Is my budget reasonable or ludicrous for having my wedding/honeymoon in Vegas?

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tonalc1

Some of the hotels will give you a discounted package; some even let you stay for free if you do most or all of all your gambling there.

And with the plethora of wedding sites available, I'm wondering why you're budgeting $500 for the service.

And fly coach. Not much difference in levels anymore. You can select your seats for maximum comfort (www.seatguru.com)

herbie36f

Try contacting a wedding planner for tips on all of this they usually have awesome ideas and can usually help you cut costs and still make it a nice trip and a nice wedding.

asmikeocsit

New husband Gambling=1500.00,Gongratulations.

brandon

Don't fly first class, it's not the same way it was before 9/11. You won't be getting your money's worth there I promise. There a lot of buffets and free food in Vegas, just search for them at your hotel. Walk instead of taking a taxi or renting a car. Have a great trip!!

robertonduty

Go business class... other than that, I don't see how you could cut much more out of a Vegas wedding except get a cheaper hotel on a "Honeymoon" rate. Remember, EVERYTHING is negotiable. And perhaps get married in nice clothes that you already own.

nurserachet_0000

Sounds great. I would scratch the first class tickets. That should almost pay for the rings alone.

ahardygrl

the rings could be alittle less but i understand. if you elope then you dont have to worry about food or wedding service cut that down to one of the five hundreds and that can be your food for the entire time you are there. they have 10.00 buffets. but otherwise it looks like you will have a really great time. enjoy your special day

older woman

Don't forget gifts for the witnesses.

Don't forget the fares and espenses of your witnesses if they are willing to pay their own way.

Might be cheaper to have a wedding at home and save most of the money to get started as a married couple.

sashimi

Try posting a project at http://www.clienty.com and they can give you price quotes from vendors. It's a free service for brides and they helped me a lot. It's a really nifty site and they'll help you save money for your wedding.

Good luck!

mand

Thats a fairly inexpensive wedding.

To cut costs:
If first class isnt necessary find a different, less expensive flight. Keep checking online (like cheaptickets.com, travelzoo, orbitz, etc) for deals. You can probably get the airfare for less.

Pay for a decent hotel - dont cut costs there. You get what you pay for. You dont want your wedding memories to include a crappy, dirty room miles away from any attractions.

Rings - depends on your taste. My wedding band was WAY less expensive, but that choice is yours, you'll be wearing it for life.

I doubt the service in Vegas will cost $500, or is the the budget for a party, dinner, or reception or something?

Dress/Tax budget - Id say this largely depends on the dress. Tuxes are the same for everything, everywhere. Are you wearing a traditonal wedding dress? Getting it before you travel to Vegas? (I suggest getting both his & yours before you travel)

I wouldnt compromise the shopping/gambling/ent budget, it is easy to go through $1000 in Vegas. Stop when its gone. If you can manage to come home with money, even better.

Congrats on your wedding!!!!

gfdgirl

For the price difference between coach and first class you're not getting much these days. I'd buy coach tickets and use the difference elsewhere.

mockingbird

Your budget is only reasonable or ludicrous to you; it depends on what you can afford. Off the top of my head, Id say you're missing flowers, you haven't budgeted anything for alcohol (not a must, of course) and depending on the number of guests, $500 for food might be a little slim. Where is your reception going to be? That facility will cost you money, too.

To cut cost, you can always fly coach. It's not the end of the world. Look online for flight/hotel packages... my boyfriend and I went to Vegas last fall for $1,000 for the flight and three nights at a hotel on the strip. Flights are more expensive now because of fuel costs and summer coming up, but there are deals to be had.

Roadrunner58-79

Depends on how much money you have and if you know how to manage your finances.

flamingo_sandy

If you're planning on gambling, $500 each isn't going to last you for 5 days. Here's some more info ...

Things to remember:
1.Drinks are free when you’re gambling. Sitting at a bar and playing a few dollars in a poker machine will get you a free drink. Sitting at a machine in the casino will get you the same. Tipping the waitress or bartender a dollar or two will keep her coming back. If you walk up to the bar and order drinks, you’re going to pay lots more, even for soda or bottled water.
2.Player’s Cards: Before you begin gambling, get a player’s card. Most places offer sign up deals (a coffee cup, a free meal, assorted coupons). If you get a card where you’re staying and you use it while you’re gambling, you can “save” the points and use then toward your room when you check out. Some casinos will combine accounts for married couples, some don’t. I always get a card in my name and ask for a second card. I play with one and Paul plays with the other. That way all the points are going to one card, and accumulate faster.
3.Beware of time-share people! As you walk through the hotels and along the strip, you’ll be approached by people who want to give you free show tickets, free tours, free meals, etc. These are time-share sales people. They promise freebies in exchange for an hour of your time. I warn everyone about this but some people just don’t listen. A friend of mine decided an hour of her time was worth giving up in exchange for a show. So her and her husband accepted, were put on a bus and taken to a “presentation” and weren’t bought back for SIX hours. Their only escape would have been to take a cab back to the strip but that would have been expensive and they wouldn’t have gotten their “free” show tickets. The best way to get these people to lose interest in you and move on to the next person is to say, “Thanks, but we’re leaving tonight.”
4.Free Pulls: Some of the casinos offer “free pulls” on a special slot machine as you walk in the door. There are usually no strings attached, you pull the lever and win something. Usually it’s a key ring or a hat; sometimes it’s a free buffet. Sometimes it’s a coupon for a “fun book” (a book of coupons for that casino). To get the fun book, you can be sure you’re going to have to walk to a far, far corner in the casino. They want to get you WAY inside.
5.$40 for $20: Some casinos offer $40 in slot play for $20. What they don’t tell you is that it’s on a bank of “special” machines, and you can’t cash out for cash. Instead, you play the $40 and then choose a prize based on the credits. So before you hand over your $20, take a look at the prizes being offered. If there’s something in there that’s worth paying $20 for – have fun. If not, keep walking.
6.Valet: If you’re going to be renting a car while you’re there, valet parking is the way to go. For a $2 tip, you can park at a hotel or casino and visit the nearby hotels and casinos.
7.Bus: If you use the busses that run up and down the strip, put your wallet in your front pocket. Vegas is the favorite vacation spot for pick-pocketers, too.
8.Cabs: Cabs are more expensive than a bus, but faster and less waiting. Almost all hotels have a cab line outside one of their doors, a line of cabs waiting for the next fare. A hotel employee will whistle for the next cab in line when you ask for a cab.

