Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
day to a week—so be sure to ask. Some chapels will even throw in a rose for the
bride to carry in their most basic ceremonies, but the costs for flowers usually vary
so widely that there's no point in printing ranges here.
Wedding Clothes:
If you don't bring your own, gowns and tuxes can be rented
onsite—I'll note the chapels where that can be arranged—or at nearby stores that
the wedding coordinators will help you contact. Pricing on this makes no sense
either, ranging from $50 up to several hundred for a more elaborate gown, so
leave room in your pocketbook. Or skip the poofy white dress altogether. It's your
wedding and you can show up in jeans and flip-flops without anyone blinking an
eye. Weddings in Vegas are as formal, casual, or downright sloppy as you want to
make them (no birthday suits though . . . sorry).
Transportation:
In front of each chapel you'll see two or three limos that are for
guest rental. These are available as part of different packages and are often touted
as being a “free” service. That's an outright lie, as the cost is factored into the pack-
age you're buying and an additional tip to the driver is mandatory.
The Minister:
Here's the one exception where you can probably BYO, though in
order for the marriage to be legal, the minister must be
licensed in the state of
Nevada,
which is a big bugaboo, because getting licensed is a lengthy process. You
probably won't be able to bring your hometown minister with you to do the serv-
ice. If you want to make the effort, contact the Marriage License Bureau (p. 155)
for complete information.
There are ministers aplenty in Las Vegas itself, of course, and every chapel has
at least one on hand, and sometimes more. You won't get to choose your minis-
ter, however, and it's unlikely you'll have more than 5 minutes to chat, so don't
expect to be able to “customize” your ceremony. In fact, asking for extras, such as
a poem being read or a first dance performed, will often cost you more, as any
time above the 15 minutes most couples get in the chapel for the service and pho-
tos, is money out of the chapel's coffers. So if you really must hear “The Song of
Solomon” on that solemn day, inform the chapel first and see if it's doable. If they
turn you down . . . try another chapel. You've got dozens to choose from.
Bear in mind that the minister's fee is never included in the cost of a wedding,
so you will be expected to “tip” the person who performs the service. The stan-
dard tip is between $50 and $75 for a chapel wedding, and $25 for a drive-
through window or gazebo ceremony.
A Word on Service:
I strongly advise you not to book online. Why? Well, you
won't be able to judge what the service is like at the chapel that way. Weddings are
high-stress events, so you don't want a snippy receptionist working your nerves.
Have a short chat over the phone with chapel officials, just to find out how
responsive they are to questions and how they treat potential brides and grooms.
They should be able to answer whatever question you've posed to them and do so
in a friendly, considerate way. After you've spoken with two or three you'll realize
that there can be huge differences in basic manners from one to the next. It's a
life-changing day, so why not do it in a chapel that treats it as such?
