Thinking about running off to Las Vegas to get married? “Sin City” has always attracted couples looking for quick, last minute weddings that may be a little off-beat. And although today you can still get a $300 “Drive Thru” wedding, you can also have everything from a fairly traditional ceremony at a moderate price, to an elegant wedding at one of the luxury hotels for around $24, 000 – and that doesn’t include a reception.
Advantages of a Las Vegas Wedding
- You don’t have to plan ahead of time. If you want a particular venue, you’ll need to book in advance. But, if you aren’t picky, you can quickly get a license at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau with an ID, Social Security number, and proof of divorce, or death of spouse (if this will not be your first marriage), then head to the wedding venue of your choice.
- Most venues have wedding packages in which all details are handled for you, such as the officiant, photographer, videographer, flowers, so you don’t have to handle details yourself.
- As you read above, Las Vegas weddings come in a variety or prices and you can easily find one that suits your budget.
Disadvantages of a Las Vegas Wedding
- You might get the feeling that you you are part of an assembly line. Most venues schedule weddings back-to-back and you only get a finite amount of time to have your ceremony before you are ushered out to make room for the next appointment.
- The wedding packages are convenient but if there are particular details you wanted to have to personalize your wedding, you will need to make arrangements in advance and see if they can accommodate you, usually at an additional cost.
- You must be prepared that when you tell people that you got married in Las Vegas, they will automatically envision you being married by an Elvis impersonator and make a joke. I know this from personal experience! My late husband and I got married at the Flamingo Hilton and people always ask me if we were married by Elvis even though we had a lovely ceremony officiated by a local Las Vegas pastor.
There are many websites that feature hotels and wedding chapels that cater to couples who want to get married in Las Vegas, take some time checking out the options and call to ask questions. As with any service you decide to purchase, make sure you read the contract carefully and know exactly what is included in the price before signing on the dotted line and making a deposit.