Vegas Wedding Tips

Holidays

Keep holiday dates in mind when planning your Vegas wedding. Valentine’s Day is a hugely popular date for Vegas weddings and, while it might seem romantic, you may change your mind after waiting in a queue for five hours for a wedding chapel. New Year’s Eve is another busy wedding day. It’s also party central for tourists, which means you and your guests may have trouble finding flights, rooms and venues unless you’ve booked in advance. The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is open 24 hours on holidays to accommodate large crowds, but expect long queues.

Weather

Las Vegas has beautiful, sunny weather most of the year. But from May to September temperatures can go well over 100 degrees, making it quite uncomfortable out of the air-conditioned hotels. A heavily perspiring bride and groom never look their best so if you’re choosing this time of year an evening ceremony is often better.

Las Vegas Wedding 29th July 2005 Special Memory Chapel

photo credit: Sarah and Robin

The dress

In Vegas a bride in need of a wedding dress with just a few hours to spare is not unusual. There are several places to hire dresses and suits, log on to www.vegas.com/weddings/formal.html for details. There are also plenty of shops if you choose to buy your outfit. Alternatively you can take your dress with you, just check with your airline about the space available to store your dress during the night.

Hair and Make-up

Many hotels have salons or spas on site and chapels can often recommend people that will come to your hotel to do your hair. Or you may want to try a local salon off the Strip. In either case, book your appointment well in advance and keep the holidays and weekends in mind.

Legalities

Both parties have to be at least 18 years old to get a marriage licence. You both need to take an ID with proof of age (passport is always best) along to the Marriage License Bureau in the County Courthouse, at 200 S. 3^rd Street, 1^st Floor.

The telephone number is (702)455 4415. The fee is $50 and waiting times vary. At less busy times it’s around ten minutes but the queues are always longer at weekends and holidays.

The Courthouse is open Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight, but it’s a 24 hour service during weekends and holidays.

Witnesses

Although you need witnesses for your ceremony, if you haven’t brought friends or family with you, Las Vegas wedding chapels always have someone on hand to serve as a witness.

Most chapels offer either a civil or religious ceremony, and can provide a minister or rabbi on request.