Can I just walk into a chapel in Las Vegas and get married? 

The quick answer to that is "Yes". 

But the realistic answer to that is "Yes, as long as you have everything you need to get married".

You will obviously need someone to marry, but you will also need the local marriage license. This will allow the officiant (a minister, justice of peace, judge, mayor, captain of a ship) to marry you in Clark County. The place to get your marriage license and certificate is at the Marriage License Bureau on Clark and 3rd street in downtown Las Vegas. You can also book one in advance online thru (http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/Depts/clerk/Services/Pages/MarriageLicenses.aspx). 

So, if you think your appearance is acceptable - yes you can get married in costumes and shorts and... most importantly you are not under the influence of drugs and alcohol (it's actually illegal in Las Vegas), then you can go ahead and get married. 

For most photographers, the need for a reliable flash bracket is tantamount. It is essential especially for those who shoot on the go and will need to instantly rotate their camera on portrait mode. It can always be argued that a good bracket will most definitely determine a very good portrait shot from one that isn't.

I've been working for the Little White Wedding Chapel on the Las Vegas Strip for 2 years now. I've take photos of over 2,000 couples at this point in time. In this environment, a mobile studio is very important. Complete control of the lighting situation will determine a happy bride from one that isn't.

I purchased the boomerang a few months after I got hired at the chapel in 2010. It took me a while before I made the decision to get it. I reviewed several videos showing its use and read through several written reviews about it. Finally, I ordered it. The order included a plate specifically for my camera body's battery grip (MB-D10).

All I can say is, almost two years later, the damn thing still works exactly the way it did from day one. It is highly reliable and very very sturdy. It is quiet and moves from one position to the other and back flawlessly. It locks effortlessly and unlocks with a quick light touch.

It has very few basic moving parts, and whatever those parts are, they are of high quality. No plastic on this thing. It makes my camera look big but honestly I'm not bothered anymore. I will explain later and show you how a huge confluence of parts make my camera system very efficient.

At the chapel, I run around a lot, bump into things a lot. And flip the bracket many times. I can't rely on anything plastic. I am carrying a $3000 camera system with me so I need something that I can trust. And I think I've found the perfect combination into this system that I made and it includes the Boomerang. I found a system that I believe will turn any photographer into supercool mr. photographer man.

Now, going down into the details. My system includes a Nikon D300S body with an MB-D10 battery grip, a Nikkor 24-120mm 3.5 VRII lens, a Nikon SB-700 flash with sync cord, the promediagear boomerang  and theblack rapid RS-4 camera strap.

I wear the strap on my left shoulder since I am right handed. This allows the camera to dangle on the side of my right hip and makes my camera ready to go within seconds. The camera is attached to the strap with a metal carabiner that slides along the strap when I raise my camera for use. My strap does not get caught around my neck or shoulders. It slides along my back and slides back into place when I bring my camera back down to my hips.

This combination of high quality and reliably items have allowed me to effectively take pictures of my clients every night with ease and with great results.

It makes my life easier and allows a greater range of creativity. Can I say anything bad about it? Well, maybe when I'm on portrait mode, the flash sits a tad high. That's about it.

Would I recommend it the boomerang? Yes.

Be aware though that your camera's effective height will immediately more than double with it. If you are a small person, this camera system might turn into a nightmare since it is not light. It weighs over 7lbs with the lens that I've indicated.

Thumbs up and 5 stars to the ProMediaGear Boomerang Flash Bracket. Same goes for theBlackrapid RS4 Camera Strap.

Andreo Jab Buhay
Resident Photographer-Little White Chapel, Las Vegas, NV USA
Life In Vegas Photography 

Las Vegas is still a classy town, where people can drive into town in a twenty thousand dollar Toyota and on the way back home can be in a $250,000 gray hound bus. So whether you want to just spend a relaxing weekend and get hitched with a simple ceremony in mind or come in with all your friends and family with a well thought out and planned out epic wedding, there are still certain things that one should remember. 

Local's are tolerant of tourists behaving badly. It actually is a local past time, tourist watching and making fun of how tourists behave themselves. But locals are only tolerant to a certain point. 

Do not assume you can be drunk all the time 24/7. You still can't drive if you are and there are certain business establishments that will not let you in - especially wedding chapels. No, you can't be drinking and getting married at the same time. That is a myth portrayed in Hollywood and many TV shows. 

If you are with a friend who can't control themselves in public while intoxicated - dump them. Leave them in the hotel room where they will be safe, and so will be the rest of the city. You will also be doing your dignity a huge favor. 

You need a marriage license. Yup! You can't just stumble into a chapel and expect to stumble out being Mr. Smith's Mrs. You still have to go to the wedding license bureau and present two forms of government issued picture ID - and pay the $60 (as of Mar. 2011)

Rent a car - Yup! Do rent a car. In the films, it seems as if the hotels are really next to each other. There are two parts of the strip, there's downtown (Freemont Street) and there the main Strip (Bellagio, MGM, Venetian, Paris, Ceasars etc.) It takes a few hours to see one side of this strip. It's still 4 miles from Mandalay Bay to the Stratosphere Hotel. There's always the bus, also known as The Deuce  ($7 a day, Mar. 2011), that saves your feet, gives you time to sight see and relax. 


Oh, and did I tell you that parking at the hotels are free? Always look for the self parking areas. They are, except for the downtown hotels, they are free. 

Valet parking in Las Vegas. Park in style! It's complimentary. But please, don't forget to tip your valet. It's Las Vegas, not Jersey City. 

Thanks to movies and TV shows, Vegas has become a popular wedding destination for weddings of all shapes and sizes. Thanks to movies and TV shows, urban myths have as well abound to what you can and can't do in a Vegas wedding chapel. 


I shall try to go through what to expect when getting married in Las Vegas. If you have questions or suggestions, I shall try to answer them for you or find the answer for a later blog. 


1. It's cheap. 

You can get married in a chapel, a drive thru or in front of the Bellagio Fountains for less than $300.00
That's actually a high estimate. But consider the tips, flowers and maybe even a cheap 1 hour photographer. 

2. It's fast. 


A typical non-denominational wedding ceremony from start to finish is 5010 minutes. 


3. It's easy. 


There are many wedding chapels in Las Vegas, some are open late ( The marriage license bureau stopped issuing wedding licenses past 12 midnight a few years back and since the the wedding chapels had followed suit). Although if you were to schedule a wedding past midnight, there are a few chapels that would book you, especially if you pay for a premium package. (see The Little White Wedding Chapel)


In some chapels, you can easily walk in and in 30 minutes, walk out as a married couple. 


Drive up  weddings were originally designed for the disabled, but had since then caught on and had become a Vegas attraction. Weddings through drive thrus are inexpensive and quick, especially during the slow season (October to January). 


 - - - - - -


There are certain things that one must remember when getting married in Las Vegas. 


You can't get married drunk in Las Vegas. It's illegal. Ministers and Chapel operate with business licenses. This is their livelihood - and the risk of marrying someone who is drunk or intoxicated is too high for them to take. Please do not go into a chapel sauced. You will be humiliated and, heaven forbid you've already paid for it - you have a big chance you won't get your money back. 

I decided to put that up first because The Hangover wedding was, well, a Hollywood thing. Now, you're probably going to bring up the Brittney Spears argument. Sorry, mute point. She booked her early morning wedding at the Little White Chapel the day before while getting her marriage license. Nope, she wasn't drunk when she walked into the Federal Building that issues these state licenses. 


Chapels take these weddings seriously. Please don't expect to come in like rock stars with your entourage and have people give in to your whims and tolerate your belligerence. Although vow renewals are different (where you will not need to get a license), Chapels typically will be more strict when it is a wedding that involves legal paperwork that will be processed through the state and county. 


Most wedding chapels will not allow outside photography. The reasoning is quite simple. Almost everyone has a camera with them nowadays. If it was your wedding and all your guests were trying to be the official photographer - how peaceful and intimate could your wedding be? And besides, you invited family and friends to share your wedding with them, not to have them stand up and interrupt your wedding by snapping away. Obviously, the other reason is that these chapels have other weddings to start and finish, and by allowing photography in the chapel, even after the ceremony will hold everyone up. 


These are rules that one should know and share with their party before tying the knot in a Vegas wedding chapel. Consult with your chapel ahead of time as well, as each chapel may have different policies. 


Tips to consider. 

Buy your own flowers. Flowers with the wedding packages cost an arm and a leg. Bring your own and this way, you can choose the biggest and brightest for the smallest price. 


Sometimes, it's cheaper to rent the dress and tux from the wedding chapel. The rent them out between 50-100$ a piece and you've got a wide range to chose from. Save the luggage space in your check in luggage for other things. 


Buy the photo package with the weddings. Since the chapels are pretty serious with their outside photography policy, you're better off being nice to your assigned wedding photographer so he can tolerate your mother in law's photography instructions and throw in a few more than the package should give you. 


Limos are complimentary. Most of the time. Most wedding chapels will have limo's with the package. All you need to do it tip the driver. If you were to tip him $20 - split it into two $10's. 


Tip. Tip. Tip. It's in your best interest. It's cheap enough as it is, getting married there, just be sure to save a large tip for your minister, photographer and of course, your limo driver. Vegas is a tipping town. Don't come to Vegas unless you're ready to do this.