Amanda PhillipsLoved-up couples looking for a destination wedding that is fun and original shouldn’t look any further than Las Vegas.
Weddings are a big deal in Las Vegas, with more than 115,000 of them taking place every year. It’s not just 3am Little White Chapel weddings either. Most of the major hotels have chapels and you can even get married outside the city with the striking Nevada landscape as your backdrop. Plus, planning a Vegas wedding is simple: you can literally arrive, obtain a marriage license, and be married before sunset!
The venues
There are hundreds of venues to say “I do” across Las Vegas. It’s also possible to marry in Las Vegas on the cheap with several chapels offering dress and tuxedo hire. Though a big wedding with professional photography, beauty treatments, and a large reception dinner can also be easily organised. Here are just four of the most iconic wedding venues and locations available.
Graceland Wedding Chapel
Do we need to introduce the Graceland Wedding Chapel? It has been a prominent part of the Las Vegas Strip for 50 years and stays true to its 1950s routes with the option of hiring an Elvis impersonator!
The Little White Wedding Chapel
While this has gained a reputation over the years for “drive-in weddings” – many loved-up couples have held daytime ceremonies here with all the trimmings. Their complete package includes wedding coordinators, photographers, a flower shop, and tuxedoes for hire (plus an Elvis impersonator!).
Grand Canyon
Imagine getting married surrounded by one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. You’ll be whisked away by a helicopter where you’ll enjoy magnificent views of the Grand Canyon, before landing on the canyon floor to exchange your vows. You can also organise for a limo to take you between your hotel and helicopter base.
Red Rock State Park
If you fancy getting married with the striking Nevada landscape as your backdrop, but aren’t sure about a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon – we recommend Red Rock State Park (the ground is flat and you’ll be driven there by limousine). We recommend booking it morning or late afternoon when the landscape is at its most dazzling.
Legal Info
Getting married in Las Vegas is a straightforward process and is legally recognised in the UK.
You’ll firstly need to bring the following documentation with you to Las Vegas (and to your wedding).
- A marriage license application (we’ll speak about this in a minute)
- A valid 10-year passport
- A birth certificate
- Decree Absolute (if divorced)
- Death Certificate (if you are a widow or widower)
- Change of Name Deed (if you have changed your name)
- Written consent from your parents or guardians (if either of you are under 18 years of age)
To obtain a marriage license in Las Vegas both individuals need to visit the Clark County Marriage Bureau along with all the documents mentioned above and $77. The marriage license is issued immediately and is valid for 1 year. You can save time by filling in a pre-application form online, but you will still need to stop by in person (the office is open 24/7).
After you are married, you’ll need to pick up your marriage certificate from the Clark County Marriage Bureau for $15 (you can also order a copy online, but you’ll need to pick up the real thing). The wedding officiant has 10 days of performing the ceremony to file the marriage certificate
It’s rare that a taxi driver won’t know where the Clark County Marriage Bureau office is, but here’s the address for safe keeping.
Clark County Marriage Bureau
201 Clark Ave.
Las Vegas, Nevada 89155-1603
And voila – you are legally married!
Have you got any more questions about getting married in Las Vegas? Leave them in the comments below.
