Yes, you should be able to easily afford at least a three star hotel. Because there are SO many rooms in Vegas and they are planning to make money off you in other ways too (casino, shows, gambling, restaurants, etc), the rooms themselves are usually pretty cheap.

If really looking to save money, go mid-week if you can. Rooms are 75-80% off weekend rates. You can probably get a 3 star hotel on the strip for no more than $50/nt if going mid week.

Good luck!

It would be better to know your actual budget. It will also depend on your dates of travel.

These hotels are pretty decent places, AND usually have good rates - Flamingo (best value on the strip I think - great location, recently renovated, good rates, nice pool), Bally's, Harrah's. I don't love Luxor and Tropicana, but they are okay places and the rates are good. Depending on your dates, you might find that you can afford NYNY, Monte Carlo, MGM, or Treasure Island.

I would avoid Stratosphere (bad location, gets a little shady there at night), Circus Circus (dumpy, and in a bad location), and Excalibur (rundown, tends to be a lot of families).

Yes, but the empirial palace is gone, replaced by The Linz. I would recommend you look at the convention authority site vegas.com

Circus Circus, Excalibur and others are great prices

Go to vegas.com and check out good deals. Midweek things are usually cheaper - rates often go up on the weekends. Check out restaurant.com for good dining coupons. SKIP the big overpriced buffets - who can eat that much, unless they are a wrestler?? See if you can find someone who owns a timeshare, and can get you a BIG discount Getaway or Accommodation Certificate from their exchange company, like Interval International (I just got one for younger friends who are going to Orlando in November and staying at Marriott Grand Vista for a week in a huge 2-bedrrom villa - and is cost then $328 for the WEEK!!!!! Seriously!!! (we own Marriotts and get these offers when they have unbooked rooms. Ask your parents, co-workers if anyone has a timeshare, and can hook you up with one of these DEALS.) Go on tyg2.com and see if anyone who owns there is RENTING OUT theirs when you want to go! (Do NOT rent straight from Marriott - they WAAAY overcharge you! Rent from an OWNER of one - all legal, etc.). see if you can get any discounts on the big shows, like Cirque du Soleil, etc. Some casinos will *comp* you with tickets to some magicians, etc. You can get free drinks in the casinos if you just tip your waitress. I have more ideas, but do not know when you are going, etc. But seriously - check out the "rent a timeshare" thing - go look at the Marriott Grand Chateau ( where we own) online. It is ON THE STRIP next to MGM Grand. http://marriott.com/vacationclub

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

Empirial Palace ... right on the strip ... cheap ... pretty deeecent