More to do
displayed at Whiskey Pete’s Casino and even includes Clyde’s bullet-slashed clothing. It’s the curious cultural oddities you find in America that make it such a fun country to visit.
After a five-hour drive through the desert, we made it to Vegas and the MGM Hotel. We’d chosen to get married two days after arrival in the US – in hindsight I might have given myself a little longer to shake off the jet lag.
Our ceremony was booked for 6.30pm the following day, and our wedding chapel had arranged for a hair and makeup stylist to come to our hotel room. So after a leisurely breakfast and morning float in the pool, Mike went shopping while Vegas local Cheryl turned scruffy, jet-lagged me into a beautifully coiffured bride.
After hugging the lovely Cheryl goodbye, the chapel’s friendly limousine driver Steve collected us from the hotel, where our arrival in the lobby had been barely noticed. No offence taken, wedding parties are simply a dime a dozen in Vegas.
Steve took us to the marriage licence bureau (open 8am until midnight, seven days), and we were quickly issued our licence. During the busier summer months, hundreds of weddings take place daily, and the wait can be much longer. We applied online in advance but it’s also perfectly normal for couples to roll up and be issued a licence on the spot.
So, onwards in our white stretch limo to the Graceland Wedding Chapel, a small, stand-alone chapel in downtown Vegas.
We were given our pre-selected flowers and waited quietly in the foyer for an earlier ceremony to finish as Elvis crooned through the chapel doors.
Photos revealed notable celebrities such as Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Chucky the homicidal doll had also tied the knot within these walls.
As the earlier wedding party streamed out, we were ushered into the elaborately-decorated chapel to meet our minister Jonathan, photographer Abe, and our Elvis impersonator Harry.
We had a quick discussion about our ceremony and vows before Abe – the most enthusiastic photographer of all time – posed us for photos I’m not sure will ever see the light of day.
What I liked about all this was the speed of the developments. There was no time for any nerves or second thoughts. It was a slick, well-oiled wedding machine.
Before I knew it, Elvis was walking me down the aisle singing Fools Rush In. Everything felt fun and light-hearted, and I giggled my way up to the altar, because, really, the whole scene was very comical.
After meeting Mike at the end, our vows were speedily exchanged. This was the only intense moment of the ceremony as we stared into each other’s eyes and promised to love and honour one another.
To me, this was the crucial part. It doesn’t matter where you do it or who’s watching. The vows and promises are what your wedding is truly about, everything else is just detail.
Abe snapped some beautiful, unposed moments during our vows, and these few photos are the ones that have real significance to me.
After some more serenading, Elvis walked us both back down the aisle, as we all sang Viva Las Vegas. Then we were back outside, blinking in the twilight, elated with the ease and the fun of it all. Married! Ha!
Cheryl had recommended we book dinner at Stratosphere restaurant, so after a quick drink and phone calls to family on Freemont Street, we celebrated our quick and perfect wedding overlooking the city as the building slowly revolved 360 degrees.
Our Vegas wedding was fun, relaxing, and completely stressfree. Just what we wanted.
Go see Big Elvis at Harrah’s Piano Bar. Buy a T-shirt.
Splash out on at least one fancy dinner. We enjoyed an amazing meal at Harvest by Roy Ellamar in the Bellagio Hotel.
Don’t just stick to the Strip, head over to Fremont St for an older, cheaper Vegas experience.
Grab a beverage and a floating device and drift around the MGM’s river pool.
Take in a show. It doesn’t have to be a pricey one. We saw Vegas, The Show at the Saxe Theatre. Next time, I want to see the Zombie Burlesque. vtheaterboxoffice.com
Hit the buffets! Most Vegas hotels offer excellent all-you-caneat-and-drink buffets. My favourite? The Aria.
Yes, it’s another food recommendation but I need to mention InN-Out. I have an inexplicable love of their delicious burgers.
What came next
A fortnight after our wedding, we logged back on to the website to order an official copy of our wedding certificate. For US$16, they send you the document in the mail. It is recognised as a legal document in New Zealand, and there is no extra wedding paperwork to fill in when you return to New Zealand unless you plan to change your name.
A Vegas wedding is also a Kiwi wedding.