January 14, 2006
Las Vegas, NV
Little White Wedding Chapel

Charlie and I decided to get married in Vegas for lots of reasons. It was kind of freaking me out trying to plan a big wedding all on my own, and we just got tired of waiting. I kept saying I'd set a date when I lost a little weight, when we had more cash on hand, when... etc, etc, etc.

Finally, in around November of 2005, we decided we'd just go to Vegas and DO IT!!!!! It was *not easy* keeping this a secret for so long. But we didn't want everyone to try and come, knowing lots of people might have a hard time affording it or planning for it or getting off work or all those other complicated issues. Once we made the decision we wanted the entire thing to be just about us. Selfish, I know. :) To be clear, this was not meant to be hurtful to anyone or to make anyone feel unimportant or anything like that. We love every one of our family! But this was our day.

The day of our wedding, Charlie went to go wander the Strip by himself while I and my lone girlfriend Stacy went to go get pampered at a spa like a bride-to-be is supposed to. I had a wonderful massage, relaxed, worked out, and then went back to our hotel room to get ready. I did my hair all by myself; it took forever! My girlfriend Stacy was with me hanging out and offering moral support throughout. (I was very lucky in that Stacy's job is sending her all over the country for work right now... so it was a piece of cake for her to come. Also, she loves Vegas! Also, she went on Charlie's and my first Official Date with us... !)

Charlie did come back to the room while I was in the midst of getting ready, and was greeted by Me, the Bride Shrew. I was not ready for him to see me yet! LOL! So he went back out so I could finish getting dressed. (Thank you honey!) I am quite sure, had I had a big wedding planned with many many important details, I would've had several more shrewish moments. As it was, that was my only one. (I think... honey?)

Finally around 6:30 Charlie came back to the room, I was all ready, and our photographer showed up. I hired a wonderful girl in Vegas to take our photos, and she did a fabulous job! I love them! As a bonus, she was very cool and fun to hang out with. Which was great, as our limo was a bit late to pick us up. It did finally arrive, though, and took us to the Chapel. When we arrived, we pulled into the Tunnel of Love. Charlie and I had chosen to be married in a drive-through tunnel, which sounds so cheesy! And the truth is, it was so cheesy! But not in a bad, sad way... more in a fun, upbeat, "This is VEGAS, baby!" kind of way. They actually have built a tunnel for weddings there, and the ceiling is painted in deep blue to look like a night sky. Tiny little lights fade and glow and flicker and it really is beautiful. The cherubs were a little creepy, but still it was all fine!

I was so nervous by this time, and they leaned in the limo window and asked if we had our marriage license, which we'd gotten our first day in Vegas. I looked at Charlie, who is always the responsible one and always takes care of matters like this... and my darlings face was utterly blank. Except for his eyes, which had a kind of "deer in the headlights" look to them.

They sent us back to the hotel to get the license. :) Charlie is definitely entitled one moment of forgetfulness on his big day!!!!

Our photographer was wonderful through all of this. I loved one thing she said, at one point she asked Charlie to look at the camera and said that he just couldn't take his eyes off me... "But would you please, for the picture?" That just tickled me pink. The truth is I couldn't take my eyes off him either.

Finally we made it back, with our license, and everything got settled. We stood up through the sunroof of the limo for the ceremony. It was about 40 degrees and windy out, but it is so wierd... I did not feel the cold AT ALL. It was like the entire universe fell away when the officiant began speaking, except for Charlie. You can see in the photos that my makeup starts out all perfect, but through the ceremony my nose gets redder and redder and redder... I was trying so hard not to laugh and cry all at once.

I know our vows included the words, "As I stand here in the sunroof of this limo at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas," but I don't remember the rest... a mishmash of things about our being best friends and supporting each other and the "better and worse," stuff... and then they were saying "Mr. Vedaa, you may kiss your bride." And then we were kissing and laughing and crying together.

This wedding was so perfect for us. We were laughing and happy through the entire thing, and just had a fabulous time. It was FUN! I think sometimes weddings are not fun for people, but this one was.

Afterwards we went to the Voodoo Lounge & Cafe at the Rio hotel. They have a restaurant there on the 52 floor, which overlooks all of Las Vegas. It was amazing, and we got some pics out on their deck, with Vegas in the background, even with the cold. (Which I still did not feel!) Thanks for reading about our wedding... I hope you enjoy all the pictures!!!!

click here for the picture gallery