or over six decades, Las Vegas has been accommodating the romantic whims of the average Joe, as well as those of the most highprofile celebrities, including Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Judy Garland, Paul Newman, Elvis Presley, Bob Geldof, Jon Bon Jovi, Dennis Rodman, and— it has to be said—Britney Spears. Over 100,000 weddings take place here annually, and with this many “I dos” being hosted, is it any wonder the hosts have gotten creative?

The Las Vegas Hilton hosts an “interactive adventure” based on the Star Trek series. “Star Trek: The Experience” features two rides, a recreation of the USS Enterprise set, the History of the Future museum, the futuristic Quark’s Bar and Restaurant, and the largest Star Trek retail stores found anywhere.

For hard-core Star Trek fans looking for a destination wedding locale, this is the next best thing to the 24th century world created in their beloved series, and the Hilton has made the dream come true by developing a variety of wedding packages to accommodate any Trekkie budget.

With four different packages ranging from $500 (weekday price) to $3,000, the most popular includes a ceremony on the bridge of the USS Enterprise, a minister dressed in Starfleet uniform, intergalactic wedding music, one Star Trek character of choice in attendance, two tickets to the theme park, and photo options. The price goes up based on photography upgrades, number of characters attending, and number of tickets included, as well as a florist option and gift certificates to retail stores. The Experience hosts the nuptials of 200 Trekkie couples every year, and half of those opt for a reception at one of three venues.

“All receptions are catered by Quark’s, led by Executive Chef James Kellenberger,” says Jean- Ann Pavoni-Biller, director of sales. “Quark’s can accommodate up to 125 people, and a private room called Captain’s Lounge hosts up to 225.” Quark’s is an other-worldly experience. The bar side is modeled to match the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine set of the actual Quark character’s bar and features special effects such as alien liquor bottles with lightning flashes inside, lava lamps inside liquor bottles, and beverages seemingly dispensed “up” (helped by strobe lights). Quark’s has a restaurant side (Federation Circle), resembling a star field, with life-size spacecraft hovering above and triangular-shaped plates and futuristic flatware.

Kellenberger developed several menus for wedding receptions, including:

• The Continuum, featuring family-style appetizers like the Holy Rings of Beta Zed [onion rings], house salad, and a choice of entrées including the Admiral’s Cut (prime rib with grilled vegetables and Yukon Gold herb-mashed potatoes).

• The Andorian reception offers the Smorgasborg appetizer (a sampler of beef and pork empanadas, barbecue chicken quesadillas, and hot wings), and entrées such as the Romulan Warbird (marinated chicken breast with wild rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables).

• The Haven menu includes the Hollow Deck Hibachi Grill appetizer (chicken, beef, and shrimp sate served with dipping sauces), Caesar salad, and the 24th Century Surf and Turf (prime rib served with four crab-stuffed shrimp, Yukon Gold herb-mashed potatoes, and seasonal vegetables).

Upgrades to the packages include Quark’s specialty drinks like the Warp Core Breach. “This is made with a blend of rums including Bacardi Select; Bacardi Spice; Bacardi Limon; vodka; Razzmatazz; Bacardi 151; cranberry, pineapple, red grapefruit, guava, and orange juices; sour mix; and grenadine,” says Pavoni-Biller. “A lot of parties request these for the table because they have a special effect—they bubble with smoke from dry ice.” Specialty draft brews are available, including Romulan Ale, made especially for Quark’s by Warsteiner of Germany, and Klingon Warnog Ale, made by Pyramid Hefewezen.

BACK IN TIME
Taking a step back in time from the new world to the old, the VENETIAN RESORT HOTEL AND CASINO’S re-creation of St. Mark’s Square and Grand Canal of Venice offer a European destination wedding with a price tag that’s not as prohibitive as the real thing. Couples choose from a variety of packages, among them:

• The Ponte al di Piazza, Bridge Over the Square, where they can get married overlooking St. Mark’s Square amidst singing gondoliers, chic boutiques, costumed performers, and courtyard cafés. The package ($2,500) includes a 30-minute rehearsal, flowers, professional photography and proof album, live musical accompaniment, exclusive guest check-in, and a Champagne gift set.

• The Cerimonia Sul’ Aqua, where the bride and groom exchange vows while gliding along the Grand Canal on a white Italian gondola. The package ($800) includes flowers and several photos. Friends and family can look on from Zeffirino’s Italian Ristorante, where many couples book receptions on the balcony overlooking the canal.

Zeffirino’s bi-level restaurant has limestone columns, Venetian-style open windows, antique furniture, and a bar imported from Italy. Cecilia Liotine, Zeffirino’s director of catering and special events, says the restaurant is similar to the original Zeffirino’s in the heart of the Italian Riviera.

“We make it easy for brides to plan a reception here” says Liotine, “since so many call us just days before their weddings. We have a strolling musician, who can be requested free of charge for the reception. We also have a florist who comes in four times a week, so floral arrangements are already fresh and beautiful on each table. There are six pre-set banquet menu options, but our Sardinian chef, Francesco Schintu, will accommodate any special request.”

Each menu includes appetizers like Baked Eggplant with Mozzarella, Prosciutto and Melon, Cherries of Mozzarella with Speck, Antipasto Zeffirino, Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, and the Lobster and Scallop Rockefeller, as well as a variety of salads, including Zeffirino Spring Mix, Tricolore, and Baby Greens. Options of entrées on each menu include such dishes as Grilled Salmon with Amaretti Crust, Rolled Chicken Breast filled with Ham served over Asiago Cheese, Grilled Chilean Sea Bass with Rosemary Sauce, Baby Veal Rack over Blackberry Sauce, Pan-Seared Capon Breast with Ham and Black Truffle, and the Pan- Seared Filet Mignon with Portobello and Truffle. Some menus are accompanied by a pasta course (like the Lobster Risotto with Saffron) as well as an intermezzo of sherbet.

For couples who want to go back in time further still, there are medieval weddings at EXCALIBUR RESORT AND CASINO, where ornate and stained glass-laden Canterbury Wedding Chapels host a variety of ceremonies. Ranging from $395 to $1,575, ceremony packages with names like Heart of the Castle, Camelot, and Rose of Canterbury offer 30- to 60- minute ceremonies with traditional music and options of bridal bouquets, photos, videos, commemorative certificate holders, bottle of Excalibur® Champagne, and a one- to two-night stay at the hotel. For an extra $75, the bride and groom can rent Renaissance era attire and, after the ceremony, attend their wedding feast at one of Excalibur’s medi