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Las Vegas Weddings

Las Vegas Weddings

Even though Las Vegas has been the “quickie divorce” capital of the world for almost 100 years, it is also the world’s most popular venue for weddings.

The Wedding Coordinator

Virtually every large resort will offer wedding packages to a bridal couple, including the services of a wedding planner or coordinator. In addition, many “Wedding Chapels” are available for services at all levels. Many of them can be found in those blocks of Las Vegas Boulevard that separate Downtown from the North Strip. All these places do is to put on weddings, often on very short notice. So unless it’s Valentine’s Day or New Year’s Eve (when everybody is booked solid) it should be fairly straightforward to find a place to marry and as much logistical support as the bridal couple needs or is prepared to pay for. There are even a few independent wedding planning companies not associated with a wedding chapel, and they also provide all the planning services required. A good approach is to shop around on the internet before coming to town. In truth, the term “Wedding Production Companies” is more accurate to describe what these companies are prepared to do. Details will include the venue, the officiant, photography and video, flowers, music, champagne, catering for the receptions and parties, even the rental of clothing. Often there are special hospitality features, like the use of a bridal suite. Some places even help plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties. The wedding coordinator may even help with finding appropriate rings.

Las Vegas Weddings

Theme Weddings and Special Venues

A special Las Vegas touch is the “theme wedding.” At Excalibur, for example, the bridal couple can tie the knot in armor and medieval garb. The most popular theme, of course, is Elvis. Several officiants are very able Elvis impersonators. Las Vegas locations can also be unusual. In addition to the theme wedding chapels at many resorts and the standard, hearts-and-flowers-cum-Italian-villa look and feel, a bride has the option of many outdoor venues, such as Red Rock Canyon, or the landscaped, arbored areas of several of the finer resorts. (The public places, like National or State Parks also require reservations, so be sure to check on this.) Several companies will let you tie the knot inside a limo while on the go or on Harleys! For the do-it-yourself couple or for lovers on a tight budget or spur-of-the-moment timing, many of these aspects can be handled independently without seeking out a wedding professional.

The two details common to all who marry in Las Vegas are: (1) the choice of officiant, and (2) the marriage license. The marriage license must be presented to the officiant before the marriage ceremony begins. Otherwise, the ceremony will have to be rescheduled, and this will always involve additional cost as well as inconvenience. So couples are urged to be sure to have all the paperwork in good order well before starting the ceremony.

Officiant

A few states allow just about anyone to perform a marriage, but Nevada is not one of them. The officiant needs to be licensed to perform the ceremony. This includes any Nevada judge or member of the clergy, as well as military chaplains and visiting clergy. Chaplains and visiting clergy must take the trouble to obtain authorization ahead of time. This re-quires certification from the officiant’s county, country or branch of service of his or her credentials as an ordained minister. The person will also need to provide the names and addresses of both the bride and groom. This process usually takes a few weeks to complete. Witness. There is also a legal requirement that at least one witness other than the bridal party and the officiant be present at the wedding. If the couple does not have anyone to des-ignate for this role, it is a good idea to tell the officiant, who will be able to solve the problem.

Civil Ceremonies

The Office of Civil Marriages at the Clerk’s Office performs civil cere-monies between the hours of 8:00 am and 10:00 pm, seven days a week, including holidays.

License

Traveling to the Clerk’s Office for the marriage license is often part of a wedding package, perhaps a special limo trip. Whether the couple takes a limo or a bus, the requirements are the same. One note of caution: couples using a limo to go to the Clerk’s office need to be sure they have everything they need to complete the job, as the limo is usually so tightly scheduled that it can not go back to the hotel for a forgotten document or make an extra trip. Here is how to obtain the license:

Las Vegas Weddings
  • Who. Both parties must appear, and be of opposite genders. The minimum age is 18. If one or both parties is between 16 and 18, a license can still be issued if parental consent is given, either in person or by a notarized affidavit of consent that states the date of birth of the minor and the affiant’s relationship to the minor. It must be in English. A person under 16 must have a Nevada court order to be married. Persons related to each other by three or fewer degrees of kinship can not marry (This includes parent, child, sibling, uncle, aunt, and first cousin. “Sibling” includes adoptive siblings and half-siblings). There are no different requirements for non-citizens or non-residents of the United States; however, some countries may not recognize the Nevada marriage certificate. It would be prudent to check with one’s local consular officer to be certain, in a case of doubt.
  • Where. The office for the license is the same, whether the wedding is taking place inside the City of Las Vegas or in Clark County. The location is the Marriage Bureau of the Clark County Clerk’s Office. It is found at 200 South Third Street, in downtown Las Vegas. (The zip code is 89102 and the main phone number is (702) 455-4416.)
  • When. On any given day, many licenses are issued, so it is truly a good idea to take care of this detail in advance whenever possible, to avoid kinks in the schedule later on. The license is good for a whole year, after all. (Meaning, you have a year to get married with the license before it will need to be re-issued.) The Marriage Bureau is open every day, includ-ing Sundays and Holidays, from 8:00 in the morning until midnight. Usually the process takes a half hour or less unless the couple comes at a peak-load period, like Saturday morning.
  • Application. The license application can be downloaded and prepared in advance. Go to http://www.accessclarkcounty.com/clerk/Marriage_License_Applications_online.htm to obtain a PDF version of the form. Both bride and groom must sign the application and pre-sent it in person. This saves time. Otherwise, the application will have to be filled out and signed by both parties upon arrival at the Marriage Bureau.
  • Fee. The wedding couple will need to have $55 in cash for the filing fee. No checks or credit cards are accepted.
  • Identification. Each participant will also need a photo identification of some sort. This has been traditional for many years, but not strictly required. As of January 1, 2008, proper photo identification is mandatory. Proof of age, obviously, is a requirement. All documents not in English must be accompanied by a sworn translation. Legible originals and certified copies are acceptable, but any other photocopies or damaged documents are not. The fol-lowing are acceptable forms of identification: Driver’s License (or Instruction Permit or DMV ID card) from any state in the U.S.; Birth Certificate plus a secondary form of ID that contains the same name as the applicant and a photo; Passport; Military ID; Certificate of Citizenship or Naturalization; Permanent or Temporary Residency Card. The license will be issued in the names presented in the identification documents. Social Security Numbers are required on the application, except for those who can not obtain a social security number. Couples are advised to gather all the required information and documentation ahead of time, to be sure that it is complete and acceptable before making the trip to the Clerk’s office.
  • Other Documents. Copies of previous divorce decrees are not required, but the information from the decree is a requirement (city and state of issuance and date of decree). Thus, it is not a bad idea to have a copy of divorce decrees handy. Also, be mindful, however, that if one of the participants is not legally single, divorced or widowed, the marriage is unlawful and void.
  • Renewal of Vows. Many couples like to perform a “Renewal of Vows” in Las Vegas. A license can not be issued to persons who are married, even to each other, so the renewal requires no trip to the Clerk’s Office. The officiant may require a copy of the marriage certificate prior to performing the renewal ceremony.
  • Certified Copies. Sometimes it is necessary to obtain a marriage certificate or a certified copy of the marriage license. This can be accomplished either by mail or by a visit to the Marriage Bureau. The certificate can not be issued until after the marriage has been performed. The cost of a certificate is $10 and your copy of the marriage license must be pre-sented at the time. The cost of a certified copy of the license is $7.


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