How To Elope In Vegas: The Complete Guide
·
Let's be honest. If you're planning to elope, there's really no better place to do it than Las Vegas. It's the cheapest, quickest, and most stress-free way to get hitched at a moment's notice.
Plus, getting married in one of the most electric and adventurous cities beats eloping in a mundane courthouse any day—don't you agree?
Tons of people choose to elope in Las Vegas, and if you're thinking about having your own Las Vegas elopement, you definitely won't regret it. But how does someone elope in Vegas anyway?
Before you go barging into a chapel demanding Elvis to officiate your wedding, there are a few things you need to consider so that your dream Vegas wedding doesn't turn into a complete nightmare.
We'll be explaining everything you need to know about how to elope in Vegas, starting with all the legal requirements to ensure that your elopement is legitimate.
Although Las Vegas is nicknamed Sin City, there are still rules and legal requirements to follow to ensure that your marriage is valid in all countries.
But don't worry, Las Vegas marriage laws aren't that strict, and the requirements are simple. Just make sure that you check all these boxes, and you can tie the knot with your partner in no time.
Any couple trying to get married in Las Vegas has to be of legal age. That means both you and your partner have to be at least 18-years-old to get a marriage license.
You must not be related to the person you're getting married to, and you can't get married to more than one person—it's one or none. And, of course, LGBTQ+ marriages are welcome!
If you meet these requirements, you can now apply for a marriage license. Here's how:
Before you can get married, you need to apply for a Las Vegas marriage license at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. It's the only place in Las Vegas to get a marriage license and you can't get married in Las Vegas with a marriage license from a different state.
The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is found on the ground floor of the Regional Justice Center in downtown Las Vegas. The exact address is: Clark County Marriage License Bureau 201 E. Clark Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89101 (Northwest corner of 3rd Street and Clark)
The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is famous for approving marriage licenses in almost no time. And unlike most states, they don't require you to take a blood test to secure a marriage license either.
The best thing about Las Vegas marriage licenses is that there's no waiting period required. You can get married immediately after receiving your marriage license. But if you don't plan on getting married right away, the marriage license is still valid for one year.
Yes—foreign couples can elope in Las Vegas! But you will have to check what legal documents your country of residence requires to consider your marriage legitimate.
One such example is for couples coming from the UK. They are required to have a certificate of no impediment (CNI) to get married in the US. Other countries, such as those part of the 1961 Hague Treaty Convention, will need to acquire a certificate called an Apostille.
To avoid complications, do research on your country's marriage requirements and accomplish them before you even travel to Las Vegas.
If English isn't the first language in your country of residence, you will need to find an accredited translator to translate all your wedding documents for them to be considered legal in your country.
You can always contact a legal practitioner or lawyer to assist you with completing these documents.
Most weddings require at least one witness apart from the officiant. If you don't plan on inviting any guests, you'll be glad to know that most—if not all—wedding chapels in Vegas can provide a witness for you. So you don't really have to worry much about that.
Planning a Vegas wedding is much like any other wedding. You still need to set a budget, find vendors, plan a guest list (if any), and choose your location. The only difference is that it's easier to get a marriage license and there are tons of elopement packages available.
Whatever your wedding budget is, there's definitely going to be a Vegas wedding ceremony for you. Las Vegas elopement packages can cost anywhere between $50 to $20,000.
When choosing wedding packages, it's common sense that a $50 wedding won't be as good as the $20,000 packages—basically, you get what you pay for. If you want something truly memorable without breaking the bank, you can already find great elopement packages around the $3,000 to $5000 price range.
That's less than a quarter of how much a traditional wedding costs. And if you end up choosing the right one, you might even get special perks such as free makeup and hairstyling, a photographer, and so much more!
If you've had friends or family who got married in Las Vegas before, you could easily ask them which vendors they got for their wedding day. But if you can't find them through word of mouth, you can always rely on Google and social media to help you find the vendors you need.
Of course, each couple will have different preferences when it comes to vendors. But if you're on a tight budget, you definitely want to focus on finding the essentials—that is a makeup artist, hairstylist, and photographer.
