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April 04, 2012

Day 62, 18th October 2011. Zion NP - Las Vegas

Our alarms were set for 5.45am this morning, but by 5am me and Gary were both wide awake and SO EXCITED, the only time I’ve ever been that excited at that time of the morning before is to go to Disney. It was also the very first time in the entire trip that I was the first one to be ready to leave. I was all packed up and sitting waiting to leave by about 6.15am, even though we weren’t leaving until 7am, haha. I was being way too excitable, everyone thought I was just excited to go to Vegas, because they didn’t know I was excited to be going to Vegas to GET MARRIED!! Kirsty told me that I had to calm down because I was being too crazy.

Because I had nothing else to do, I downloaded The Hangover soundtrack on my phone (I know, what a loser) so that I could listen to it on the way to Vegas. We left just after 7am, and after about half an hour we stopped at Walmart, where we managed to get some wedding rings. We only had about 15 minutes there and it was a massive store, so it took us about 10 minutes to find the jewellery counter. When we got there, there was no member of staff as it was only 7.30am, so I sent Gary around the store looking for someone, while trying to make sure none of the rest of the group overheard us.  When the woman that worked there came over we literally just said ‘we need wedding bands, any wedding bands’. The smallest one they had in stock was a little big on me, but it wasn’t that bad so I got it, but they didn’t have a matching one for Gary, so he had to get a different one, we didn’t really care to be honest, we were just happy to have rings. Mine is just a plain white gold band, it matches really well with my engagement ring actually, and Gary’s was a thick silvery metal one. (notice I said WAS, his was also too big and he lost it so we had to get him a new one, so it now matches mine.)
As we walked back to the van, Mark asked us if we wanted him to take photos for the wedding, which we said he couldn’t do as the chapel said we had to have their photographer. When we got in the van I wanted to tell Kirsty and Leah we had bought our rings but couldn’t because of all the others. It didn’t take us long to get to Vegas, and we crossed another time zone, so before it even reached 10am we could see Vegas in the distance. We stopped at a gas station and I got an ice cream for breakfast (yes, we were on our way to Vegas so I could eat what I wanted lol). It was just after 10am when we reached our hotel (Hooters) and luckily they let us all check in early.

First views of Vegas baby!!




The Hooters Hotel (& Casino) was actually really nice. I used to consider myself a hotel snob, but I’d definitely stay there again. It wasn’t quite on the strip, but it was so close, it seemed like it was, and the MGM Grand was opposite. As soon as Gary and I had checked in, we made our way straight back out because we had lots to do. We had discussed last night maybe telling a few more people about the wedding because we really liked them and wanted them to come. Mike from the other group was one of them, he was one of the nicest people on the whole trip, and we saw him as we were on our way out, and asked him if he would come. He was really happy and said he would love to come.

We got a taxi outside the hotel to the Marriage License place/court house I don’t really know what to call it. It was right at the end of the strip so we were glad we didn’t walk. It was so crazy being in there, there were so many people waiting to get their marriage license. Old and young , people from so many different places. We had to wait in line for about 20 minutes, fill in some paperwork, and that was pretty much it, really easy. I wanted a photo of us outside, but there was no one to take it, so all I got was a photo of the sign while we were waiting in line. 




 Afterwards, we started walking towards the Stratosphere, where we wanted to go on the rides at the top. On the way we stopped for lunch at Denny’s, which was ok. The Stratosphere was so much fun. We went on the 3 rides at the top including the one that goes up really high. I loved them all, Gary not so much, he was acting like a little baby, so I told him to man up if he wanted to marry me lol.







View from the top of the Stratosphere


Most fun ride ever




If only we could win this...


After we left there we started walking down the Strip. There were hundreds of people lining up outside of this place.


Precious Slut tattoo, just made us laugh.


We continued walking down the strip. We stopped at the Wedding Chapel and it was so crazy to think we will be getting married there tomorrow!!!







The Strip is SO LONG and it was so hot, so we eventually got a taxi a bit further down. Gary desperately needed a haircut, and the only place we could find for him to get it done was in the Planet Hollywood. Hello $100 haircut! It literally look 5 minutes, but he needed it cut so bad because he didn’t want to look scruffy for the wedding. While he was getting it done I wandered around and took some photos of  the Casino, I was also excited because that is where Holly Maddison is in Peep Show,  and I love her.




After Gary had his haircut, we went back to the hotel to relax for a bit. I was feeling a little sick, I think it was all the excitement, so I laid down for a while. As the evening approached I felt a bit better so we got ready to go out, we were going on a limo tour around Vegas, with all 2 groups tonight, but me and Gary went for dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe first.


