Viva Day 1

I’m going to break this into a few posts, as I’m currently at work and don’t have access to all my photos!

If you’re in IG and follow any of the guys and gals in the vintage and Rockabilly community, then you know that Viva Las Vegas the 20th year just happened. After 10 years of deciding if I should go, I finally did it. I went on a shoestring budget but it was so so worth it!

At the last moment, my friend, Brandy, had to back out and I ended up solo. I missed you girl! She had been before so I had been relying on her guidance throughout the event- there is so much going on! It’s really overwhelming at just the sheer volume of things to do.

Vegas for one is sensory overload. Viva is moreso! I couldn’t get over it. You’re assaulted on all fronts- sights, sounds, smells, oh my! And it’s a lot to take in for an introvert like me. Yet, as exhausting as it all is, it was the most fun I’ve ever had.

While in the airport during a layover in Chicago, I met Elizabeth and her fiancé Steve and another guy, Todd. Elizabeth and Steve were awesome and were Viva veterans, so we met up with them a few times, and I cannot wait to see them again next year! Todd hadn’t been to Viva before like myself, so we ended up hanging out. I had posted in the VLV FB page that it was my first time and I was riding solo, and another gal, Tara from Atlanta reached out to me. She, Todd and I dubbed ourselves the Viva Virgins and stuck together throughout the trip. 

The Viva Virgins: Tara, Todd and Jaye

We all arrived on Wednesday, the day before the actual event. We got our wristbands that evening at the Orleans (Tara stayed there, Todd was at the Excalibur and I had an Airbnb) and ran into Miss Cherry Bomb and her lovely mom, Jo! Cherry won Best Dressed last year in the Pinup Competion! (Not that it’s hard to see why- she’s fabulous!)

That afternoon before we all met up, I had ventured out to the strip to see Big Elvis (my father’s favorite performer) at Harrah’s and play my lucky slot machine at The Mirage (it didn’t fail me again!)

After we mingled with the other early VLV-goers, Todd, Tara and I ended up grabbing dinner and talking about what got us all into the scene. It’s so awesome to meet other people who into the same things you are from all over the world. There’s not much of a scene in Baltimore, so it was really comforting to know I wasn’t alone!

Afterwards, Todd broke off to see some bands and Tara and I went to Frankie’s Tiki Room for a pre-weekender drink (or two!)

And we got to take our mugs home with us! How saucy is the naked lady?!

An Aussie sandwich! Sweet gals from Perth and Melbourne!

The Stitch Bitches! These lovelies gave me SERIOUS skill envy- they all made their dresses! Isn’t that incredible? I can barely sew on a button. 

We didn’t stay out late, as we both wanted to get sleep before the festivities began! So off to our respective rooms to get some beauty sleep before the actual official start of Viva Las Vegas!!

I’ll be back with Day 2 this week!

XO

Jaye