11/11/11: A Once in a Lifetime Wedding Date!

Many couples have chosen special dates for their big days. Dates in the past include 8/9/10, 10/10/10, etc. Well, the mother of all special dates is here: 11/11/11. It is special for many reasons: it is all ones, everyone makes a wish on the clock at 11:11, etc. The next time a date will come up like this, more than a decade will have passed: 2/2/22. Across the United States, tens of thousands of couples will tie the knot tomorrow. Lucky for a recovering Las Vegas economy, a good amount of them will be doing so in Sin City.

As of yesterday, at least 3,500 couples had pre-applied for marriage licenses in Clark County for tomorrow. Stacy Alsen of Boise, Idaho explained that "it's a once in a lifetime chance." Her and her fiance will say "I do" at 1pm on 11/11/11 at Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas.

Clark County Clerk Diana Alba has called in reinforcements in preparation for the onslaught of applications they are going to receive. She has temporarily reassigned staff to process applications, which they've been trained to do within the average of 20 minutes.

The office usually gets less than 1,000 pre-applications within a 60-day period. As of Tuesday, the clerk's office had 3,500 pre-applications for Nov. 11, 2011, and were expecting hundreds more today and Friday.

Welcoming the boost of business are the Las Vegas wedding chapels. There are over 100 chapels promoting 11/11/11 packages. David Nye from the A Elvis Chapel is expecting 40 couples on Friday, a huge number compared to their average of 40 couples a week.

As a UNLV student, I've received a few emails through our Hotel College group, from hotels such as the Venetian, asking for student volunteers to help out with 11/11/11 weddings.

Reasons behind choosing such an unusual date? Many couples believe it is good luck; we all remember the Vegas wedding scene on 7-7-07 (many planners believe that Nov. 11, 2011 will crush 7-7-07 numbers). For other brides, they're hoping that 11-11 is a day that their soon-to-be hubbies will never forget!

Many couples are also choosing to say their vows at a particular time on Friday. Candice Seiler is holding her ceremony at 11:11am. For Candice and her fiance, Brad, the number 11 is everywhere in the relaitonship. They have also been together for 11 years.

Whatever their reason for choosing the special date, we want to wish a wonderful day and future together for all of the couples saying "I do" tomorrow, 11/11/11!

Source: "Thousands Flock to Las Vegas for 11/11/11 weddings" by Sevil Omer, published: 11/9//2011. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45194144/ns/today-today_news/t/thousands-flock-las-vegas----weddings#.TrxPJ-CJXh8

Photo Source: guardian.co.uk

DIY Idea of the Day

These yarn covered bottles make great centerpieces! They would be extremely inexpensive. You could add different dimensions by using different sizes of bottles. Yarn of any color can be used so you can match them perfectly to your color scheme!

Carly and Alan 10-14-11

Carly & Alan said “I do” at the Four Seasons in Las Vegas on October 14th. They had a simple but elegant ceremony.

Candles hanging from trees made for unique decor.

Later at the reception, highlights included a cigar bar, which made for some unforgettable photo op’s.

Not only did guests have the amazing cake to munch on, which was done by Four Seasons, but they also got to enjoy a donut station!

To wrap up the evening, a pizza station provided the perfect late-night snack!

The beautiful floral was done by Foxtail Floral. The linens were supplied by Creative Coverings. Planning done by Simply Weddings by Brit Bertino. Thank you to Ron Miller Photography for the fabulous pictures!

Flower Girl Tutus

Idea of the day: Flower Girl tutus. This is a very inexpensive and creative way to dress your flower girl(s)! The outfit can be created with a leotard or shirt and a tutu! You can add a ribbon for a belt or flowers as embellishments. I saw a lot of pictures that had made an adult sized tutu into a dress for a toddler. You can just add straps to the dress with ribbons and glue some flowers on the chest to add some detail!

Photo Source: Sedona Wedding Blog & Posh Baby Store

Postrio

Last week Brit and I had the pleasure of meeting with Leah Gulla, the Catering Sales Manager for Wolfgang Puck Private Dining & Catering, at Postrio in the Venetian. No thanks to the G2E Convention crowd, we made it and enjoyed a wonderful lunch.

For an appetizer we ordered to-die-for Truffled Potato Chips. These freshly made potato chips covered in truffle oil and bleu cheese made for a delicious appetizer. For lunch, I ordered Ricotta Gnocchi with Sweet Fennel Sausage Bolognese. It reminded me of my summer trip in Italy. Leah recommended any of the wood oven baked pizzas. She added that Wolfgang’s signature pizzas are ideal for tray pass items at receptions; they are cute into small squares so they make a great finger food! A big thank you to Executive Chef Mark Sandoval.

