Brandea and Dawson looked to old Las Vegas, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, rodeo culture and the rhinestone-heavy work of American tailor Nudie Cohn as inspiration for their wedding. They booked two iconic venues to host the day – the Little White Wedding Chapel for the ceremony and the Golden Steer for dinner. “We really just wanted to lean into the magic of old Las Vegas,” said the bride. “A little Elvis, a little Frank Sinatra, some rodeo, and a lot of sparkle.”

The celebrations started with a casual welcome party in Brandea and Dawson’s suite at the Bellagio. Around 30 friends and family joined them in Vegas, so the drinks offered everyone a chance to settle in without a packed itinerary. “We didn’t feel the need to over plan or orchestrate the weekend, it truly felt as if we were hosting an intimate cocktail party at home the whole time,” they said.

The couple chose the Amore Chapel at the Little White Wedding Chapel where Elvis was waiting to make things official. The ceremony was short, joyful and intentionally silly. He performed Can’t Help Falling in Love and Viva Las Vegas, although his tribute-act polish briefly faltered when he needed to check the lyrics on his phone! “I really didn’t think that I would be nervous on the day of, but I think those butterflies catch up to you no matter what”, Brandea admitted. “Elvis having to consult his phone for assistance with song lyrics certainly lightened the mood.”

After the ceremony, the newlyweds and their guests boarded a party bus to Fremont Street. Brandea changed into a feathered, crystal-covered mini dress with matching boots, while Dawson swapped his wedding suit for Wranglers and a cowboy hat. They drank, explored Old Vegas and took portraits beneath its neon signs.

The wedding finished in the Armoury Room at the Golden Steer, a Las Vegas steakhouse which has served diners since 1958. Brandea and Dawson chose a plated, multi-course meal with cocktails and wine pairings. Dinner was the largest expense of the wedding and the part they were happiest to prioritise. “During wedding planning I told Dawson that all I wanted for our reception was an intimate dinner with our nearest and dearest. The Golden Steer was the perfect venue for that, and the perfect end to our day.” They didn’t need to add extra décor, but their florist did add red centrepieces to the long table to match the wedding’s colour scheme.

A guest list of only 30 allowed Brandea and Dawson to spend proper time with everyone. “We let go of almost all the traditional ceremony and focused on what was most important to us. Meaningful time and connection with our friends and family, dirty martinis, and damn good food.”

“Just go for it!” Brandea advises. “It is beyond worth it to stay true to yourself and tailor the day to what is most important to you and your partner. It’s also not all or nothing, there is no reason why you can’t incorporate the traditions that matter and abandon the rest. There’s not a thing we’d change. Looking through the photos, you can feel the joy.”