If you're lucky enough to choose a good wedding package, they might already provide their own team. But if not, you've always got the internet to fall back on.
One of the main reasons why people choose to elope in Las Vegas is the many venues it provides. Here are a few ideas of where you can hold your elopement ceremony in Las Vegas:
If you're staying near the Vegas Strip, you can have your wedding ceremony right underneath the Las Vegas Strip skyline. The Bellagio fountains are one of the most famous wedding locations by the Strip. Another great idea would be to have a Downtown Las Vegas wedding.
Downtown Las Vegas is home to the original Vegas Strip, more commonly known as Fremont Street. Here you'll find hundreds of vintage neon lights which make for a stunning backdrop in your wedding photos.
If you'd like to get away from the crowd, having a Neon Museum wedding would be the next best thing. You still get the same vintage neon light vibes from Downtown Las Vegas but with fewer or no people around you.
Las Vegas is surrounded by tons of breathtaking deserts and mountain ridges that are perfect for adventurous couples looking for a quiet place to hold an intimate wedding. You can choose to get married in the middle of the Valley of Fire with its beautifully red-stained rocks or at the top of Mount Charleston, where you can overlook the rest of Las Vegas.
You'll have to drive a few miles out from the Strip to get to these locations. But it's definitely worth the trip if it means getting married in some of the most gorgeous natural wonders of the earth.
Looking for something more traditional? Las Vegas is home to hundreds of iconic chapels. Celebrities such as Britney Spears, Michael Jordan, and Jon Bon Jovi also got married in a Las Vegas wedding chapel. Choose from any of the chapels available and even experience the classic Vegas wedding with Elvis as your officiant.
For more Las Vegas wedding venue ideas, read our blog on the Best Places To Elope In Vegas Of 2021.
Another thing you should consider before eloping in Las Vegas is the date. You have to remember that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert. If you're planning to get married in the summer, prepare to face the scorching heat.
Las Vegas summers can hit anywhere between 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want an outdoor wedding, you should consider doing it in spring or autumn instead. These are the best times to visit Las Vegas because it's neither too hot nor too cold, and the skies are always blue.
Keep in mind that aside from weddings Las Vegas is also the go-to spot for conventions. Hotels and resorts tend to be packed when a large convention is going on. Room prices can also increase during these times. Before you book your wedding date, make sure to check the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority website to see which conventions are in town.
Holidays such as Valentines Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve are some of the busiest seasons in Las Vegas. If you're looking to party after your wedding ceremony, the holiday seasons are often when the best parties in Vegas occur. But you should also expect tons of traffic, longer waiting times in the marriage license bureau, higher room rates, and higher wedding package rates.
If this doesn't sound like something you can tolerate or if you want a quieter and more intimate wedding, you should go during the off-season (December to January). You can get the best hotel rates during the off-season, making it the least stressful and most cost-effective option. And if you fly to Las Vegas during a weekday, the rates are even cheaper.
As romantic as weddings can be, it's extremely stressful to plan your own wedding ceremony. It might seem easy on paper, but actually contacting vendors, guests, and trying to book your dream location can be difficult. It's best you leave it to the pros.
There are tons of wedding planners available in Las Vegas, but you definitely don't want to pick just any wedding planner. If you're looking for a trustworthy and reputable wedding planner in Las Vegas, look no further than Elope In Las Vegas!
Elope in Las Vegas is the best wedding planner you'll find. Our goal is to make your wedding day as hassle-free as possible. For less than $4000 (fees, permits, and taxes included) you can make your dream wedding a reality—and you barely even need to lift a finger.
All you have to do is select your preferred elopement package, set a wedding date, and then wait for your big day to come. Everything from the planning to the wedding ceremony is already taken care of.
You don't even have to worry about the vendors because we already provide you with our own team of professional photographers, makeup artists, hairstylists, and florists. We even help file your marriage documents and get your marriage certificate for you.
Ready to experience the best day of your life? Book an appointment with us today and set your date. With us as your wedding planners, you'll see that Vegas weddings have never been easier!