Leah has been with Wolfgang Puck for five and a half years. The dining group includes the restaurants Spago, Lupo, Postrio, Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Cut, Pizzeria & Cucina, and Pod’s. When we asked her what she liked most about the company, Leah replied that she loves their branding and that they provide high quality food and service, whether its a small event or a large banquet.

Along with Wolfgang Puck’s exquisite dining, each of the restaurants have their own pastry chef, who can tailor any of their six standard designs to create your dream wedding cake. Postrio does not provide wedding floral but will be more than accommodating with outside florists. The pastry chefs will also work with you if you’d like flowers on your wedding cake. Postrio also provides a sign-in table and white linens.

One thing that is very unique about Postrio is that it is one of the few restaurants on the strip that can fit a DJ and dancefloor in their private dining rooms.

Postrio also has amazingly inexpensive open-bar packages. For just $46, your guests can enjoy four hours of Premium open-bar. This includes cocktails, house select red and white wines, imported and domestic beer, soft drinks, and fruit juices.

Postrio has several spaces available for private events.

For Lunch/Dinner:

• Banquet Room I: Up to 60 guests
• Banquet Room II: Up to 100 guests
• Cafe: Up to 125 guests
• Main Dining room: Up to 175 guests
• Entire Restaurant: Up to 300 guests

For a cocktail reception:

• Banquet Room I: Up to 75 guests
• Banquet Room II: Up to 150 guests
• Cafe: Up to 150 guests
• Main Dining Room: Up to 400 guests
• Entire Restaurant: Up to 600 guests.

Located inside of the Venetian, Postrio is the perfect place for a wonderful reception. They often work with the chapel, which is a quick and easy transition for your guests!

Table Top Tuesday

This table exudes nature’s beauty!

Ceremony Seating

Everyone knows the traditional seating set up for wedding ceremonies. But why don't you shake things up a bit?

Set your chairs up in a circular formation. Your guests will love your creativity and will enjoy the 360 degree view of your ceremony!

Or just ditch the traditional chairs all together!

Use pews or even bails of hay!

Photo Source: Green Wedding Shoes, Amy's All Things Weddings, Manolo Brides

Wedding Hairstyles: We love braids.

This hairstyle features three loose french braids.

You can add ribbons of any color to a braid. This bride's ribbon matches her bouquet and the table linens.

Braids can create a very romantic and elegant wedding hairstyle. There are hundreds of hair styles that can be created with braids!

Castle Green in Pasadena, CA

Last week Brit had the opportunity to visit Castle Green in Pasadena, CA. The entire time she was touring the property she couldn’t stop texting me about how overwhelmingly beautiful the grounds were. We couldn’t resist sharing it with our followers!

The Southern California property is a 113 year old Nationally Registered Historic Monument and Officially Designated Pasadena Treasure. Castle Green was built during the Victorian era and has now been fully restored, including every architectural detail and color.

It’s vast grounds include a lily pond, arched walkways, verandas, and magnificent trees. Along with expansive lawns the Castle Green is the perfect place for an enchanting outdoor ceremony or reception.

The interior spaces are furnished with original Victorian antiques and plush velvet drapes, setting a scene similar to the Golden Age of America. Not much decor is needed, since the surroundings embody luxury. However, if elaborate decor is your wedding wish, Castle Green is more than happy to cater to you.

Something very unique about Castle Green is that they only allow one event per day, which ensures you a private event, with no rushing or distractions.

Imagine your guests watching you say your vows by the pond, moving on to cocktails in the lobby below the Grand Staircase, and ending up in the ballroom for dinner and dancing. At Castle Green your options and nearly endless, making decisions rather difficult! The property has so many beautiful settings.

Photo Source: CastleGreen.com

The Internation School of Hospitality's Wedding Coordination and Design Program

The International School of Hospitality (TISOH) in Las Vegas is one of a kind. Founded in 2004 by University of Nevada, Las Vegas professors, TISOH offers an unprecedented educational experience. With the pineapple as their symbol, TISOH educates in all areas of hospitality. Their Wedding Coordination and Design (WCD) Certification provides students with the knowledge needed to fully coordinate a wedding.

Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to meet with TISOH’s Director, Timothy Lam, MIBS, MS. With a background in International Marketing, Tim had always loved hotels, which inspired him to make a career change. Tim hopes that TISOH can give other people the same opportunity to follow their dreams in a career they are passionate about. He and the other professors understand that a four-year college education isn’t for everyone, which inspired TISOH’s programs. Along with Wedding Coordination and Design, other programs include Conference Management and Event Planning, Meeting and Event Catering, Hotel Operations, and Concierge.

The Wedding Coordination and Design Program features a unique curriculum covering everything from cultural and religious ceremonies to green weddings, and all of the essentials that go into planning the big day. Taught by industry professionals, classes of six to ten students receive a hands-on education. During the program the students actually plan a real wedding. They are also required to a 30-hour externship.

