Hitched In Vegas: The How, The Why, and The Hell Yeah!
Ah, the infamous Las Vegas Blitz wedding— typically portrayed over lavish drunkenness, haziness and an Elvis priest. If you’re looking to be the next Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher, you’re in for a shocker: Las Vegas weddings are not like the movies! But fret not, Las Vegas weddings are nothing short of spectacular! Read on to find out everything about getting hitched in Vegas.
Why Should I Get Married In Vegas
Maybe you’re just curious, or maybe you’re totally serious, and you really want to know how to get married in Las Vegas. Most rational engaged people would probably be thinking why should I get married in Vegas? That’s especially true for couples who have been engaged for awhile and haven’t really set a date. They want to have a big wedding and reception in their home town so that all their relatives and friends can be there to help them celebrate their special day. Who wouldn’t want that?
Little girls are told that their wedding day is going to be the most important day of their lives. They’re told it has to be perfect, and it has to be planned down to the very last song played by their favorite DJ or band. Like everybody knows, even the grandest plans sometimes find a way to come apart at the seams and unravel before your very eyes. That can be too much for some folks. The pressure of all the planning includes all the following and even more.
- Choosing a venue
- Booking the venue
- Buying the dress
- Selecting the invitations
- Picking bridesmaids and groomsmen
- Choosing the bridesmaid and the best man
- Agreeing on the length of the service
- Deciding what to serve at the reception
Additionally, couples need to please their parents with the proper religious tone for the service. They also need to please their friends with the right party atmosphere. Will there be a cash bar, an open bar or no alcoholic beverages? No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to make everybody happy.
A Las Vegas wedding frees you from all that planning. The only people who need to be happy are the bride and her groom. Nobody even has to know you’re planning to get hitched in Las Vegas. You can tell everyone you’re just going there to have a little fun before getting down to the serious planning. The good news is that the Las Vegas marriage requirements are so easy to fulfill that you can go there with just the documents in your wallet and you’ll have everything you need for your Las Vegas wedding.
How to Get Married in Las Vegas
The single most important factor to having a Las Vegas wedding is proximity. You have to be in Vegas to get married there. You’ll also need to choose a chapel and an administrator, and you’ll need to obtain a marriage license.
Las Vegas Marriage Requirements
Neither Nevada residency nor blood tests are required. You’ll need to get a marriage license from the Las Vegas Marriage Bureau. To save time, it’s recommended that you apply for your certificate and pay for it beforehand online. Marriage certificates cost $77 and copies run $15 each.
You cannot be closer than second cousins, and you must be aged 18 or older and single. With parental permission, 17 year old couples may be wed. If bride or groom is married to someone else, they are guilty of bigamy. You must prove your identity with a government-issued ID card.
Benefits of Getting Married In Las Vegas
It’s easy. It’s painless. There’s no monumental planning required. A Vegas marriage is special. It’s not like everybody else’s marriage over at the local church with the same preacher you’ve known since you went to Sunday school or vacation Bible classes. Your officiant, which is a fancy name for preacher, can be an Elvis impersonator. The chapel can be in a hot air balloon, in front of a grand casino, at the end of a dice table, in the middle of a hand of Texas Hold ‘Em poker or anywhere you like. If you brought a best man or bridesmaid, that’s fine. If not, somebody at the chapel will do the honors for you. Las Vegas weddings are meant to be fast. After all, another couple is waiting in the foyer for their turn to tie the knot.
How much does a Las Vegas Wedding usually cost?
How much you spend depends on what you want. Here are a few wedding packages to help you get your bearings.
- Valley of Fire Wedding by Private Limousine costs $549.99 and includes a professional photographer.
- Las Vegas Wedding at A Special Memory Wedding Chapel is only $99. You can upgrade to have Elvis walk you down the aisle.
- World-Famous Drive-Up Wedding in Las Vegas is the lowest at $62.49, which includes 12 photos.
- Quickie Las Vegas Wedding at Paradise Wedding Chapel only runs $66.67 and takes about 15 minutes.
- Elvis Wedding at The Little Vegas Chapel will set you back $304 with certificate, silk bouquet and boutonniere and photos.
- Wedding in French at Valley of Fire is on the high side, costing $1,835 with numerous upgrades.
