The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) recently rolled out a national ad campaign proclaiming Vegas to be more fabulous than ever. At Cactus Collective Weddings we couldn’t agree more.
We wish the commercial (that’s been viewed more 1.5 million times on YouTube) would have included a couple on their wedding day, but at least they got the flash, the excitement and the pizazz right.
The campaign was backed by a week-long super sale on almost everything a visitor could need to create the ultimate tript to America’s Playground.
And as every good salesman will say at one point in their life, “but wait, there’s more”. Because I’m here to let you know that all the things that make Las Vegas so FABULOUS in the first place, also make it the Wedding Capital of the World.
Couples truly can have it all on their wedding day in Las Vegas. One of our recent Cactus Collective Weddings couples recently did just that, and this is their story.
SHAUNA + WESLEY July 18, 2025
The Love Story
Modern dating is hard. If you’ve been on a dating app or online matchmaking service for any length of time, you know what Shauna + Wesley were up against.
Bad dates. Strange experiences. And connections as poor as an AM radio signal during a lightning storm. So they each logged off the apps and tuned into their friends, family and life goals for a change.
For Shauna, that meant building a new home with the help of her busy interior designer and close family friend, Jodi. As the story goes, Jodi had designs on hooking Shauna up with more than a lovely living room layout. It just so happened that Jodi was working with another homeowner doing a kitchen renovation at the same time as she was helping Shauna, and this other homeowner had a son. Can you guess his name?
It was Wesley.
Jodi pulled Wesley’s mom into the mix and had her send Wesley a picture of Shauna.
Here’s how the conversation went, (probably)
Wesley’s Mom:
what do you think?
Wesley: Think of what? who’s that?
Wesley’s Mom: She’s single, the kitchen builder wants you two to meet
Wesley: MOM!!!! For real?!
Wesley: I’m at work. What are you doing?!
Wesley’s Mom: Sorry honey. I just wanted to help
Wesley: I know. Thanks.
Wesley: She’s pretty
Wesley’s Mom: 💁♀️😵💫
Wesley: those emojis make no sense
Wesley: What’s her number?
He must have liked what he saw, because soon enough he had texted the mystery girl and asked her out.
Of that first conversation Shauna says, “Even just in a text conversation, it flowed immediately, and we hit it off with shared values and interests and goals. By the end of our first date we both knew this was something different.”
She continued, “The way we were so comfortable was amazing and we laughed so much, but also were able to talk about serious things.”
Wesley was smitten and after their first date told his mom that it would turn out one of two ways. “Either we’ll be together forever, or Shauna will break my heart.” he said. He couldn’t wait to find out which way things would go. So, while out with friends to dinner shortly after the first date, he consulted a Magic 8 Ball in the restaurant’s gift shop.
Wesley: Will Shauna and I be married?
Magic 8 Ball: It is Certain
Hey, you can’t argue with the 8 Ball. He proposed on the anniversary of their first date.
An Elopement Dream
Like many couples Shauna + Wesley started by picking a date. Shauna says the decision came pretty easily. They chose what would have been her grandmother’s 100th birthday. Las Vegas is all about connecting with lucky numbers, either via the Magic 8 Ball or a special loved one, so I think they made an excellent choice.
As for the ceremony, I’m happy to say Cactus Collective Weddings was able to make Shauna’s dreams come true.
“I have always liked the idea of a more meaningful private wedding where we don’t feel the pressure of other people around or stress of having everything perfect.”
She added, “We have had so many friends and family get married and hardly even remember the day after its over because it was so busy and flew by so quickly. We wanted to feel like we could truly be in the moment with each other and soak up the importance of the day and be able to have a more intimate ceremony without as many external factors influencing it, and less variables to go wrong and cause stress.”
The Fabulous Wedding Day
It didn’t stop there. Thanks to the low cost of an elopement versus a large traditional wedding, Shauna + Wesley were also able to add on a bunch of wedding day extras including bonus photography so they could always remember their special day.
The getting ready photos were done together at their suite in the Wynn Encore tower.
Shauna helped Wesley with his tux and then Wesley exited the room while Shauna put on her dress so that the couple could do a first look when he came back into the room.
I love this type of creative problem solving that goes into so many of our Las Vegas weddings.
A short ride down Las Vegas Boulevard in a luxury transport van brought them to the Bellagio for their gorgeous ceremony overlooking the lake, the Eiffel Tower and the fabulous Las Vegas Strip. They were greeted by one of our amazing onsite hosts, introduced to Jacoba, one of our thoughtful and caring modern ministers, and escorted to their ceremony site. The entire stress-free and seamless experience was captured by our cameras.
Even their first kiss as a married couple.
The photographer kept snapping as the couple strolled through the casino, visited the “Big Heart” sculpture at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau and made their way to yet another photo session at Red Rock Canyon.
The extra photo sessions and the added black-and-white edits were a priority for the couple because they loved both of these stunning venues and photography styles. Many of our couples have a hard time narrowing down their favorite ceremony locations and photo packages. I love it when they fully embrace the elopement mindset, focus on themselves on their wedding day and pick more than one. This way they get to spend the whole day together doing it their way, rather than following a worn-out march through a traditional wedding day agenda. And have the photos to prove it!
Only in Vegas
As a previous LVCVA ad campaign reminded the world, in Las Vegas we make things happen that only happen here. Weddings that are truly all about you are one of those things.
Shauna + Wesley proved that you really can have it all in Las Vegas on your wedding day.
If you’re inspired by their fabulous Las Vegas elopement and would like us to coordinate something similar for you and your partner, get in touch!
The wedding you’ve always wanted can happen in Las Vegas. Cactus Collective Weddings gives couples the chance to have it all.
