Michael and I knew that Vegas was a must for what was a second wedding for both of us. For one thing, we wanted this one to be fun, and for another, second marriage = BUDGET!

Naturally, we found an Elvis chapel for the ceremony itself, but what to do about the reception? After all, the reception is just as important as the ceremony, right? Friends and family, champagne, hoopla...

The Imperial Palace was recommended by a friend who lives in Vegas (yes, people do live in Vegas). She said that because we were going budget, we should try the coffee shop buffet. Well, sure, she lives there and works for a local travel magazine, she should know. And the whole weekend was predicated on fun, so why not a coffee shop? We did it.

We expected about 30 people, but true to today's RSVP standards, about a third of the invitees figured we would know psychically that they were not going to make it, and we ended up under 20. It was cozy. The IP banquet people had set aside a semi-private room (i.e., down a short hallway from the main coffee shop, no door, but more than adequately "ours"), and set up a large horseshoe style table in one area, with a presentation table for the wedding cake (gorgeous vanilla sheet cake, with a marzipan disc imprinted with Elvis' face on top, next to the obligatory plastic bride'n'groom statuette). We had our own beverage servers, who were available any time we wanted them, and invisible when we didn't.

The food? Oh my Lord, that buffet! I am not kidding: hand-carved prime rib, succulent veggies, salads, alternative entrees, nice breads...

...and get this: Champagne on tap! Really!! All the boxes of self-serve champagne we could drink, right there at the end of the buffet line, included in the price! Not to mention a stunning selection of excellent alternative-to-wedding-cake desserts, as many as we wanted! (Did I mention that this was a buffet? As in, help yourself to anything you want, in any quantity you want, and take as many trips to the buffet line as you want?)

After we were sufficiently stuffed, we were assisted by the banquet people in setting up our karaoke machine in the second area of our semi-private room. We partied for hours, dancing, singing, celebrating.

We were even visited at one point by the hotel's own Elvis, from the famous Imperial Palace "Legends" show! The resemblance was striking, and it really capped off our Vegas Wedding Experience perfectly!

Want to know how much this fiesta cost?

Get ready...

Around midnight, the banquet manager dropped by with the bill. We whipped out the credit card... and signed for...

(and this included a 15% gratuity)

(I am not kidding, this is a fact)

$250.00.

My hand to God. $250.00. I am putting this in the "Luxury" category because of this figure, but frankly, how can you classify a $250.00 wedding reception as "Luxury?"

All in all, let me just suggest that if you're looking for a funky way to celebrate in Vegas, you cannot beat the imperial Palace coffee shop!



Recommended: Yes