If you haven't read the first 5 parts of Serious Relationships, I forgive you. For now.
This is a big one.
Joe and I decided to go on vacation this one time...
The Short Engagement
We flew into Las Vegas on Suday, August 30th, 2010, and checked into Excalibur. On our way through the lobby, we got suckered into going to a time share presentation early the next morning.
Around 8am the next day, we reported to the group tour desk and were shuttle-bussed to the sales pitch. On the bright side, we got as many free doughnuts as we wanted. We said no in a variety of ways for a couple hours, and finally were rewarded with two tickets to the Tournament of Kings and $75 worth of food vouchers for MGM Grand.
On the shuttle bus home, we started to plan the rest of our week. One of the first things I asked, was if Joe wanted to go downtown…meaning to the courthouse. Joe said he definitely wanted to do that. I was a little surprised at the quick ok. To clarify, I asked, “What downtown are you talking about?”
“Oh, that downtown,” he said. “I think we should.”
“Me too.”
A few seconds passed in silence. Then, “Does that mean we are engaged?” he asked.
“I guess so,” was my reply.
The Quick Preparation
When we got back to the hotel, we went to the information desk to ask the best way to get downtown. The lady behind the counter gave us the lazy answer of “take a cab.”
A $25 cab ride later, we were at the Clark County courthouse. Inside we filled out a form stating our names, our parents names, and checked the box that said we weren’t second cousins or closer. Reassuring isn't it.
Fifteen minutes or so later we forked over $60 cash only please and had our marriage license.
A $20 cab ride later, thank you dumb cabbie for forgetting to switch the little lever, and we were back at Excalibur.
We headed out to look for rings and clothes for the “blessed event.” We checked a few places and saw a couple tuxedo t-shirts, but we wanted a blue one with the ruffles. Unfortunately we couldn’t find one.
That night we went to the Tournament of Kings and managed to stay up until about 10 o’clock Vegas time.
Yeah! Soup! Yeah!
The next morning we power-shopped. We got Joe’s tuxedo t-shirt and shortly after that, he found a ring he liked for $10. It was a spinner with a sweet dragon on it.
I decided to buy one of the wrap and tie dresses and found a kiosk with a black and white one and a pink one. Then we found another kiosk with rings and such and I found my $6 ring.
We headed back to the hotel after lunch and got dressed. I gathered my old bracelet, my new bracelet, my borrowed pen, and my blue playing card and we headed up the strip.
The Actual Wedding
We hadn’t gotten up the strip very far before we headed out to pick our chapel. While riding on “The Duece,” the Vegas strip bus, we saw A Little White Wedding Chapel and got off at the next stop.
We chose the package with a few photos and Joe added a rose. While Joe was paying Roxanne, who would later be our witness, I remembered we needed cash for the minister and the photographer. Roxanne directed me to the ATM in the chapel, but it was out of cash. So, I headed next door to the Howard Johnson’s. Their ATM was out of service. So, I headed back to the chapel to let Joe know I had to go elsewhere.
Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever been to Vegas, but it gets warm there. I had to walk about a half a block to Wells Fargo. And, half a block back to the chapel. I believe that works out to approximately 29 miles. I was gone long enough to make Joe nervous. I had a few minutes to cool off back in the air conditioning while we talked to the minister.
We chose a non-denominational service. He asked if we wanted a prayer and we said not really.
Inside the chapel, Roxanne helped us prep. She sent Joe to his place and had me stand back so I could walk down the aisle. I had not planned to do that. Our minister gave us some last minute cues and we got started.
The service was a little different than we were expecting. After a quick prayer we heard him read a verse (1 Corinthians) which threw us off a bit. We kept it together and a few minutes later we were married.
“We can do it again.”
The minister caught us outside as we were heading to the photo studio for our twelve pictures. He asked us if that was the service we had asked for. When we said that it actually wasn’t, he said we can do it again. We said that it was ok. We felt better about only giving him the minimum recommended tip.
Photo Photo
Inside the photo studio, we had to wait on the couple ahead of us to finish up their photo session before starting ours. The creepy photographer waved us over and we had our twelve poses. He showed them to us on the computer and gave us our CD. Joe tipped him since they were not completely hideous.
The Extravagant Toast
We headed to the bus stop, but I was extremely parched. That was the only day I forgot to bring a bottle of water with me. We ran into the 7 Eleven on our way and got a some water and iced tea. Joe said I couldn't get my picture taking with the nice lady standing by the curb even if she was "Our First Hooker Spotted while Married."
The Wedding Feast
That evening we headed downtown to eat at an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. After crab legs, oysters, and several other varieties of seafood we had some carrot cake and headed back outside to see the “Fremont Street Experience.”
We worked our way back down the strip on the Duece watching the Treasure Island Pirate Show, the Mirage volcano, and the Bellagio fountains.
We had a great time getting hitched Las Vegas style and the rest of the week was just as fun. I highly recommend it.
No comments:
Post a Comment