Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Don't Toss It!
The only thing that's verboten in Vegas: rice. No one wants to clean it up, and it
has the unhappy side effect of making the stomachs of the birds that eat it
explode...and I can think of few less romantic sights than an exploding waterfowl.
GETTING THE MARRIAGE LICENSE
Again, it's easy, easy, easy. Simply make your way to the
Clark County Marriage
License Bureau
(200 S. 3rd St., at Bridger Ave.;
%
702/455
-
4415; www.co.clark.
nv.us/clerk/marriage_information.htm; daily 8am-midnight).
You won't need a
blood test, there's no waiting period, and you don't even have to prove that you're
single. All you'll need with you is:
u
proof that you're who you say you are and over the age of 18 (a driver's
license, birth certificate, or passport will suffice)
u
$55 in cash (no credit cards or checks accepted)
u
a social security number (for Americans only)
u
your intended in tow. The last item is important. You can't get a marriage
license when both of you aren't present, so scotch any plans for springing a
surprise wedding on your beloved.
Wait times can vary greatly, depending on the time of year, day, and how loose
the slots have been in the previous hours—you never know. You could be stand-
ing there for just 15 minutes or an hour and a half. If possible, pick up your
license a day or two before the ceremony (the marriage license is good for a year
from the date of issuance).
After the ceremony, the chapel will mail all of the necessary legal documents
back to the Marriage License Bureau for you. If you want to have a copy of the
marriage certificate, you'll need to write to the marriage bureau to request one; the
cost is $10. All this information is available on the Clark County website (see
above).
CHOOSING THE CHAPEL
Your most important task. You want to find a setting that will be meaningful to
you and will fit into your budget. I've divided the following list by type of
chapel—that is, casino-based or free-standing—but know that the free-standing
chapels are almost always less expensive than those run by the casinos. In a plug
for these independent businesses, they also usually have more interesting histories
as well, with long lists of celebrities who married in them (some more than once).
Please note that this list is not meant to be encyclopedic. These are recommenda-
tions for the places I think are special in some way; you'll see many others when
trolling the Strip (and in surrounding areas).
One more caveat: You don't need to get married in a chapel at all. If you're
more interested in saying your vows in a hot air balloon, at the lip of the Grand
