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. 

I met Jo and Micheal the last Sunday of August (2011). They were from north of London. Close to the "midlands" as they said later. They were both in their late 50's and we're a smiling happy couple. At first it seemed they were out of place. But later did I realize that wasn't the case.

Micheal was about 5'6", dark blonde hair and had green eyes. His simple, here I am - this is me attire expressed his simple living and somewhat - I am happy with my life even though it's been a bit tough life. He would look at you when he speaks to you and would not move his gaze when you speak to him.


Jo wore a light scarf on her long cream dress. She had short salt and pepper hair and grey eyes that seem to always smile. She was on a wheelchair. She seems frail but worked really hard not to show it too much. She spoke with a soft voice and carries a smile that felt endless.

They seemed out of place because that day, we had many people in costumes. Some came in that hot Sunday afternoon wearing Elvis and Marilyn Monroe costumes, fancy hats, over sized sunglasses, 70's bell bottoms and wigs. In the chaos of the chapel lobby, there were these two couple just in awe of all of it.

Before their turn, I approached them and introduced myself as their photographer. I asked them what brought them to Vegas. Micheal, explained that Jo was the biggest Elvis fan and that she had always wanted to get married in Las Vegas and be serenaded by Elvis. I asked Micheal then what he felt about that, and it sort of broke the ice and he said, whatever makes her happy. They break into a quick laugh as they look at each other; Jo in her wheelchair and Micheal with his hands on Jo's shoulders.

I explained to them that we will start with a few photos before the wedding and some during. I told them that Elvis will be there during the ceremony and that he will sing a slow first song and a fast last song. They started getting all excited. I took them then into the green room where we would start their photos.

It was my first time to every shoot someone in a wheelchair. I proceeded carefully and asked if it's OK for the shots to be with them on one of the short pews. They said yes - Jo, I noticed was delighted to be moved from her wheelchair to the chair. I showed her how to hold the flowers and where to look. For the most part, it was Micheal who I moved around Jo to get different shots in.

The minister then came in the room and started talking to them. I went ahead into the Little White Chapel to adjust the pews and give Elvis a heads up that the bride is in a wheelchair. As the minister, Jo and Micheal came in the chapel, I had told them that I've set up a pew in the front of the chapel for them to sit in and asked if they want to go down the aisle together or with Micheal waiting as Elvis takes Jo down. Jo said she wanted to walk down the aisle to Micheal with Elvis.

I was worried but at the same time touched at how she really wanted this. Micheal didn't say anything so at that I point I though, well OK, I guess she can do it.

As soon as the wedding march started, I became overwhelmed with a good feeling as I saw Jo being helped by Elvis as she walked down the aisle. Her gaze moved from Elvis to Micheal. You can see in her eyes her happiness and how she is savoring it - it was a dream come true for her, and Micheal of course. Elvis (today it was Chad), helped Jo sit next to Micheal. He then picked up his mic to begin serenading the couple.

During the ceremony, the minister (Pastor Tony) prayed for strength and length of days for them both. Jo and Micheal, the whole time could not stop staring into each others eyes.

"...remember, today you marry your friend. The one you laugh with, the one you dream with, the one you live for and especially the one you love..." 

As the couple kissed after they were being pronounced husband and wife, Elvis breaks into the Teddy Bear song. Jo and Micheal started laughing as they put their foreheads together and Jo, being a true blue Elvis Fan started singing with Elvis.

In the end, after their dreams of a Vegas/Elvis wedding start coming to a fulfilled end, Jo and Micheal start slowly to walk down the aisle smiling, happy - in each other arms.

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.