Scouting Locations

[Sonya]

I think my brain has officially turned to mush. graemlins/goofy.gif I've got a list of places I want to visit and check out for possible wedding and reception sites. I have one whole day to do this task. Ugh! :rolleyes:

I'm hoping to narrow down my search a little bit by ruling some places out on the telephone. Anyone have suggestions about what questions to ask on the phone?

I've got a few -

Can we write our own vows?
Can we use outside vendors (photo, flowers, etc) at the ceremony?
Can we use outside vendors (photo, cake, etc) at the reception?
Can we bring/buy a specific brand of champagne for the toast?
Can we customize or upgrade things in your wedding packages?
Will the photo negatives be available for purchase?
Can I make substitutions/upgrades to the flowers included in the package? (ie, MOH flowers -> MOB corsage)

Anything else? I'm wondering if there's a way I can pay someone else to stand in my place so I can just sit by the pool or play some Video Poker instead of all this stress. graemlins/laughing.gif

[Lmadrid]

Ask them if they book multiple weddings on the same day, and if so, if that puts a time constraint on your festivities. (my brother's reception site had a party before hand in the afternoon, so we weren't allowed in to decorate until a certain time...good thing it was an evening wedding smile.gif )

If the package includes a DJ ask if you get to pick all the music or just some of it (again, my brother and his wife only got to pick 10 songs each that they wanted, everything else was at the discretion of the DJ)

If it's a multi-use venue just ask them how many weddings/receptions they do, assess their experience as well as the experiece of the staff they have, and find out about their gurantees and what happens if there is some disaster they're responsible for.

That's all I can think of so far. Probably most questions are going to arise as you're talking to them. Good luck. graemlins/biggthumpup.gif If all else fails, elope. ;)

[Gerry Brown]

I've done some research lately because I am helping my sister plan her wedding. We chose the Flamingo chapel. My step daughter got married there a few years ago and we were treated very well. One thing to check on is if you choose an outdoor venue will the chapel be available in case of bad weather. We chose the gazebo and at the Flamingo they alternate on the 1/2 hour for indoor and outdoor so if necessary you can move inside for the ceremony. Another thing they do is video tape all weddings. They keep them on files for several months in case you didn't buy it and get home and change your mind you can call and order it. A lot of places do not allow any outside services (bringing in your own flowers, selecting a song not offered from their list, outside professional photographer) or will charge you a fee if they do allow it. We chose a mid range package and we can upgrade or add "a la carte" for anything we decide later we may want. Our thing now is to choose a restaurant for the wedding dinner. Have fun with the planning and don't get stressed. Once you choose the place everything will fall into place. You will get a good feel by how you are treated on the phone. The ladies at the Flamingo chapel were very talkative and enthusiastic and offered suggestions and were most helpful. Some places I called they were very to the point and ho hum. I wish I had kept a list of places I called. Good Luck.

[Sonya]

Thanks to both of you. I'm going to try to get Dan to help me with the list this weekend and then I'll start making my calls. I just wish we had more time in Vegas to visit places. I also hoped to interview a photographer and go tasting cakes at Freeds. I guess I'm going to have to go back for those details. Oh darn! graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

[Sonya]

I forgot.. the only place I've talked to so far that was "ho hum" was MGM. What's up with that!?! It was truly the worst response I've had from anyone I've called. It was like I was interrupting her day. I asked on another board about it and several other Vegas Brides had the same experience, even in person.

Not going there for sure! smile.gif

[Lmadrid]

OOhhhh. I saw Freed's on the Food Network. Great choice for baker!! graemlins/biggthumpup.gif I've been waiting to go back to Vegas since I found out about them so I can go try them.

[Sonya]

Freed's is a bit more $$ than other places, but supposed to be SOOO worth it. The other I keep getting recommendations about is Simple Elegance (or maybe simply elegance.. my book is in the other room so I'm not 100% positive)

[Sonya]

Oh.. heard back from Four Seasons. Their food and beverage minimum is going to be too high for my little group. Basically after we eat and do cake, we still have enough money left in the minimum for 70 bottles of champagne for 25 people. Even *I* think that's too much booze. graemlins/laughing.gif graemlins/laughing.gif

[Jill]

When we did our scouting trip in January 2001, we looked at Mandalay Bay, Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, Paris and Excalibur. I believe I have photos of the chapels I mentioned

Mandalay, Paris and Bellagio were out of our budgets. :(

Our top 2 choices became Treasure Island and Excalibur. Luxor gave us a better rate on the room block than Treasure island, so we got hitched at Excalibur

[Jill]

We had Cakes By Ruth as our wedding cake maker
www.cakesbyruth.com (http://www.cakesbyruth.com)

If ya click on the link in my sig, you can read our wedding recap that was posted on a Destination wedding magazine :D