TISOH’s programs offer a once in a lifetime networking opportunity. Instructors like Brit Bertino, CSEP, who started her own wedding planning company, Simply Weddings by Brit Bertino, build personal relationships with students and enjoy enhancing their education by taking them on as interns and possibly even employees!

Since TISOH’s opening, Mr. Lam has seen many changes. He is proud that the quality of the students continues to improve, and the school’s ability to attract high level industry professionals is increasing. With more alumni graduating each year and returning to help out at TISOH, all of the programs are improving.

Mr. Timothy Lam hopes to elevate the status of the industry by continuing to produce alumni that are fully prepared to plan exquisite weddings.

The Wedding Coordination and Design program is a 90-hour program that can be completed in either a three-month semester, meeting two times each week, or on the fasttrack which means five days a week for one month. For more information on the WCD program click HERE to visit TISOH’s website.

If you’re passionate about planning weddings and want to get your start in the industry, enroll online! TISOH has WCD programs starting on October 31, 2011 and January 23, 2012.

Mandalay Bay Wedding Chapel

This month I had the pleasure of meeting with Ada at Mandalay Bay. Working as the Chapel Director for over five years she's seen thousands of weddings. Under her direction the chapel has won several awards including The Bride's Best Wedding Chapel 2008 and The Knot's Best of Weddings 2011.

The Mandalay Bay Chapel is home to three rooms. They are beautifully decorated in a monochromatic minimalistic tone. The decor is identical, however their sizes differ. The Platinum Chapel is the largest and can accommodate up to 100 guests. The Gold and Silver Chapels can hold up to 50 guests. Mandalay Bay's Chapel does about 1,500 weddings each year.


Mandalay Bay also offers "weddings by the water". Say "I do" on Las Vegas' only beach. The world famous wave pool will create a beautiful backdrop for your ceremony. These weddings are possible Sunday through Thursday at 7 or 8pm. Weddings by the water can accommodate up to 150 guests. Ada does about 200 weddings on the beach each year and she wants more!


Mandalay Bay is also starting to host weddings at Minus 5 Ice Lounge. The bar and lounge is kept at a constant temperature of minus five degrees Celsius. The decor is mostly crystal featuring several ice sculptures made from pure Canadian ice. Saying your vows in this icy wonderland would be truly unforgettable. The Ice Lounge can accommodate up to 150 guests in a reception setting.

Other reception venues include the 1,500 square foot Vista Suite or any of Mandalay Bay's several restaurants. Mix restaurant is located at the top of the hotel, providing breathtaking views of the strip. Aureole is a four diamond restaurant that boasts a menu of seasonal dishes, as well as a four-story wine tower complete with its own Wine Angel Stewards who gracefully retrieve the wines. Shanghai Lilly is also a beautiful choice with unique decor featuring ancient forms of Asian leisure with romantic lifestyle themes.


Mandalay Bay is also home to the world-famous Chef Vincent Pilon. Born in France, Chef Pilon has years of experience and has become a Master Chocolatier. His expertise will make your wedding cake and desserts to die for.

With over 25 wedding packages ranging from $750-$23,000, we can help you find the right one for your wedding. Mandalay Bay also has its own floral department, photographers, catering and pastry chef on-site, so you don't need to worry about anything on your big day!

Hard Rock Cafe: Las Vegas Boulevard

Do you want to have a rockin' wedding? If so, this venue is for you.

Boasting original outfits, microphones and guitar picks used by music legends such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Tina Turner, Elton John, and Madonna, the Hard Rock Cafe is one of a kind.


Located on the second story the cafe provides a panoramic view of the strip. Take photos with New York New York, Monte Carlo, Excalibur, Mandalay Bay, and City Center in the background without moving more than a few yards!


The Hard Rock Cafe is very reasonably priced. To buy out the entire third floor the Food and Beverage minimum is $25,000. This can also include retail in the store located on the first floor. The third floor can seat up to 450 guests or accommodate up to 800 for a reception setting. With over 20 monitors, with two separate feeds, you can have a slideshow or music videos running throughout your reception. Custom menus are available, including a buffet style dinner.


Outdoor weddings are possible at the Hard Rock Cafe! Celebrate over the famous Las Vegas Boulevard with up to 65 guests on the patio. The venue also has a chapel! Featuring dozens of photos of famous couples, from Yoko Ono and John Lennon to Elvis and Priscilla. The chapel can accommodate up to 85 guests for a ceremony and 100 for a reception. For a smaller wedding specific areas can be used. The Cavern Club can hold up to 60 guests and the Iron Curtain Lounge can hold 30-40 guests. In the Iron Curtain Lounge your guests can even play with the Microsoft interactive touch screen tables!

Overall this venue is extremely diverse. Indoors, outdoors, big, or small, Simply Weddings by Brit Bertino and the staff at the Hard Rock Cafe Las Vegas can make your wedding visions a reality.