The Ultimate Las Vegas Wedding
Since she was in 7th grade Tessa knew she wanted to get married in Las Vegas. Now here she is, making it a reality with Chris. Not only did they have the quintessential wedding chapel experience, they also explored the natural beauty of Red Rock Canyon and the bright lights of Fremont Street. All the best parts of Vegas, rolled into one fabulous day.
First Look
To kick off the day Tessa and Chris shared a private first look at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino where they and their guests were staying for the trip. The Grand is a great hotel located right next to Fremont Street within walking distance of several restaurants and bars.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, Las Vegas
Next, the three of us jumped in the car together to take portraits in Red Rock Canyon without any guests. It was important to the couple to have time alone in nature before the rush of a stricter timeline began. This was the perfect activity to keep the day centered around what brings them joy. Once at Red Rock we drove the scenic loop and stopped periodically for photos.
Red Rock Canyon was perfectly situated for their day... just 30 minutes from The Strip. Red Rock Canyon is one of my favorite spots for elopements for so many reasons, one of them being its proximity to all the amenities of Las Vegas. Click here if you want to learn more about how to elope in Red Rock Canyon.
Ceremony & Dinner on The Strip
After returning to the hotel a limo took the couple to their ceremony location. They said their vows at Chapel of the Flowers Glass Gardens with their closest family and friends present. They wrote their vows separately but they perfectly mirrored each other. Tessa's shocked facial expressions say it all! It couldn't be more clear that they were already of one mind. After their ceremony we took group portraits outside the chapel.
Once their classic Las Vegas wedding was complete, it was onward to dinner at Galpão Gaucho, a Brazilian steakhouse, on The Strip. They had a private room to eat, relax, and celebrate.
Wedding Portraits on Fremont Street
After dinner the newlyweds and I hopped in a Lyft to Fremont Street for portraits. We started at the iconic bar Atomic Liquor and slowly walked toward Circa. Tessa and Chris were carefree and ready to celebrate their marriage. Old school Vegas photos were a MUST, so we got lots of gorgeous shots with the signature neon lights of Las Vegas.
As luck would have it, the band Taking Back Sunday was playing for free (!!!) on Fremont that night. Tessa and Chris are fans and had a blast watching their set projected onto the ceiling.
Ending the Evening at Circa
Eventually our walk up Fremont Street led us to our final destination of the evening: Circa. Tessa and Chris got a couple of drinks upstairs in Circa's Legacy Club. The rooftop views were breathtaking but they only had eyes for each other. They met up with friends and family, took photos with the iconic neon Vegas Vickie in the lobby, and ended the night at a bar bathed in Vickie's neon glow. It was a truly fabulous Las Vegas wedding!
