I had never attended a wedding ceremony in Las Vegas — until a friend of mine and his fiancée invited me and a group of other frequent fliers to his wedding, which occurred exactly two years ago today at the Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel on Friday, October 27, 2017.
Video: I Attended a Las Vegas Wedding Ceremony — Complete With an Elvis Presley Impersonator
Most of the attendees — as well as the groom and myself — are veteran frequent fliers. When I asked the groom why he wanted to get married this way, he replied “Why not?!?” He and his fiancée thought it would be a lot of fun…
…and who was I — or anyone else, for that matter — to argue?
Among the different packages which were available — 14 of which involved being married by an impersonator of Elvis Presley — the couple chose the Elvis Pink Caddy Luxury Model Wedding Package, which is described as follows:
If you want to make a spectacular entrance on your wedding day in Vegas, let Elvis drive you right down the aisle of our Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel in a gorgeous 1964 pink Cadillac convertible! Rockin’ Elvis theme music, fog and theatrical lighting effects make the atmosphere even more electric as Elvis’s vintage car shoots through our main doors. But no kidding, your guests will be on their feet cheering, and friends and family watching on the Internet will simply be blown away. Elvis then escorts you to the altar, where he’ll perform the ceremony as well as three legendary songs. The unbelievable energy of this phenomenal wedding package culminates as guests join you dancing in the aisle to Viva Las Vegas, following the wedding you will enjoy a wedding reception in our Doo Wop Diner!
Prior to the wedding ceremony, the bride, groom and witnesses — as well as some guests — were brought into a small office to sign the important papers.
Another wedding party — whose theme was apparently the hippie counterculture from the 1960s, although the man in the center of the photograph looks more like he emerged from 1973 — awaited outside in full regalia, as they were next in line.
Instead of the Doo Wop Diner, an informal reception occurred at the Peppermill after the wedding…
…but rather than attempt to describe the wedding ceremony and reception afterwards, I recorded much of the festivities on video for them — and the lucky couple graciously granted me permission to post an article about their wedding to share with you.
After they were newly married, Karen and David engaged in a short impromptu exclusive interview with me.
Summary
Although this is not the type of wedding I would particularly want for myself, I have to admit that attending this wedding was different and fun…
…and happy second anniversary to David and Karen, whom I will see in a few days.
Would you consider getting married in Las Vegas in a ceremony similar to this one?
All photographs and video ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
