Lucky Number - The Las Vegas Wedding : Not Just for Elopements

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The Las Vegas Wedding: Not Just for Elopements
By Salme Ruiz

Sin City is better known for quickie elopements than formal family weddings. Though still the home of drive-thru chapels, Las Vegas is fast building niches for families seeking a different but exciting experience. Weddings complete with singing Elvis are available at themed chapels such as "Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel", VivaLasVegasWeddings.com, but these are giving up some ground to large resorts.

Most mega-resorts on the four-mile strip have a wedding chapel, in-house chaplain, and banquet rooms to host family-oriented weddings that dispense with the impetuous elopements of the fifties. Today, brides and grooms can stand before their loved ones and peers to say their I Do's or renew their vows in stylish chapels replete with flowers. The best part is, the resort of your choice coordinates the details, from bouquet and boutonniere to photographer and music. Most resorts offer packages, but some offer a la carte weddings so you can customize to suit your style and budget. Vegas' main attraction is still gambling; some packages include chips for the bride and groom! Resorts offer catering, but your reception is extra. Some cost-conscious couples opt for the house fare; stroll through any hotel on a Saturday and spot gowned and tuxedoed couples celebrating their nuptials at the all-you-can-eat buffet.

Themed weddings are popular at the large resorts, and run the gamut from Greek with gladiators at Caesar's, to Renaissance with rental costumes for guests supplied by the Excalibur. Smaller chapels offer every conceivable style, whether you want to be married in Star Trek costumes or have Elvis as your best man.

Many wedding parties create a mini-holiday, reserving discounted blocks of rooms for family and friends. Guests enjoy the vacation, too. From world-class entertainment to New York, New York's roller coaster and the Imperial Palace's Auto Collection, everyone will find non-wedding events to suit their taste and resources. Vegas has re-invented it's dining, too, with eateries such as The Palm and Wolfgang Puck's.

If you are planning a Vegas wedding, have a budget prepared. An all-out bash can cost almost as much as one at home, though the inclusion of several "extras" (photographer, videographer, honeymoon suite) does make for a good deal. The Tropicana has packages as low as $99 and as high as $3500; most hotels average $400 to $600. Remember, tax, minister, and wedding license are extra.

Yes, license. Though there is no waiting period, a license is required. You must be at least 18 years old, 16 with a parent's notarized consent. No blood tests, but Nevada requires legal identification. Foreigners note: you'll need to bring a passport for proof of age.

Avoid peak wedding months; March through June, September, and October are the most crowded. Many couples combine their wedding with major holidays, when guests are likely to have time off; New Year's, Christmas, even President's Day are popular dates and fill up quickly. Valentine's Day needs to be booked at least a year in advance, and the high demand may cost you up to 50% extra. Place your bets on the summer months of July and August, when travel drops, and don't sweat the heat. Vegas air-conditioning is first-rate.

A great bonus to a Vegas wedding is the honeymoon location. Heart-shaped tubs and glass-walled views abound, though you may hop a flight to California, or go hiking in the Grand Canyon.

For more information, visit the city's Chamber of Commerce site, LasVegas.com, which devotes several pages to Vegas weddings.

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