The Big Day

Ok to the wedding itself. We woke and descended to the hotel restaurant. Then came the trauma of what to have as a wedding breakfast. We had a long day ahead, yet still wanted to fit comfortably into our wedding clothes. We settled on waffles and strawberries. Mrs Zilla was booked into the hotel’s spa and beauty salon for a full make-up and hair job. This left me the morning to roam the casino floor, stroll in the sunshine, with my only task being to pick up the wedding clothes from reception. The wedding service was booked for 1pm local time, which made it about 9pm over here – ideally timed for the parties taking place in good old Blighty. Mrs Zilla returned from the salon, overjoyed at the condition her hair, nails and make up were in. I put on my tux and helped her into her dress. It was quite a surreal experience walking through the hotel wearing our wedding regalia. This is Vegas remember, you can walk into a hotel and see huge fish tanks, lions, the Eiffel Tower etc etc. Yet the reaction we got from people was astounding. Throngs of people were clamouring almost to congratulate us and pass on their good wishes. I was actually worried at one point that we were going to be late for the service, such was the delay getting out of the hotel. We made it outside and our limo was waiting, whisking us off to the chapel via back roads, avoiding the crawl of the Strip. We arrived and met the Minister who was conducting the service, he talked through the service with us and the sanctity and meaning of marriage. It was far more of a proper service than I perhaps expected. This was certainly no drive thru wedding chapel. We were able to pick up several messages of good wishes that our friends and family had sent. These both settled nerves and reminded us that our “performance” was being eagerly watched at home. The service seemed to pass in mere moments, and the cameras beaming it over the internet were very unobtrusive. Yet the quality was excellent, so we were told when we got home. We were directed outside, for more pictures to be taken, and the grounds were truly beautiful. It was amazing to think this little oasis of calm was only yards from the Strip. We went down to the Strip and had our picture taken next to the chapel’s sign. This prompted lots of horn tooting and shouts of good wishes from those travelling past by car. We’d actually booked March for the wedding as it seemed the best time of year weather wise – average temperatures in the mid 70s. Not too hot for us, but pleasant all the same. Vegas was actually experiencing a mini heat wave at the time, and the temperatures were about 95 to 100. We were starting to wilt wearing all our wedding clothes. Respite came back in the limousine, the air conditioning heavenly. This time we returned down the Strip, time was on our side now. We swept past all the hotels on the Strip and off to the airport, for the next part of the wedding. We got changed into more practical clothes and headed out to the helipad. Our pilot was a total star, and made us feel like the most important people he’d ever carried. We took off and headed out of Vegas. We first reached the Hoover Dam, and even from a height it was impressive, then we swooped down again over the desert. The helicopter ride was tremendous, a mixture of stirring music and our pilot’s running commentary filling our headphones. Suddenly he said “Brace yourselves!” and we swept up and over the edge of the Grand Canyon. It was like being on the best roller coaster ever. We descended for what seemed like minutes, until we reached the floor of the canyon. We got out, and the scenery was totally stunning. The pictures we took cannot begin to convey the scale. I realised just what a speck on the planet we all are. The helicopter pilot fetched the wedding picnic and disappeared over a small ridge, leaving us alone to enjoy our feast. We were lucky, apparently the Indians who own the land keep revoking permission to land in the canyon, but we’d timed it right. Our trip back got us to Vegas as night fell, so we had a helicopter view of the Strip all lit up. In the limo on the way back to the hotel we were both full of what we’d seen and experienced that day. If I’m brutally honest the meal we went out for doesn’t stick in my mind as well as it should. I know it was lovely and the service great, but I think the emotions and sights earlier in the day had been too intense. Ok as threatened/promised a picture from my wedding day. I should point out that the cheesy pose was suggested by the photographer, and this was back in the day of my short hair.

Apologies for any nightmares caused or therapy required