SAY, “I DO” TO A NEW TAKE ON NUPTIALS
By Stacey Gualandi
’Tis the season to tie the knot, but if you are looking to forgo the trappings of a traditional ceremony, have I got some untraditional “I do” ideas for anyone thinking outside the wedding box!
I’ll be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary next year, so I’m already doing some recon on renewal destinations. The inspiration came from my recent visit to the one-of-a-kind chapel inside Princess Diana: A Tribute Exhibition, a new 10,000-square-foot attraction at The Shops at Crystals on the Las Vegas Strip.
The multi-million dollar collection of memorabilia showcases over 700 royal family artifacts—much of which took the Pink Ribbons Crusade charity over 45 years to curate. Not only does it display authentic evening gowns, letters, gifts, and personal items belonging (or relating) to the world’s most famous princess, but it also offers a wedding package complete with a ceremony and private dinner inside “The Wedding of the Century” room!
Yes, you too can now marry your prince, or princess, surrounded by valuable, rarely-seen mementos from the historic wedding celebration of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles in 1981 (like a piece of their wedding cake!); and an exclusive life-size recreation of Diana’s wedding gown and 25-foot train by world-renowned Belgian artist and sculptor Isabelle de Borchgrave. And there’s plenty of room for your own royal watchers.
For research purposes, I had to try out the altar, along with exhibit curator and producer David Corelli, and honestly, I felt like a princess! Albeit without 750 million people watching.
“LAS VEGAS MARRIES THE MILITARY”
Talk about rolling out the royal carpet.
This Veterans Day is “Las Vegas Marries the Military Day!”
On November 10, numerous chapels and wedding professionals across Las Vegas and Clark County will open their doors FOR FREE to members of the United States Armed Forces (active duty, guards/reserves, retired and veteran).
That means military couples who signed up will win a walk down the aisle at minimum with a free wedding or vow renewal package, group reception, and a $250 Allegiant Airlines travel voucher.
“Veterans Day is a wonderful opportunity to thank active-duty members and veterans and their families for their sacrifice on our behalf,” said Clark County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya. “‘Las Vegas Marries the Military’ allows us to offer a tangible ‘Thank You’ from our wedding community to these special couples.”
In total, 38 industry vendors have enlisted their services, valued at nearly $50,000, with 20 weddings or vow renewals to take place, according to the Vegas Wedding Chamber.
That includes free wedding packages from Bellagio Resort & Casino, Wynn Las Vegas, ARIA Resort & Casino, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Paris Las Vegas, and Flamingo Las Vegas, and free weddings at venues such as Forge Social House, Art Houz, Vegas Weddings, Chapel of Flowers, Paradise Wedding Chapel, Love Story Wedding Chapel, Bootlegger Las Vegas, The Chapel at Nelson Ghost Town, Vegas Mob Weddings at Lucky Little Chapel, and Studio XO.
The Vegas Wedding Chamber is still taking submissions! If you would like to sign up, just click this link: lvmarriesthemilitary.com.
Thank you for your service. You’ve earned it.
Take a look at some of the photos from past Las Vegas Marries the Military weddings and vow renewals below.
CHURCH OF DIRT
While we’re on the subject of “free nuptials,” on a recent hike in Park City, Utah, my husband and I came across the unassuming Church of Dirt, an isolated, outdoor “chapel” located off Empire Pass, almost 10 thousand feet above sea level.
The Church of Dirt is a public-yet-private venue with 360-degree views for days. The simple set-up comes with a dozen wooden pews, a dirt-friendly aisle (thus the name, duh), and a makeshift tree branch altar. Oh, and did I mention it’s free?
I’m told the best time to go is during the summer, but be sure to reserve in advance since this wedding setting isn’t so secret anymore! Also, what’s really neat is newlyweds leave a special memento marking their moment in a “pile of love” for all passers-by to see.
(Attention brides: if you should forget a bouquet, there are plenty of wildflowers to choose from.)
DESERT ELOPEMENT CEREMONY
Not to be outdone in the sweeping views category is The Little Vegas Chapel’s “Desert Elopement Package,” right in the middle of the remote Nevada desert.
The all-new, all-inclusive seasonal package includes a desert ceremony and roundtrip limousine service to the El Dorado Dry Lake Bed near Las Vegas. It offers couples-to-be an Instagram-worthy opportunity to marry in a magnificent outdoor setting with a vast mountain backdrop.
Available seasonally, October through March, the intimate ceremony package also boasts cider toast flutes, a unity sand ceremony, a desert-themed bouquet and matching boutonniere, an on-location photo session, and keepsake sunglasses!
“For couples seeking a unique destination wedding experience, we are excited to offer them something a little less traditional,” said Michael Kelly, managing partner of The Little Vegas Chapel. “This special elopement package provides brides and grooms an intimate way to exchange vows within the serene, secluded Southern Nevada desert just outside of Las Vegas.”
Now, if you don’t dig a desert elopement, the decade-old The Little Vegas Chapel downtown has two wicked wedding packages just in time for Halloween: ‘To Boo or Not to Boo’ and ‘Spooky Love,’ performed by a Harley Quinn officiant in their newly expanded Imperial Chapel.
Can you say, “I Boo?”
For more information on these nuptial locations, check out these websites:
