and one other song I forgot, and the whole thing was great!

If you don't go the whole Elvis route, we stayed at Paris on the strip, and they had some beautiful chapels there. We saw several weddings going on, and they seemed very classy and beautiful. There are certainly enough places to choose from, and if you want a nice dinner afterwards, I can think of a million restaurants. I would google Las Vegas weddings and see what you come up with.

 

[Piecey]

Got married in Vegas!

Loved my wedding.

Got married here:
http://www.littlechurchlv.com/

Very affordable, right by the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign for some great pictures...

Then we hit an off-strip Casino where lots of people bought us drinks and I learned to play Roulette. I had a ball.

 

[pls5286]

I got married in Gatlinburg at Cupid's Chapel of Love. They also have a very small hotel on their property that is very romantic as well. I loved it. Also did a honeymoon helicopter ride over the smokeys too

 

[Pooh Crew]

Dh and I got married in Lake Tahoe--so kind of a combination of the two places you are considering. We got married at the Cal-Neva Lodge in a beautiful chalet on the side of a mountain. We arranged the entire ceremony through the resort. I loved the history of the place--it was owned by Frank Sinatra and at that time, still had a reserved parking spot for him. It was also the place where JFK and Marilyn Monroe were rumored to have met frequently. The resort is located on the California/Nevada border and the state line runs through the middle of the swimming pool. We flew into Reno and got our license there then drove to Tahoe. It was perfect!

 

[Mrs.Toad]

Not mine, but I attended a wedding in Vegas about 20 years ago. It was much nicer and classier than I expected. It was a little chapel on the strip that I think was called "Chapel of the Bells". The bride and groom got a package where a limo came to the hotel and picked up them, the parents, the best man/maid of honor and their SO's, then drove us all to the courthouse to get the license (only took a few minutes), then drove us to the chapel and drove us back to the hotel after the wedding. They got a small cake that we had in the hotel room, then we all went out gambling for the rest of the night! It was fun.

 

[Pugsly]

I'm going to be a bridesmaid in a Vegas wedding in October. They're getting married at the Flamingo - outside - in front of a beautiful waterfall and koi pond. It's pretty expensive though, but a beautiful setting.

I think the bottom line is: you have to know what suits you and your fiance'. (My friend, the bride, did NOT want a hoity-toity wedding chapel wedding - so opted for an outdoor, tropical feel.)

 

[LoraJ]

We got married in Vegas at Mandalay Bay. We had around 20 guests and had a really good time. DH is not a fan of being the center of attention so we were pretty low key. We had a couple of large tables at a restaurant and they gave us a separate table for the cake. We did not hire a DJ but there was a club upstairs so if my guests wanted to dance, they just went outside on the deck and danced to the music.

There are all sorts of different styles and venues of chapels in Vegas. I suggest going to theknot.com and check out the Vegas boards and look at all the bride's bios for inspiration. Same goes for the other location you are thinking of.