Things to see (and most are FREE!):
1.The Freemont Street Experience: Every night there is a light and music show that stretches for blocks. It’s an amazing thing to see … and it’s FREE. Freemont Street is in downtown Vegas, you’ll need to take a cab if you don’t have a car. The street is blocked off from traffic and you can stand in the street and look up and watch the show. (Another place to keep a close check on your wallet.) There’s a different show every 30 minutes, beginning at 8:00 or 8:30 PM. Show times and pictures can be seen at: http://www.vegasexperience.com/ Be sure to check out the video! Freemont Street also has performers and kiosks all along it. Lots to see and worth a trip. Downtown used to be nasty and scary, but they’ve cleaned it up and it’s clean and safe now. Just don’t wander too far off Freemont on any of the side streets. You probably wouldn’t want o anyway, most of the action is right on Freemont.
2.The Fountains at Bellagio: Don’t miss this! It’s a 900-foot long row of fountains that “dance” to music. The songs change, and it’s awesome to see. More info at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/bellagiofountains.html While you’re there, go inside and check out the conservatory. Very impressive!
3.Caesars Forum Shops: If you feel like strolling through Rome, check out the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This is also where the talking statues live. More info on the shops and a link to info on the talking statues at: http://www.vegas.com/shopping/forumshops.html
4.The Canal at the Venetian: This is pretty amazing and a MUST see. You feel like you’re in Italy as you stroll along the canal and visit the shops. You can even take a gondola ride. Check out the Canal Shoppes at: http://www.venetian.com/shoppe/index.cfm and get information on the gondolas at: http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/gondola.html?f=m0at&t=stripat
5.The Volcano, The Tigers and The Aquarium at The Mirage: If you go up the moving walkway and through the front door at the Mirage, you’ll see the white tiger. Pretty cool to see. Head through the foliage to the front lobby and check out the wall behind the check-in desk. It’s a HUGE salt-water aquarium. In front of the hotel there is a huge waterfall that turns into an erupting volcano (loud, bright, and hot!) at night. A trip to Vegas without seeing the volcano erupt just wouldn’t be a trip to Vegas. http://www.themirage.com/
6.The Wildlife Habitat at The Flamingo: An outdoor habitat located within the Flamingo. You can watch the penguins play and see the live flamingos (still haven’t figured out how to kidnap one) plus lots of other birds, fish, and turtles. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/wildlifehabitat.html
7.Masquerade Village at The Rio: Masquerade Village is inside the casino at the Mirage. There is a parade in the sky with music and dancing and lights that’s pretty cool to see. This is located off the strip, too far to walk, but there is a free shuttle that goes from Harrah’s to Rio and back. More info and a video at: http://www.harrahs.com/our_casinos/rlv/entertainment/entertainment_detail_07.html
8.The Eiffel Tower at Paris: You can take a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/eiffeltower.html?f=m0at&t=stripat

Other Info:
You can find a map of the strip and downtown Las Vegas here: http://www.vegas.com/map.html

You can find a show guide here: http://www.vegas.com/shows/index1.html?key=show01 This site has a search engine that allows you to enter the dates you’ll be in town.

Some GOOD sources of Las Vegas info:
www.vegas.com
http://www.lasvegas24hours.com/
http://www.vegasfreedom.com/do/index.jsp

smiley.lady

Some potential items you may want to add:

Car rental
Flowers
Hair
Nails
Makeup
Gifts for each other
Gifts for anyone who comes with you
Photography

I do not feel knowledgeable enough to answer about the reasonableness of your budget; however, I know that if you book airfare, hotel and car together (on expedia.com, travelocity.com, or orbits.com) you can save some money.

Congrats and good luck!! :)

intelligentaphrodite

I don't think you are forgetting anything. However, I would seriously shop around for tickets and hotel rooms (look for specials online or call the airline and hotel directly; you may have to move your date slightly for a better price).
Also, look around online for rings too. Comparison shop; see if you can find a lower price for the same rings at one store and ask the store you prefer if they are willing to match that price. Most are. Also, look at bridesmaid and prom dresses as an alternative to a wedding gown. Most look just the same and cost $60-150 (try a few boutiques or stores like Fashion Bug in your area); and rent a tux, usually for about $50-100, that could save you a lot of money. Finally, I would really think about shopping/entertainment/gambling money. There are A LOT of things you can do in Vegas that are free or relatively inexpensive.

PS Congratulations and good luck to you!

o1angelic

extra cash just in case of an emergency. :)

How about the STRIPPERS!!!!! Put that in your budget!!

AuralSects69

You're forgetting your own net worth. Do you have $1000 in the bank or $1000000?

anaheimsportsfan

It all depends where you are planning on having the wedding... if its a chapel, you are on target. If you want a nice wedding like at the Bellagio, I'd have to say increase the budget.

I'm curious... you'll splurge on first class airfare but skimp on the wedding service and food?

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