Sara + Paul eloped in Vegas with an intimate Bellagio Las Vegas wedding. The only people present were the couple, the wedding planner, the officiant and me! These two didn’t want to spend time or money planning a wedding that felt like it was for their guests instead of themselves, so traveled to our city from Illinois to say their vows. They looked at several venues for their ceremony, including an in-suite ceremony, but ultimately settled on the Bellagio’s gorgeous Terrazza di Sogno. This private balcony overlooking the fountains is only used for weddings. It’s amazing how you can spot thousands of people out on the street across the water, but the feel is very quiet and serene on this beautiful terrace. Sara descended the stairs to embrace her love, they said personal vows, exchanged rings, and just as they kissed, the fountains went off. Magic.
We moved on to do some intimate portraits at the greenery arches by the pool area–in February the pool is closed, which is absolutely the best time to try and get photos in that spot. It’s crazy crowded in summer! As we were by the pool, Sara + Paul’s song came on (their song, you know?) and since they weren’t doing a reception, I told them to share a first dance and ignore me as I snapped away. They cuddled and both teared up and it made for a truly special moment. We also went out to the front of Bellagio to grab some shots of the next fountain show, and we ran into Chewie. Paul’s a Star Wars fan, so why not take a photo?! Paris Las Vegas was our last stop from some pretty architectural photos just as the sun was going down.
One thing you might not know is that most of the properties on the Strip have an in-house photography company and don’t allow outside photographers. So how was I able to photograph this gorgeous wedding? Sara had this advice, “We were able to negotiate with Bellagio to allow Kristen on site. If you are looking into one of these hotels for your ceremony, and having Kristen as your photographer is important to you, let the venue know and they should accommodate you for a small fee.” I’m so glad they were able to have me there! Sara + Paul’s wedding was an absolutely joyous start to my 2020 wedding season!
Planner: Desirable Events by Desi | Venue & Floral: Bellagio | Hair: Glammed Up | Makeup: Makeup by Rose C