The ATM in the hotel only gave out $100 bills.... only in Vegas!!


Casino in Hooters












It was a really nice Hard Rock, our favourite one that we have ever been to, I had potato skins, and a chocolate brownie, it was good as always.





On the way back to the hotel, we saw Cait (the other tour leader) who was taking some of her group out to the liquor store to get drinks for the limo tonight, we went with them and when we got back to the hotel everyone went to meet in Nick and Dean’s room to drink before we went out.

We were all talking and drinking in their room when Simone from the other group came over to me and asked ‘are you nervous?’ and I was like OMG are you talking about what I think your talking about?? Neither of us wanted to say it in case we wasn’t talking about the same thing, but she said she knew we were getting married. When I asked her how, she said ‘everyone knows’.  I had a little ask around, and almost everyone knew!! Mark had told Cait, and the rumours had gone around their whole group, and apparently all of our group knew because I very loudly said to Gary in the tent a few nights before ‘What shall we do about rings?’ LOL, note to self: talk quieter!! For about 2 minutes I was upset that everyone knew, but then I got happy about it because everyone was so excited about it. I could finally get really happy about it, and everyone was saying such nice stuff to us that I stopped worrying about people knowing, and could celebrate my last night as a single girl not in secret. Me and Gary also took the opportunity to invite Steph to the wedding too, and also Justine and Zoe, even though they had already booked tickets to go and see Cirque Du Soleil tomorrow, I still wanted them to know that I wanted to invite them even though they already had plans.





When the limo tour started it was so much fun, we had lots of music, dancing and drinking in there. We first went to ‘Old Vegas’ where there was this light ceiling sky thing that was all lit up and playing Queen music which was fun as we were all singing in a big circle. 










Then we went to the Vegas Sign and took lots of photos.







Finally, the limo dropped us off at the Bellagio, and we watched the water fountain show. It was set to Elton John music, and then we ended up seeing another 2, as there is one every 15 minutes. We were all just having so much fun chatting and being excited about tomorrow’s events that we just were standing there for ages. 






It was such a wonderful night. All of the people from both groups kept telling us how happy they were for us and saying such lovely things. I had some really good chats with certain people and they are conversations that I will never forget. It was such a special night and I ended up being so glad that everybody knew (even though they were under strict instructions that it was a Trek America secret). It made me feel so glad that they were all there with us, and so happy that they were all a part of such an important time for us.





We then went to Caesar’s Palace because we were going to a club there. I don’t really know how it happened, but somebody in the group had met a guy the night before who got us in for free and got us free drinks as well.



We were in a nightclub called Pure, and it was so much fun. Normally I hate nightclubs and places like that, I don't know if it was because it was Vegas, or because I was getting married tomorrow, or a combination of both, but I was having the time of my life. Everyone was dancing and having fun and just enjoying ourselves so much. Every time I went to the bathroom I ended up getting into chats with nice American girls and when I told them I was getting married tomorrow they were getting all excited. There are like no photos from when we were in the club, because I was the one who normally took the photos and I was having to much fun to think about getting my camera out. Someone else took a few though.



Me, Gary, Steph and Dean left Caesar's at about 2.30am. We got a taxi back to Hooters, Gary and Dean did some gambling for a bit. I don't really know what me and Steph did while they did that, just watched and took photos I think LOL.

I got excited when I saw a Hangover themed slot machine (I blame the alcohol, but I have about 25 photos of it, I must have been REALLY excited LOL)


Me and Steph looking very worse for wear




We eventually made it up to our rooms, and went to bed after being awake for 23 hours! It had been such a fun day, but I was even more excited for the next day!! Even with the excitement, I was so tired that I fell asleep the second I got in bed.

I'M GETTING MARRIED TOMORROW!!!!

2 comments:

  1. Great post! Haven't been there in years so it was cool to re-visit it through pictures. The line for the pawn store sounds crazy! I've seen the show a few times but it's nothing special, but I guess people just get drawn to stuff because they're on TV. I love Holly too (she's a huge Disney fan too!!). Ouch on the price of Gary's hair cut. Only in Vegas! But hey, at least he made a handsome Groom to be. Can't wait for the next installment!!! :D

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  2. Yaaaay! How exciting!! Vegas is somewhere I would love to go! It looks like you had an amazing day! Wow at the price of Gary's hair cut! I love Holly too! She's great! Looking forward to the next part!! :D

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