It seems like no one wants to put the label “recession” on our current economic situation, but most folks are feeling a bit of a pinch money-wise lately. 

Not the perfect time to be planning your dream wedding but, luckily, there are a number of ways to make your cheap Vegas wedding fun and chic.

(Note: Click on any of the thumbnail-size pictures to see larger version)

How to Make Your Cheap Vegas Wedding Chic and Fun

The most basic wedding need is a license, which costs $55 in Las Vegas, with no blood test and no waiting period. 

For your other wedding needs, prices can range, and you’re going to have to call around a bit to scope out your best options.

Dressing up by taking the price down

Dressing for your wedding doesn’t have to run you into the hole but you don’t have to look cheap to have a cheap Vegas wedding, either.  Instead of buying designated wedding duds, go shopping for a nice white dress and a clean, moderately priced suit. 

The White House Black Market is a great place to start for the bride and bridesmaids. 

Men should check out places like the Men’s Warehouse or Macy's.  You can easily find something elegant in the hundreds rather than the thousands if you look around.

Cheap, great places to tie the knot in Las Vegas

Wedding chapels in Las Vegas come in all sizes, shapes and prices. While a more “humble” chapel may not meet the needs of a high-class affair, you can use the pure Vegas-ness of these establishments to make your cheap Vegas wedding a fun affair. 

Being married by a celebrity impersonator (Elvis being the most time-honored) makes for great photo ops, lots of laughs and a good story to bring back home.  For around $400-$600, you can have your favorite celebrity walk you down the aisle, perform a couple of songs and officiate your wedding service.  These packages usually include a small chapel to host your ceremony, photography, flowers and limousine services.

If you’re not interested in the kitsch factor, there are some great little spots to host smaller weddings.  We are particularly fond of Chapel of the Flowers, which has some beautiful indoor and outdoor options. 

Chapel of the Flowers

This Vegas chapel has received numerous recognition from the press.  Bride magazine recently proclaimed that "Chapel of the Flowers has the prettiest decor of any free-standing wedding chapel in Las Vegas."

Their Vegas wedding packages run from $195 to $10,000, many including photography, decorations, an officiant and transportation.
 

For indoor weddings, Chapel of the Flowers has 3 different chapels to choose from.

Their Victorian Chapel (shown at left) seats up to 30  weddings guests, while their largest chapel, the La Capella Chapel, can seat up to 70 guests.

For those who prefer an outdoor wedding, Chapel of the Flowers has beautiful outdoor wedding settings on their grounds. 

Their gazebo (shown at left) can fit up to 8 people inside the gazebo itself.  Seats can be set up adjacent to the gazebo for additional guests.

Learn more about Chapel of the Flowers

You won’t be able to host a huge wedding at most cheap Vegas chapels, but if you’re cutting costs, you may have to cut your guest list, as well.

Revamping the wedding reception, part 1: a nice meal

Instead of booking a venue and hiring a catering service, take your guests out to a nice meal at one of the chic and gourmet restaurants in Vegas.  You’ll not only get great service and great food but you’ll be dining in some amazing atmospheres. 

 Restaurants in the $100/person range

Check out the beautiful, romantic Le Cirque at the Bellagio.

For a more sophisticated atmosphere, check out Mandalay Bay’s Aureole (shown at left), home of a 40-foot wine tower. 

Meals are not cheap at these places (three-course meals can run about $100 per person), but can be more reasonable than a traditional reception. 

Restaurants in the $50/person range

For the under $50 range, check out these lovely restaurants:

-  Postrio at the Venetian

-  Todd English’s Olives at Bellagio (shown at left)

-  Chinois at Caesars

A Las Vegas wedding meal at one of these eateries will be just as memorable as a catered reception.

Revamping the wedding reception, part 2: A Night out on the Strip

To dance the night away, follow your meal up with a night out on the town. 

While you can definitely end up dishing out some bucks at Vegas night clubs, if you get started early enough you’ll be spending a fraction of what it would cost to rent out and decorate a space and hire a DJ. 

Check out some of our articles on Vegas nightlife for more tips.

More Vegas Wedding Tips

A cheap Vegas wedding doesn’t have to look that way.  By doing your research and maybe cutting out a few luxuries, you can have a beautiful ceremony and memorable time that won’t start your married life with a huge amount of debt.  Check out some more tips in our other articles on weddings in Las Vegas.
  

Photo credits: Photos of the Chapel of the Flowers, a relatively cheap Vegas chapel, are courtesy of Chapel of the Flowers.  Photo of Aureole restaurant at Mandalay Bay, and photo of Todd English's Olives restaurant at Bellagio are courtesy of MGM Mirage;  photo of Pure night club in Vegas is courtesy of Caesar's Palace and Pure Las Vegas.