A Las Vegas Destination wedding weekend:
 Elvis is in the House

Laura, 33, and Barry, 47, who live in Edmonton, Alberta, said their “I do’s” high above the Las Vegas strip at the Stratosphere Hotel.

The festivities began the night before the wedding, with a cocktail party at a restaurant in Las Vegas. Everyone on their 30-person guest list was invited to the casual dinner.

“It was a nice way for people to mingle and get to know each other,” says Laura.

The ceremony took place the following evening, just before sunset (it was a January wedding) inside a banquet room 104 floors above the Las Vegas strip.

“In Vegas you can really do almost anything, if you ask. I really didn't want to get married in a chapel. A lot of the hotels thought I was crazy or wouldn't offer me other options. I was persistent and found a place that would do the exact wedding I wanted. I'm so happy we didn't compromise!” explains Laura.

Because the couple met at a Mariner’s baseball game, their ceremony had a baseball theme.

“Reverend Ron, with our urging, wrote a service with a baseball theme. He wore a suit, but also a Mariners baseball cap. He explained how we met and then asked our guests to sing his version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame", which he wrote especially for us. Also, the best man hid the rings in a baseball glove under his coat. When it came time for them, he pulled the glove out and got a good chuckle from the audience,” says Laura. “It was awesome! I'm really glad we decided on having a really unique ceremony that reflected our personalities!”

A buffet reception, complete with speeches, followed the ceremony.

And what would a Las Vegas wedding be without an Elvis impersonator?

At 7:30, the rhinestone-studded superstar made a surprise visit, singing a couple of his favorite tunes, before getting his mug taken with some of the wedding guests.  

“He was a hit,” says Laura.

By 8:30, the festivities were over, but that didn’t mean the celebration was done. The following morning all of the guests were invited to a farewell brunch. 

“It was a nice way to get to say goodbye to everyone,” says Laura.