Getting married in Vegas

[Woahtherehoney]

Hi all,

Me and DP were planning a traditional wedding but a couple of weeks ago DP’s brother died suddenly and he doesn’t want to do a normal wedding without him - I’m totally on board with this and so we’re saying bugger it all and going to Vegas to get married.

Has anyone got married in Vegas and have any recommendations? Any places to avoid?

It’ll most likely just be me, DP and DSS and maybe our mums (they are both fully supportive of us going off to get married even if they can’t make it)

Have you been to Vegas? Although it may be down to personal preference but I found Las Vegas to be dirty, sleazy, touristy and overcrowded (I happened upon it twice whilst travelling and both times I was unimpressed). Lots of very drunk people. I did actually go to a wedding in Vegas, it was between two girls on a tour and it was just for a laugh. But of course this is just my impression, perhaps you have been to Vegas and you loved it and it holds special memories?

Honestly I completely agree with the above poster. We went last year shortly after our wedding and are so so glad we didn’t marry there. The chapels are in a really ‘rough’ area of the strip and it all just feels a bit staged and seedy. It really doesn’t feel like the Instagram/TikTok Videos make it out to be - sorry!

Personal opinion but it also felt quite sad seeing couples there with no friends/family walking through in wedding attire. Although I totally understand your/your DP’s reasoning for wanting to do it, for us, it was absolutely the right thing in getting married in the UK first.

We've just got married in New York. Suoer straight forward. Could you pick a city/state you would like to visit and go from there?

I got married there in 2007 and it was absolutely fine. Yes, the chapels aren’t in the best part of town, but if you taxi it there and back what’s the problem? Also, most of the hotels had their own chapels or designated wedding rooms so that’s another option.

My husband and I had had a really bad couple of years ( no affairs) and were going on holiday to California. We decided as part of that to retake our vows while we were in vegas . We did it at the little church of the west. It was gorgeous and was lit by candles inside. We got a cab there from our hotel and in fact the receptionist at our hotel booked it for us. Judy Garland got married there to one of her husbands. If it's good enough for Judy etc etc....😂 I think it's possible to have a classy ish wedding there . We didn't want to retake our vows in a drive through or via Elvis
As we were coming out another couple were getting ready to go in. She was American and he was Mexican. Their families were happy about their relationship but were interfering so much in their wedding plans, they decided to elope. They were so happy and not sad at all about their family not being there.

We renewed our vows in Vegas, with Elvis (although I think they have some new rules about tacky impersonators now). I LOVED it. A bloke came and collected us in a stretch limo, we bunged him some dollars to take some awful photos, and then we said our vows again. I was in a Chinese eBay wedding dress, hubby in a blue velvet tux with ruffle shirt. We then went to The Venetian for Mexican food and lots of margaritas. Everyone was so kind and happy for us. We then went to see Aerosmith, which was hands down one of the best (and smallest) gigs I have ever been to.
My sister eloped and got married in New York City Hall, in jeans, with 2 witnesses off the street, followed by a deli lunch.

I’ve been to Vegas before and LOVED it, and my DP has never been but has always wanted to go - it was the last place we went as a family holiday before my Nan became too ill to travel so it is important to me. I appreciate the posters feedback on not going to Vegas but we aren’t changing our mind on destination.

thanks for the other comments - if anyone has any particular chapels in mind I’d appreciate it. I’m also eyeing up the hotels as some do a small wedding package like Caesars which looks cool,

I used Chapel of the Flowers and it was lovely

We went to my BIL wedding at Caesar's palace, it was really nice from what I remember of the day.

They had a little reception there also afterwards with drinks and wedding cake.

Loved Vegas actually, would go back again, would love to stay at the Bellagio or the Venetian we slummed it at Circus Circus

Snap.

Though this was 18 years ago so can't comment on what it's like now.

I don't know if it's still there - was years ago - but a friend of mine got married in vegas with a small wedding party and had a fantastic post ceremony meal in Paris Hotel restaurant Mon Ami Gabi on its terrace opposite the Bellagio's Fountains.

yes the well known chapels are very tacky and we nearly decided not to go ahead. However we found the Flamingo Hilton, they had a lovely chapel in their landscaped grounds, we dealt with a Hilton wedding planner who organised a photographer, flowers and included a room the night before, plus the visit to the court for the required documents, the Rev Willard conducted the service.
excellent day.

So did we, and would thoroughly recommend. Our photos are lovely and although a little conveyor belt the whole experience was great.

Just be warned, Vegas is SO expensive now. We got married in 2015 and have been back 3 times since, but everything there was so, so expensive when we last went back in 2022.

We loved holidaying in Vegas so can see the appeal of it as a destination. There's lots of beautiful hotels so I'm sure you'd have some nice choices. Plus there's some really excellent dining so it would be a lovely special wedding meal. Saw loads of wedding couples whenever walking through hotels and casinos. Guess you'd just need to be comfortable with strolling about in your wedding outfits alongside all the holidaymakers in their t shirts, shorts and flip flops!

Sorry to hear about the sudden loss of your partners brother also, must be very difficult for you all xx

I'd love to know how you got on? Have you had your wedding yet? DP and I are planning to go to Vegas next year and just started making plans.

It would be great to hear from 'real' people! We were looking at the Neon Museum but it's $2500 to book it for 1 hr so thinking of just a drive through or cheaper ceremony.

Yes, I understand that Vegas isn't for everyone but we've been together 20 years and have been to Vegas before and are happy with this choice.

Just looking for recommendations or advice. I'll look at the Chapel of Flowers but I'd also read good things on Reddit about Love Story Chapel.

I got married in The Chapel of Flowers almost 17 years ago and it was lovely. I think at the time they had three different rooms to get married in. We got married in September at 5pm so it wasn't to hot outside and the sun was going down. Photographer took lovely pictures, actually tonnes of them and we have a dvd of the ceremony as well. There was also a live stream for people to watch at home. The Chapel will offer different options as to pictures, photographers, limos etc . You will need to get your marriage licence beforehand, the Chapel arranged for us to be picked up from our hotel to go and get it and then dropped us back.

We had our reception in The Venetian, we hired a private suite for the night. We had two butlers/waiters who served us dinner and drinks ( there was 11 of us in the wedding party) Food and service was outstanding.

Best of luck with your wedding and feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

We got married last year in Vegas and loved it! We chose Sure Thing Chapel. It was rather trendy and 'cool' but we really enjoyed it. I would avoid mid summer. It was 45+ degrees when we were there and taking photos outside was tough!
Get dressed up, have some cocktails and enjoy ❤️

We got married in the Candlelight Chapel at sunset years and years ago - so long ago that the chapel is now in a museum which makes me feel ancient!. It was lovely and not tacky at all. We had a "proper" service and clergyman and it didn't feel rushed. I loved wandering through the casino at our hotel in my wedding dress - people were shaking my hand for luck and it felt really special. The only issue was that it was long before marriages abroad become popular, and there was no internet or real advice on what to do, so whilst we obviously got the licence sorted ok, we didn't know that you had to go back to the clerk's office and file your marriage paperwork after the ceremony - so we didn't and thus weren't actually married legally anywhere for a very long time! It's funny in one way, but could have caused real problems if one of us had died before we finally realised (were informed) and got everything sorted.

Thank you all so much and apologies OP for hijacking your thread. Hope you come back as I want to hear about your wedding!

I'll have a look at some of these suggestions and if I have questions will come back.