Las Vegas is a city that has always blurred the lines between reality and dreams. Found in a desert where the glamorous strip is filled with shining replicas of famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Egyptian pyramids, and medieval castles, Las Vegas is a city brimming with unlimited entertainment. It is no surprise that a city built on the ideals of fun and escapism is a popular destination for weddings. Reports from the Clark County clerk in Nevada indicate that approximately 80,000 couples said “I do” in 2022, including celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker, and Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. 2022 also marked the issuance of the five millionth marriage license in Clark County.
September 23, 2022, marked the 70th anniversary of Las Vegas’s designation as the “Wedding Capital of the World,” a title first bestowed by the London Daily Herald in 1953. This date is of significance as it was also the year that Frank Sinatra began his performances at the Sands Hotel and Casino, a time which saw the city’s popularity as a tourist destination soar. Some significant Las Vegas weddings have been immortalized in movies such as “Viva Las Vegas” and “The Hangover” and include high-profile names such as Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, and Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu.
Today, Las Vegas is undergoing significant changes. In addition to the introduction of new attractions like a Formula 1 Grand Prix track and the Sphere, which boasts over 1.2 million LED screens and is home to U2’s 25-show residency, weddings continue to inspire passion. The total spending in the tourism and weddings industry of Las Vegas in 2022 was close to $80 billion, with the weddings industry accounting for $2.5 billion of that sum, according to the Clark County Clerk’s office. It is estimated that there are approximately 100 chapels and some 18,000 individuals working in the wedding industry in the city.
In the 1990s, themed weddings became popular, with Gothic, Elvis, and Star Trek-themed ceremonies topping the list of common requests. Las Vegas is also home to grand and elaborate weddings hosted at casinos and venues on the strip, with custom wedding packages at the Bellagio starting at $35,000. Lynn Goya stated that many extravagant measures were taken at these weddings, with requests ranging from “people riding in on elephants” to engagements with celebrities like Cirque du Soleil or Bruno Mars appearing at the event.
While the Clark County Marriage License Bureau issues around 219 licenses a day, 365 days a year, with no appointment necessary, many chapels remain open until midnight, allowing couples to obtain their marriage license, get married, and celebrate, all on the strip. The Office of Civil Marriages is known for hosting wedding ceremonies every 15 minutes, attracting visitors from all over the world and a growing number of locals.