Weddings, Las Vegas style, belong in a category all their own. They can be as cost-effective as rolling down the car window in a drive-up lane and saying “I do” or as elaborate as a train of barefoot vixens throwing rose pedals behind the marrying couple as their entry is announced by sentries and Caesars. They can be as whimsical as saying vows at a machine gun range or as fantastical as having Brad Pitt and Jennifer Lopez as best man and maid of honor. Sort of.
No shortage of celebrities – from Mickey Rooney and Ava Gardner, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme to Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra have been married at the various “Wee Chapels” and “Little Churches” that still dot the low-rise streets around Downtown Las Vegas. And let’s not forget, the King himself, Elvis wedded Priscilla at the Aladdin Hotel on the Strip in 1967.
Today, couples searching for the perfect location for their destination wedding will still find true happiness in Las Vegas, More than 100,000 marriage licenses are issued each year – some 315 weddings each day – for all pockets, purposes and predilections. 
The following is a quick guide to Las Vegas Wedding possibilities:
Seal the love above Las Vegas inside the exclusive Wedding Suite at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Purposefully designed without the traditional aisle and ceremony seating, guests stand in awe as vows are exchanged either in-suite or on the private wraparound terrace overlooking the heart of Las Vegas Boulevard. Couples can also opt for a fireside ceremony at the Boulevard Pool overlooking the Ice Rink and Las Vegas Strip during the winter season.
Wynn Las Vegas recently unveiled its new design inside The Wedding Salon, taking inspiration from an antique sterling silver box made by Buccelatti, with a creme duchesse satin lining. It features three elegant wedding locations, including two indoor venues and a beautifully designed outdoor space for wedding ceremonies or vow renewals. In honor of the reopening, the resort created the Diamond Extravagance package, which exudes five-star luxury. The package includes custom Cartier wedding bands, a first dance choreographed by performers from Le Reve – The Dream, a private party inside XS Nightclub, and a rehearsal dinner at the award-winning Bartolotta Ristorante Di Mare, complete with a champagne toast by Chef Paul Bartolotta. The Margaux lawn, which overlooks the Wynn golf course, is where the couple will have the exclusive opportunity to host their romantic ceremony, with a customized reception to follow in one of the opulent ballrooms.
Home to two wedding chapels and several outdoor locations, Bellagio Resort & Casino offers intimate settings for couples looking for romance and beauty. The Terrace of Dreams is a popular choice and provides a stunning view of the Bellagio Fountains and its surrounding Tuscan landscape. Wedding planners will time the famous water show to begin as the couple embraces for their long-awaited first kiss.
Link lives atop the High Roller at The LINQ Promenade. The largest observation wheel in the world offers stunning views of the destination for the lucky couple and 38 guests. The High Roller is also great for a wedding reception, offering open bar inside a private cabin.
From intimate weddings to a grand affair, Caesars Palace offers multiple venues for marriages and vow renewals. The largest chapel on the Strip, holding 196 guests, can be found in the Augustus Tower. The property also has two outdoor locations, the Venus and Juno Gardens.
Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas is a non-gaming, luxury hotel on the Strip and offers several outdoor spaces that will make any ceremony memorable. Intimate outdoor ceremonies are booked on the Fountain Terrace, while the hotel’s private pool and PRESS patio can also be rented for weddings and receptions. The property’s Grand Staircase has become an iconic backdrop for wedding photos. The hotel is also home to the first kosher kitchen on the Strip.
The recently renovated Wedding Chapel at ARIA Resort & Casino features just one chapel to ensure exclusivity to the special couple and their guests. This venue combines sleek and modern design with lavish decor for an elegant and sophisticated experience.
Everlasting love can be sealed with a kiss at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino. Professional wedding planners help couples take a step back in time for a vintage wedding, complete with hair, makeup and dramatic lighting to mimic the ambiance of the 1940s. Those looking for an unparalleled intimate setting should consider Joel Robuchon’s Parisian Terrace. This package includes a private dining room where the wedding festivities continue with a Michelin-starred five-course dinner menu.
Wedding planners at The Venetian Las Vegas are seeing several new trends this year, including the request for a soft, elegant ceremony with antique roses, pearls and stem brooches along with hand-tied bouquets. The property offers two tranquil locations for the perfect outdoor wedding reception. Both the Venezia Courtyard and Wedding Terrace offer lush greenery and serene fountains for the perfect romantic oasis.
Saying “je t’aime” atop the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas is another wedding option. This imitate ceremony includes the couple and their 12 closest friends and family, 460 feet above the Las Vegas Strip on the tower’s observation deck. Couples can also select a guitarist or violinist to accompany their special day.
Brides looking to make a statement on their wedding day should consider the volcano package at The Mirage Hotel & Casino. Daytime weddings offer a serene tropical setting, while evening weddings bring the heat as vows are exchanged overlooking the erupting volcano and cascading waterfall.
For thrill-seeking couples, taking the plunge at 67 miles-per-hour on the coaster at New York-New York Hotel & Casino might do the trick. Sixteen family and friends can ride along in this ride of a lifetime.
Other unforgettable backdrops include Mandalay Bay Beach and Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and even The Deuce Lounge or GOLD Boutique Nightclub and Lounge at ARIA Resort Casino.
Little Chapels of Love
With six decades in the business of becoming the Wedding Capital of the World, there are plenty of off-Strip options to consider when planning — or not planning — a wedding in Las Vegas
The Chapel of the Flowers brings a near acre of cobblestone-accented grounds, for traditional, modern and elegant wedding options. The Graceland Wedding Chapel has married many celebrity couples over the years and specializes in making the day iconic by utilizing one of four resident Elvis impersonators.
Brides are center stage at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Las Vegas. The stunning art deco style creates an elegant and sophisticated backdrop for nuptials – especially those with many, many guests in tow. Other notable locations in Las Vegas include the Neon Museum and The Mob Museum, one-of-a-kind settings that can be rented as venues and catered for large parties.
More information: www.lasvegas.com
Las Vegas Stories:
Next up for Vegas? South Beach Miami, of course
Like us, Join us
Get Social