29 August to 2 September 2015
Last Saturday, 29th August, I met bride and groom, Sha and Adam, and maid of honour, Wanying, in the Wynn Hotel and Casino.
I have worked with Sha both at my previous job and the one before. I met her roughly at the same time that she met Adam. Whoever knows Sha will be able to confirm that she is not only one of the smartest people around, she is also almost always smiling and cheerful and very hard to unnerve. I had met Adam a few times before at parties, but it was nice to get to know him better this time. Sha and Adam are a great couple, very nice to each other (I guess you would hope that on their wedding!) and relaxed. And they make you feel the same in their company.
Wanying is a fellow accountant. Although we were working at the same Firm at the same time, we did not know each other. It was a big place!
Wedding day was Monday, 31st August. Adam, Sha, Wanying and I enjoyed the sumptuous breakfast buffet, before Sha and Wanying had their hair and make up done. I opted for my “messy” hair style. On my way to Walgreens (the Boots of the U.S.) to buy hair spray, I accidentally got lost in the make up section of Macy’s where I accidentally bought $130 of products to receive a free make up session in return.
Sha got ready in her room, while Adam was banned to Wanying and my room. When ready we escorted her through the casino and “flower garden” to the main entrance where Adam and the Limousine were waiting. I felt special and proud to be part of this small procession!
Before being dropped at the helicopter port, Adam and Sha went to the marriage bureau and got their papers. I also had to sign as witness at the heli port where the registrar awaited us. Together with the photographer we squeezed into the helicopter and took off to the Grand Canyon.
It was amazing! This was my first helicopter ride and I truly enjoyed the perspective, the cheesy music through the earphones, coupled with Adam and Sha in the front seats, Sha in her white wedding dress, tiara and veil. Slightly surreal, perfectly Vegas.
We saw Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam before entering and landing in the Grand Canyon. What a venue to say your vowels and exchange rings! What a background for the pictures!
I am glad to announce that I caught the bridal flowers, which was not too difficult, given that Wanying is married. Bring on Mr Lancelotti! (On that subject, Candice has a colleague with the surname “Lemon”, which I thought would be very acceptable, too: Lisa Lemon. Plus I love yellow!).
In the evening, we had a wonderful Italian tasting menu at an outdoor cabana at Bartolotta Italian Restaurant at the Wynn. We were so full after the American portions that Adam and Sha cut the wedding cake (with my Swiss Army knife) the following evening and we enjoyed it with their wedding champagne in our hotel room.
Wanying had organised the room in the Wynn that we shared. I loved the “all on” function on the electronic panel when you got into the room. It switched on all the lights and opened the curtains to reveal an amazing view high above Vegas.
“All On” – show time. This sums up Vegas for me. It is one big show. The neon lights, the artificial flowers, the themed buildings: the Eiffel Tower, Little Venice, Statue of Liberty, the Sphinx, etc. “There is no need to go to Europe” did the lady on the audio guide in the helicopter say. I can see a certain beauty in this fake world, especially the colours. I could never warm up, however, to the Vegas people: flash your money, flash your car, flash your designer clothes, flash your flesh. For the first time on this trip I felt out of place, not having the right clothes on, not willing/able to spend hundreds of dollars on gambling and drinks.
I had heard that you get free drinks when you are in the casino. The problem was that I bet $25 (minimum) on black and red came up. Then I spent the next $25 on various numbers, including $5 on 17 (for Meera) and $5 on 19 (for Paps). None of them came up. I therefore lost $50 in two minutes before I even saw a waitress to order my free drink. My mum consoled me that the bad luck was a good thing as every gambling career/ruin starts with a big initial win.
Adam and Sha – I am really honoured that I was invited to celebrate your wedding day with you. Thank you so much for a great time and for your generosity. Hope you are having fun in Hawaii!
Wanying – thanks for your wonderful company. It was lovely getting to know you and spending time with you. Hope you got to Singapore safely!
Sorry, pictures are not in order. I can’t figure out how to do that!
lisaimwunderland.com 
Hallo Lisa, herzlichen Glückwunsch zu deinem Geburtstag. Wir wünschen dir in diesem Jahr vor allem weiterhin viel Glück u. viel Spaß bei deiner Reise. Hoffentlich berauben dich die ” einarmigen Banditen ” in Las Vegas nicht so sehr ,dass du deine Reise abbrechen musst! Liebe Grüße aus Freiburg Rudolf / Vita
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