- Las Vegas weddings
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Las Vegas came to be known as the Marriage Capital of the World due to the ease in acquiring a marriage license and the minimal costs involved. The city continues to be known as a popular wedding destination for the same reasons, but also as a result of the various types of weddings available.
Contents
Marriage license
Acquiring a marriage license in Las Vegas is a simple process. There is no blood test or required waiting period. Once a short form is completed and submitted to the Bureau along with $60 cash and a government issued photo ID, a marriage license may be obtained within minutes until midnight every night.
Within one year of receipt of the marriage license a wedding ceremony must be performed in order to have a legal union, and marriages are legal and binding worldwide.
Wedding licenses issued[1] Year Clark County United States Clark County % 1996 104,789 2,344,000 4.5 1997 109,378 2,384,000 4.6 1998 108,717 2,244,000 4.8 1999 114,465 2,251,000 5.1 2000 120,629 2,376,000 5.1 2001 121,547 2,345,000 5.2 2002 119,759 2,254,000 5.3 2003 114,544 2,187,000 5.2 2004 125,967 2,224,000 5.7 2005 121,282 2,230,000 5.4 2006 112,531 2,160,000 5.2 Wedding venues
Little Chapel of the Flowers, one of the many wedding chapels in Las Vegas
There are numerous options for wedding ceremonies in Las Vegas. The least expensive option, costing $50, is to marry at the Marriage Commission of Las Vegas. Sometimes referred to as a desk wedding, this type of ceremony may be a civil (non-religious) or a religious service.
Most weddings performed in Las Vegas may be a civil or religious service dependent upon the wedding venue selected.
With an average of 120,000 weddings a year, the Las Vegas wedding industry is competitive and ceremony locations are plentiful. Most of the city's major hotels have wedding chapels and many of the local restaurants offer wedding ceremonies. Weddings may also be performed in the local churches, at one of the many golf courses, or at a free standing wedding chapel. Drive-thru weddings are also available.
Wedding chapels
The majority of the free standing wedding chapels are either located on the Las Vegas Strip, as the Chapel of the Flowers, or in the Las Vegas Wedding District, the area near the wedding bureau. Las Vegas wedding chapels offer traditional weddings (with or without a reception), drive-thru weddings, motorcycle weddings and gazebo weddings.
Themed weddings
Many of the chapels, such as Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel also offer themed weddings. Common themes include Hawaiian, fairy tale, Star Trek, gothic and weddings with an Elvis impersonator. Another great themed wedding, is an Elvis wedding at the Wee Kirk o'the Heather Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. Another popular theme is a pirate ship wedding at Treasure Island.
Outside Las Vegas
Second in popularity to the wedding chapel option, is to have a ceremony performed outdoors somewhere in the area surrounding Las Vegas. Some of the outdoor locations include lake weddings, Valley of Fire weddings, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area weddings, Mount Charleston weddings, and Grand Canyon weddings.
See also
- Gretna Green, a border town in Scotland famous for marriages between eloping couples from England.
- Elkton, Maryland
References
- ^ Choate, Alan (2008-01-10). "Fewer going to the chapel". Las Vegas Review-Journal. http://www.lvrj.com/news/13672437.html. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
External links
- Las Vegas Wedding Planning and Theme Ideas
- Las Vegas Wedding Facts & Questions
- Las Vegas Wedding Chapels
- All Las Vegas Wedding Chapels and Reception Packages
- All Las Vegas Wedding Chapels and Packages
- How To Get Married in Las Vegas
Categories:- Las Vegas metropolitan area
- Marriage, unions and partnerships in the United States
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