Las Vegas is famed as the Marriage Capital of the World, with over 300 wedding ceremonies a day taking place in the city. This adds up to 100,000 weddings per year! The city is a favorite of celebrities. Most recently Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner married her fiance singer Joe Jonas from the Jonas Brothers with an Elvis impersonator conducting the ceremony at the beginning of May. There are many reasons why couples choose to tie the knot in the city, but what’s it really like getting married in Vegas?
How do I get married in Las Vegas?
The first step of getting married in Las Vegas is to obtain a marriage license. Hollywood may make it look like you can get married as a snap decision and without acquiring one beforehand but this is not factually correct. You cannot get married without one.
Thankfully getting a marriage license in Las Vegas is incredibly easy and fast. All you need to bring is a form of photo identification, ideally your driving license or passport and a fee of $77. The Marriage License Bureau in Las Vegas is open every day of the year and offers extended hours from 8 am until midnight. If you’d rather skip standing in line you can alternatively try the online marriage pre-application process. Once you complete this you will get a reference number that will allow you to skip the line at the Bureau and join the express queue.
If you are a citizen of the EU your marriage will still be legal. To have it certified in your country, you have to ask for the marriage certificate from the County Clerk’s Office and an Apostille from the Nevada Secretary of State. You have to bring those to your respective authority in your home country and get it all legalized.
Picking your wedding chapel
You will find that many of the wedding chapels in Las Vegas are one-stop shops and will happily be able to take care of all your needs. From organizing the day, time of the ceremony down to suit rentals and where to pick the perfect dress. There are also many wedding chapels in the hotels so this is something to consider if you don’t want to wander outside in the heat, ‘cos boy does it get warm, remember Las Vegas is a desert after all! All you will need to worry about is showing up and not getting cold feet!
Photo opportunities
When you get married in Las Vegas you will have hundreds of options for your post or pre-wedding photography shot. Get back to nature with the desert backdrop of Red Rock Canyon, located a short drive from the strip. Stand out in an urban feel in downtown Las Vegas, home to a variety of artistic wall murals. Or maybe you’re after some glitz and glamour? Look no further than the Las Vegas Sign, the Bellagio Fountains or take some shots on a gondola ride at the Venetian Palazzo.
How much does it cost to get married in Las Vegas?
The cost of your Las Vegas wedding will all depend on the wedding that you want. From the venue to the reception to catering etc. There are many expenses to account for when getting married. However, in Las Vegas, the costs are significantly lower as many of the chapels and hotels offer packages that include all of the little extras you normally would have to pay for yourself.
Some Las Vegas numbers:
- Marriage license: 77 USD
- Marriage Certificate: 15 USD
- Apostille from the Nevada Secretary of State: 20 USD
Rules for getting married in Las Vegas
Even the capital city of weddings has some rules, but don’t worry there are pretty straightforward.
- You must be at least 18 years of age
- You can’t marry your close family members (second cousins or cousins of half blood are OK though)
- You must not have another living husband or wife (divorces are totally acceptable as long as they are complete and you can provide exact date and city of the divorce)
The ultimate wedding venue
One of the benefits of getting married in Las Vegas is that you and your wedding party will never tire of things to do. There are hundreds of award-winning restaurants to pick from, there are countless shows such as Cirque du Soleil or famous entertainers like Mariah Carey or Celine Dion. The Vegas strip is lively and buzzing, with clubs in almost every hotel. You will never have to worry about keeping your guests entertained as this venue will do it for you.
Written by Sarah McCann, Blog Editor at MyBaggage.com a luggage delivery service popular with wedding guests around the world.
