Gamble on a showbiz wedding in Las Vegas

Gamble on a showbiz wedding in Las Vegas

Take the plunge amid glitz and glamour

Getting married in Las Vegas by Neal Baldwin

Scores of naked girls, their bodies in time with the music, gyrated before a group of congregated men.

It was 5pm and I was getting married – Las Vegas style.

The dancers weren’t inside the chapel but showed off their silicon assets next door – all part and parcel of the world’s tackiest city.

My future wife Kate, discovered the venue on the Internet. It must be good, we thought, Jon Bon Jovi was married there.

The Gracelands Wedding Chapel had everything. Even Elvis for an extra $200.

Sandwiched between the Showgirls Lapdancing Club – a 24-hour nude extravaganza – and a bail bondsman’s office, the three buildings are testament to the excesses of Vegas.

There’s no doubt that getting married in the gambling capital is easy – as long as taste isn’t an issue.

In true US fashion, everything worked like clockwork. The driver arrived at our hotel in a car slightly smaller than a London flat. When we arrived outside the chapel, the 4.30pm wedding party was at the photography stage and their cheers sent us inside with smiles.

Inside the décor was surprisingly tasteful and flowers of our choice personalised the chapel as the sun cast patterns through the stained glass.

We said our “I do’s”. We giggled when we made promises to cherish one another, then laughed some more when we had to light candles of love.

Six minutes later I was outside again, now a married man.

The bill was settled by credit card and a discreet tip left for the priest.

Another tip, this time for the limo driver, is essential. The average package will cost no more than $350 and the driver will take you wherever you want afterwards.

For us it was Holy Cow – a bar with a giant plastic heifer on the roof, home-made beers and country music to drown out the tinkle of slot machines.

Going to the chapel: Kate and Neal followed in Jon Bon Jovi’s footsteps and got hitched at theGracelands Wedding Chapel

Bright lights, big city: tying the knot in Vegas is easy

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LAs Vegas

British Airways Holidays has introduced the Candlelight Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas where a wedding costs £149 and includes fresh or silk flowers, button hole and bouquet, wedding cake for seven to eight people,limousine transfer, ministers’ donation and taxes. Themarriage license costs an extra $35.

UNIJEThas seven nights’ room-only at the five-star Aladdin Resort and Casino based on two sharing for £599 per person. The three-star Palace Stations Hotel and Casino leads in at £499 per person. Unijet offers a range of packages at the famous Little White Wedding Chapel (where Ross and Rachel from Friends were married). The basic deal for winter 2000 starts at £79 and includes use of chapel, candlelitservice, minister, a witness, traditional music andlimousine service. A package with flowers,photographs and all the trimmings goes for £229. Optional extras such as an Elvis lookalike, cake and video can be added in resort.

VIRGIN HOLIDAYS: seven nights’ room-only at the three-star Circus Circus leads in a £499 based on two sharing. Price includes flights, transfers and car hire. A lavish candlelight Elvis ceremony including Hawaiian set, Elvislookalike, buttonholes,limousine, Las Vegas showgirls and video – followed by a Las Vegas Strip helicopter ride – is £510.