Ever thought about getting hitched in Vegas?

Married in Vegas: A Whirlwind Love Story Under the Tunnel of Love

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But when you get married there? That’s a story worth sharing. Here’s how my whirlwind wedding went down in the city that never sleeps, starting with a wild 20-minute wedding planning session at an airport and ending with Elvis presiding over a Pink Cadillac.

Having worked in the wedding industry for over 8 years now, when it came to planning my own wedding we were totally stuck! We were going back and forth on whether to have a big white wedding or whether to just elope. We had semi settled on a gorgeous forest venue but we were really struggling to commit to the plans as we just couldn't decide on so many factors! On a surprise trip the states, here's how our wedding day unfolded!

A Marriage Made in (Airport) Heaven

The journey to "I do" began at 30,000 feet, and not in the most conventional way. My partner and I were en route to Las Vegas, soaking up the excitement of an impromptu adventure when the idea hit us: “Why don’t we just get married in Vegas?” And that was it. In the middle of an airport, waiting for our connecting flight, we decided to tie the knot right there and then—in spirit, at least. We grabbed our phones and started planning.

It took all of 20 minutes. Yes, you read that right. We didn’t scour venues for weeks or agonize over guest lists and menus. Instead, we zeroed in on the one and only Little White Wedding Chapel—world-famous for its iconic weddings, celebrity elopements, and, of course, Elvis impersonators.

Clearing Up the Paperwork: What You Need to Know

A common myth is that you can just stroll into a Vegas chapel and walk out legally married. While you can absolutely have a symbolic ceremony on a whim, there are a few steps you need to take if you want to make it official. As soon as we arrived in Vegas, we headed straight to the Las Vegas County Clerk's Licensing Office to get our marriage license. (You need to either have applied for this online before hand or go and have it all processed in person)

The process was as straightforward as could be. We walked in, filled in our details on a computer, and were promptly directed to a lovely lady at the desk. She double-checked all our details, verified our IDs (remember to bring your passports!), and then had us take a quick oath in front of her. After a thumbs-up, she handed over the paperwork that we would need to take to the chapel. We even got stickers included in this and a 'fake' wedding certificate to take home with us! The ceremony at the chapel would include signing this paperwork, witnessed by our photographer-turned-witness and officiated by Elvis himself. Once the ceremony was complete, the chapel took care of sending off the documents to have our marriage certificate prepared and our marriage registered.

So, if you're thinking about getting hitched in Sin City, make sure to check this off your list—it's not difficult, but it’s necessary if you want that marriage certificate to arrive in the mail afterward.

The Chapel of Our Dreams (and Elvis)

With the paperwork in hand and our marriage license sorted, we were ready to make it official. A quick instant chat on the chapel's website was all it took to confirm the details. We checked the availability of Elvis, who, to our delight, was free to officiate. What could be more quintessentially Vegas than getting hitched by The King himself? We picked the Pink Cadillac wedding package, complete with the Tunnel of Love drive-thru. Yes, it’s as gloriously kitsch as it sounds—a neon-lit tunnel where love stories get turbocharged.

With no other guests to think of, we confirmed that our photographer would double as our witness, ensuring that even though we were flying solo, we’d still have memories captured to take back home. We even upgraded to a photography package because—let’s face it—if you get married in Vegas and don’t have the photos to prove it, did it even happen?

Shopping on the Strip: Our Makeshift Bridal Shower

With the chapel booked and Elvis on standby, we realized we had another adventure ahead—finding wedding attire in the eclectic chaos of the Vegas Strip. It wasn’t exactly your typical bridal shopping experience, but that’s what made it unforgettable.

Our mission was simple: find everything we needed for the big day in just a few hours. We embraced the spontaneity, grabbing a classic black dress that felt perfect for the occasion, a playful hair bow, a cigar for some added swagger, and a leopard print shirt for my partner. We even threw in some cheeky extras like a bottle of champagne and ring pops, because who says your wedding rings can't be made of candy?

One thing we are both so pleased we bought was a Las Vegas newspaper for the day of our wedding from our hotel lobby. Such a cute keepsake!

The Big Day: Pink Cadillac Dreams

The next day, we rolled up to the Little White Wedding Chapel, hearts racing and spirits high. Our "aisle" was the Tunnel of Love, and instead of walking down it, we drove through it in a bubblegum pink Cadillac. Elvis greeted us with a smile, clad in his signature sparkly suit, gold chains glinting under the neon lights. It was pure Vegas, with every fabulous detail feeling like it had been pulled from a movie scene. We couldn't commend him enough, he was absolutely fabulous and was an incredible singer too!

The ceremony itself was short, sweet, and wonderfully surreal. As Elvis serenaded us with "Can't Help Falling in Love," We couldn’t help but giggle at the absurdity of it all. We had planned our wedding in an airport and were now exchanging vows under the iconic tunnel of love, in a drive-thru chapel, with the King of Rock and Roll blessing our union. It was wildly unconventional, and absolutely perfect. We said our vows, laughed, cried and sang and had the most perfect wedding ceremony.

Post-Ceremony Fun: Photos and Celebrations

After we said “I do,” our adventure was far from over. Our photographer captured the magic as we exited the chapel, then whisked us off for a photo shoot in the nearby Arts District. The colorful murals and vibrant street art made for a perfect backdrop to contrast our classic wedding attire. We laughed, struck silly poses, and reveled in the surrealness of the day as we quite literally danced down the streets!

Once the photos were wrapped, it was time to hit the town. We headed straight to Downtown Vegas to celebrate in true Vegas style. Fremont Street was buzzing with life, from live music to neon signs flashing all around us. We took a spin on the zip lines, flying above the crowds, and felt like we were on top of the world. And as if that wasn’t enough, we wrapped up the night at "Hogs and Heifers," a lively biker bar where we drank whiskey, danced on the bar with the staff, and soaked in the unbeatable Vegas vibes. It felt so inherently perfect for us, which was all we had wanted for our wedding day.

The Best 20 Minutes We Ever Spent

When I think back to our wedding day, I’m grateful for those impulsive 20 minutes at the airport when we decided to go for it. If we had hesitated, overthought, or tried to plan the "perfect" wedding, we would have missed out on a day that was uniquely ours—a celebration that embodied the spontaneity, excitement, and fun that makes Vegas such a one-of-a-kind place to tie the knot.

Why You Should Get Married in Vegas, Too

Our Vegas wedding wasn’t just about convenience—it was about embracing a moment and running with it. There’s something liberating about shedding tradition and doing things your own way. For anyone thinking about it, here’s my advice: if the idea of a Vegas wedding even crosses your mind, do it. Skip the months of planning, the endless checklists, and embrace the wild, wonderful chaos.

Trust me, when you roll up to a neon-lit chapel in a Pink Cadillac with Elvis waiting at the altar, you’ll know you made the right choice. After all, love is supposed to be an adventure—why not start yours in the most exhilarating way possible?

So, here’s to Vegas: a place where the lights are bright, the nights are endless, and love can turn on a dime (or a 20-minute airport planning session). We came for a vacation, and left with a marriage—a very Vegas love story indeed.