To elope to vegas with kids

[Belle1430]

Been engaged for almost 10 years and we have 2 children. We want to get married but do not want to spend a fortune on one day so therefore will never do the big traditional day and also I do not want the stress of planning a big wedding.

I am planning on spending Christmas with my family in Canada so have been thinking of stopping off in vegas for a few days before and getting married. Will be just myself, fiancé, children (aged 9 and 5) and possibly my fiancés parents.

Anyone been to Vegas around Christmas that can tell me if it will be nice for the children?

Also, will I regret eloping? I really don’t think we will ever get married otherwise as I just won’t plan a bigger wedding. Even a micro wedding seems too much to plan and all the traditions aren’t for me.

I would probably not tell anyone and just announce that we finally did it afterwards.

And my mum will come too.

That sounds more expensive and more planning required than just heading to the local registry office and having a meal afterwards.
Stopping off at Vegas isn’t exactly cheap … or quick!

We are going to Canada anyways so flight wise it isn’t that much more in price for the flights. I also work for an airline so I am able to get cheaper tickets.
I guess it’s the planning of another type of wedding that puts me off. Even a small registry office wedding and the politics of it all, whether to have no friends or a few friends (which then offends more people) this feels easier and we get a little holiday/experience at the same time.

I just don’t want to regret doing it in a smaller way but it just seems like less stress so very appealing.

Why Vegas?
Why not just do it at home in a registry office and then go out for a nice meal with whomever..nearest & dearest..and have similar meal in Canada.
Is the potential Vegas trip solely for the marriage?

I attended a wedding in vegas in may. Can’t comment on the Christmas aspect.
but what I would say is vegas is no place for
children. The wedding ceremony itself was just 15 minutes long then we were on our way, so no problem with them at the wedding per se but it was so short and such a tiny aspect of the trip. The last vegas strip on a night- it was packed and there’s entertainers in the street which aren’t suitable for kids. Every hotel is basically a huge casino.
I wouldn't feel comfortable taking my kids there

One of my friends got married in Vegas, she took her two young children and they had a fab time! I could t go as I was pregnant but she sent a link and live streamed it which was lovely! I think it’s what you make it!

Can’t comment on Vegas but both my sisters had very small, sort of secret weddings. One had to get a witness off the street ( a builder) who was thrilled! One will celebrate her 40th anniversary next year and neither regretted not having a bigger ‘do’. My one sister in particular couldn’t stand the thought of being on display and is quite reserved. Do what you want to do.

Loved vegas at Christmas, the decorations are beautiful. There’s plenty for kids to look at without stopping in casinos.
what a lovely idea.

Would be going to vegas solely for the sake of a wedding but feel it could be more exciting than a registry wedding and could make it feel more special to us and make it just about us and our children rather than other people. Vegas was also the first place we went to as a couple (pre children)

I’d potentially throw a party at a later date but right now just focusing on the elopement and will think about a party afterwards.

We looked at getting married in Vegas and they’ve really tightened up the rules (to stop YOLO weddings I expect) definitely research properly and soon as I think you need to register 3/4 months before you go!

Vegas is what you make it, lots isn’t suitable for children but an awful lot is! It’s not warm so you probably won’t be using the pools etc in the day time.

Have a fabulous time!

Do it, you won’t regret it. I had a small wedding abroad I loved it but would have liked it even smaller and I was very similar 12 years together with a 9 and 5 year old I’m now 21 years together and married for 9 as of yesterday 😊

Depends on kids age really. I always think it's like Disneyland for adults. Teens will love it. Younger ones will enjoy the pool and the visual spectacular and rides too. They don't have to drink and gamble!
I eloped for 1st wedding. Never regretted it.
Miniature casual destination wedding for 2nd. Both suited me perfectly.
Had a massive party at home afterwards for the 2nd wedding and that was great too.

I’ve been to Vegas in the summer with teenagers. There are nicer places to go with kids. There is a lot of stuff that’s not suitable for kids - every hotel is a massive casino and all the money coming into Vegas attracts all sorts, meaning there are also a lot of prostitutes, homeless and drug addicts. We were also in LA and San Francisco, but Vegas was the place were I felt most unsafe (when off the strip) and where I encountered the most people who were clearly mentally unstable, high as a kite on drugs and prostitutes openly looking for clients. To give an example, when driving to our hotel we passed a lady who was masturbating (while standing at traffic lights on a pretty busy street, in fact I think it was the end of the strip). If you stay on the new end of the Strip you won’t encounter homeless or addicts, but you will see prositutes looking for clients in the casinos (your children won’t notice but you will see it if you look) and of course loads of gambling addicts sitting at the slot machines like zombies. You can’t avoid the casinos as you have to walk through them to get anywhere - the breakfast buffet is through the casino, the exit is through the casino etc etc.

We stayed with kids in a hotel that wasn't a casino, it had a pool and restaurants and was nice. We took them to a couple of shows, saw the fountains, went to the Hoover Dam, went to the Area 51 museum which was an unlikely hit. They found some of it eyeopening and still talk about it. They all want to go again now they are old enought to drink and gamble (hmmm). There are some prostitutes and drug addicts and gambling additcts - but how much of that kids will pick up on I'm not sure.

To be fair that was 10 years ago - my husband went back for work this year and said it hasn't changed much.

There are probably nicer places to go with kids - but if you have been before and enjoyed it....then why not?

As to the regretting a small wedding - it sounds like it's the wedding you want and if your mum can be there great. But have a think about who else might want to be there...I'd have been hurt if any of my siblings had got married and I hadn't been invited...

DO IT! Much more exciting than a registry office, surrounded by your children and parents!

I think vegas is a bit of an odd choice.

i would do a nicer location elopement

Agree with this. I went to a close friend’s wedding in Vegas. She already had a child with the groom and chose Vegas for the simplicity / ease of it, similar to the OP. My friend seemed happy enough but I found the experience a bit depressing as it really was a conveyor belt of brides going through the chapel. Literally only in the chapel for 5 mins and you see the next bride queuing up outside. I found it sad.

We eloped to Barbados to get married, just me, DH & DSS and we don't regret it at all, absolutely everyone understood & it cost the price of a lovely holiday & not having to organise anything so no stress at all.

If we hadn't eloped I don't think we would have married

With all those people it's hardly eloping.

Go to Vegas and do it if that's what you fancy but cut down on the numbers.

In terms of regret, would a small wedding in Canada with all your immediate family be a Christmas option.

Do it how you want to do it, whatever that may be. Don't be pressured by family or friends to do it a particular way. I see eloping is just getting married without lots of guests, usually just witnesses who are sometimes parents.

If you do the UK registry office then it becomes a case of where do you stop the invitations? Is there anywhere in Canada you could get married? Just thinking options for you of the Vegas part doesn't work out logistically.

I think it sounds like a great idea! My DD had a karate tournament there when she was 10, it was only for one day but we stayed for about 4 days and had a blast. She's easily entertained, so walking the strip and visiting the different hotels was enough for her. But there's more than just gambling in Vegas, which I didn't know until I went there. I also think it depends on the child, I could see my sister being bored there at a young age, but I would've loved it cause I just love going to new places and exploring. My DD is the same and even now, 20 years later speaks fondly of our time there.

I've been to Vegas at Christmas. I wouldn't take young kids.

Why not get married in Canada?

Great idea!! 💫

That’s surprising information. The Clark County website still says there’s no waiting period, and it doesn’t appear to have changed much in the 10 years since we “eloped”.