Elvis and the Ice Chapel

When Randy and I first met we talked about how we never wanted to get married or have children. We agreed that it was just too much work. Well, he asked me to marry him four months later...... I guess things change. We didn't talk to much about it. He wanted to just go down to the court house, not make it a big deal. Many people kept telling me that I needed a wedding, I deserved a wedding. I don't know about all that, but it did give me time to think about what I really wanted and what I wanted was a Vegas Wedding.

As a child, I always wanted to be a writer, go to Peru, get a degree, have a career, look like Barbie and I didn't care much for babies or wedding dresses, domestic things.... We wanted something fast, something easy. I have quickly learned that any kind of wedding, is just as I thought, kind of pain in the ass. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has something to say about it. A suggestion, advice, maybe you should do this... or that. Not that I'm not appreciative, but I didn't need any more suggestions, any more ideas, plus Randy (who I love very much) gets easily distracted. "let's do it Florida, let's do it on a beach, lets try a cruise..." I was getting really sick of it. I wanted initially to get married in Arizona because I love the desert and Randy's dad and one of my aunts live there, then I thought about it. Why not Las Vegas? It's quick, it's easy, Randy and his family love casinos (me as well), and well, it's Las Vegas, that's what they do.

Randy was unsure, until he talked to his friend Danny. "Oh yeah, they have an ice lounge".... this was the turning point, everyone was on board now.

So, I had to find a minister, a dress, invite people. I decided this was going to be so very Las Vegas. Invitations? There were no paper invites, we invited 30 through Facebook. Dress? There was no white wedding dress, I bought my dress at a Mexican dress shop. It had gemstones and I looked like a salsa dancer. Minister? Yes we had one, he was an Elvis impersonator. Location? Where else could Randy feel comfortable getting married other than an Ice lounge?

We decided to stay at the Venetian. I always wanted to stay there because it looked really cool. I liked the art work and the shops. It just seemed really fancy. It was. Everything they did exceeded my expectations. I used the salon for my hair, which was expensive, but it was last minute and they did a fantastic job. My best friend and I also got our makeup done too. I had never had my makeup professionally done, she airbrushed our faces and we got fake eyelashes, something I am thinking about investing in now. I felt extremely lucky to be pampered like that and I figured I deserved it, after all it was my day right? The ladies in the shop kept telling us bridezilla stories, "oh we had one in here yesterday...." They were very professional and we looked amazing when we left.

When we arrived at the ice chapel everyone put on fur coats except Randy. I got to wear the only white coat and everyone else had to wear black ones. It was 15 degrees in the ice lounge, but it didn't really feel like it. Our Elvis was so excited. He had never had a wedding in an ice lounge before and kept telling us it was special. He was very very good, the ceremony was very tender and not a cheesy Elvis ceremony at all, he told the story of how I met Randy, he talked about love and open heart moments. When it came time for the ring, my best friend Anna realized she left it in her purse, in the locker, outside the ice lounge. It was very much welcomed comedic relief, it was needed because crying in a freezer is not a good thing, it will freeze to your face.

After the ceremony ended we all had a drink than proceeded to go into the casino and gamble. All in all it was a fun day, followed by zip lining in my wedding dress on Fremont Street. More to come on that adventure....

This is where we went:

http://www.minus5experience.com/
http://www.themobileminister.com/
http://www.venetian.com/