Mandalay Bay Wedding | McKenzy and Cole

I’m in New Mexico right now for a wedding, and the fun part (besides shooting the actual wedding) about being able to come to Santa Fe for work is that I get to be with family.  For those of you that don’t know, my parents have always operated a small zoo in their home.  Since I’m an only child, I think my parents compensated by adopting as many animals as possible.  Currently, besides the screaming parrot I hear in the background while I write this, I also have two kittens sitting on my lap.  How I thought I’d get an entire blog post done with these two little cute furballs sitting with me, I have no clue.  But I will power through. 😉

When McKenzy started telling me the details of how her wedding day was going to unfold, I could tell it was going to be AWESOME.  Having a wedding on the patio of the House of Blues | Foundation Room on the top floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel, how could it not turn out awesome?!

The day started out in McKenzy’s Flamingo Hotel room, where she, and her closest girl friends and family were primping and getting ready for the day.  I knew it was going to be a fun day, all the girls were already laughing, taking pics, and having a good time.

Mandalay Bay and The Foundation Room

We travelled by limo down the strip to Mandalay Bay, where we made our way to the Foundation Room on the top level of the hotel, overlooking all of Las Vegas, and the Strip.  The view was incredible!  The vibe of the Foundation Room is unreal, and unlike anything else I’ve seen in Vegas.  The walls look to be made of hand-carved wood, as well as having woven displays of bejeweled cloth hangings all around.  I felt like I was walking into a Buddhist temple or maybe an Indian temple.  It was so cool.  I met Cole and his guys hanging out outside on the patio, waiting for the ceremony to begin.  Normally the Foundation Room acts as an exclusive club to private members.  But for the day, the only people allowed into the club were friends and family of McKenzy and Cole.

The Ceremony

The ceremony was gorgeous and casual.  Guests were seated on lounge chairs on the patio, while the couple and their wedding party stood in front of an ornate fireplace decorated with jewels and peach floral displays, matching the couple’s wedding color scheme!   The coolest part of the ceremony was that it wasn’t too big, with a lot of guests so you had this awesome intimate space, all while looking overlooking the entire strip.

After the couple said their vows and became husband and wife, the same space was transformed into a lounge area for their reception.  The couple and their closest friends and family danced the night away until it was time to depart for some late night partying.

Fremont Street Experience

A uniquely “old” Vegas experience, Fremont Street, and The Fremont Street Experience, is a mecca for the most eclectic group of people.  Every time I visit, there is always a plethora of tourists, street performers, concert goers, and your general individuals who march to the beat of their own drum.

Almost immediately after arriving, Cole and McKenzy ran into one of those unique individuals, a man who was only wearing a trucker hat, and, for lack of knowing what its ACTUALLY called, a banana hammock for his nether regions.  Naturally, the first thing this scantily clad man wanted to do was hug and kiss McKenzy.  She was a champ and very gracious!  And Cole was a champ too for being totally cool it!  😉

It was kind of the perfect ending to their day, and it was the perfect display of how awesome, fun, and laid back they really are.  Here is a small glimpse into their day!

Photography: The Amberlight Collective | Hair & Makeup: SinCity Makeup | Officiant: Reverend Janet Miller | Catering: House of Blues | Venue: Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino/Foundation Room | Dress: Allure Bridal | Florist: Naakiti Floral Design Inc. | Transportation: Exotic Limousines