Las Vegas Weddings 2026: Licenses, Chapels, Venues and Costs

Las Vegas is famous for easy weddings: no waiting period, no blood test and a license office that is open until midnight every day of the year. But a Vegas wedding can be anything from a ten-minute drive-through ceremony to a full hotel production with a reception for a hundred guests.

This guide explains the legal steps, the main types of ceremony and venue, what drives the cost, and how far ahead to plan. Facts about the license come from the Clark County Clerk, and chapel and hotel details from their own websites, checked in September 2026. Package prices change, so confirm the current price and terms before you book.

The Marriage License

Every wedding in Las Vegas needs a Nevada marriage license from the Clark County Clerk. Chapels can't issue one: you get it first, then take it to your ceremony.

• Apply online first. The Clerk's site has an online pre-application, which cuts time at the counter. It stays in the system for one year.
• Names: the license and certificate are issued in each name exactly as it appears on the ID you present.
• Previously married? The Clerk doesn't need your divorce decree unless it lets you use a name different from the one on your current ID.
• Other offices: the Clerk also issues licenses in Henderson (240 S. Water Street, Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and on limited days in Laughlin and Mesquite; call before visiting those two.

Nevada marriages are recognized throughout the United States. If you live abroad, check what your own country requires to register a marriage performed in Nevada before you travel.

Your Options at a Glance

The Famous Chapels

The historic chapels sit along Las Vegas Boulevard between the north end of the Strip and downtown. All of them sell packages that bundle the ceremony, officiant, photos and flowers in different combinations.

Little White Wedding Chapel

Operating since 1951 at 1301 Las Vegas Blvd S, the Little White Wedding Chapel is home to the "Tunnel of Love" drive-through, plus two indoor chapels (Little White and Chapel Amore) and an outdoor gazebo. It offers Elvis and Pink Cadillac packages and says it has married hundreds of thousands of couples. It is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Note its policy: all payments are non-refundable.

Graceland Wedding Chapel

Founded in 1939, at 619 Las Vegas Blvd S near downtown, Graceland calls itself the world's first Elvis wedding chapel, offering Elvis ceremonies since 1977. Its guest list includes Jon Bon Jovi, and the chapel says Elvis himself visited in 1967. Packages cover legal weddings, vow renewals and non-legal commitment ceremonies, with or without Elvis, and group ceremonies. Its newer sister venue, the Storybook Wedding Chapel, is a restored 1920s building for up to 32 guests.

Chapel of the Flowers

At 1717 Las Vegas Blvd S, Chapel of the Flowers is the more traditional choice, with several settings on one site, including the Glass Gardens, La Capella Chapel, the Victorian Chapel, the Magnolia Chapel, a gazebo and a "Married in Las Vegas" sign for photos. In September 2026 its site listed packages named Basic ($299), Traditional ($495) and Romantic ($650).

Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel

At 1205 Las Vegas Blvd S, Viva Las Vegas bills itself as the first theme wedding chapel in the world and the first LGBTQ+ wedding venue in Las Vegas. Themes run from Elvis and gothic to sci-fi, superheroes, disco and movie characters, staged with theatrical lighting and fog, alongside traditional ceremonies. Every wedding includes your names on its Strip marquee, and a livestream is available for guests at home. Packages started at $159 on its site.

More chapels, with side-by-side comparisons, are in our wedding chapels guide.

Elvis and Themed Weddings

An Elvis wedding is legal: the chapel's officiant performs the legal part of the ceremony, and Elvis sings, escorts and entertains. Graceland, Little White Wedding Chapel and Viva Las Vegas all offer Elvis packages. Things to decide when booking:

• How much Elvis: packages range from a song or two to Elvis walking you down the aisle and performing through the ceremony.
• Legal or not: several chapels also sell non-legal commitment ceremonies and vow renewals, useful if you married at home and want the Vegas version too.
• Other themes: Viva Las Vegas has the widest range, from gothic to superheroes, with performers included in themed packages.
• Guests at home: ask whether a livestream is included or extra.

Hotel and Resort Weddings

Resort weddings cost more than chapels but bring a coordinator, polished venues and a reception, hotel rooms for guests and a honeymoon all in one building.

• Wynn Las Vegas has three ceremony venues: the Lilac Salon (up to 60 guests), the Lavender Salon (up to 120) and the outdoor Primrose Courtyard (up to 100), which Wynn prices at an extra $2,200 per hour on top of a wedding package. The courtyard can host receptions and dinners for up to 50. Weekend and after-hours weekday ceremonies cost more, and the Wynn has special room rates for wedding guests.
• The Venetian offers traditional and contemporary settings, the Garden Chapel, outdoor space in the Venezia Gardens, and gondola wedding experiences. It offers room blocks of 10 to 50 suites for wedding parties.
• Treasure Island advertised wedding packages from $750 on its site in September 2026, a lower-cost way to have a Strip resort wedding.
• Bellagio and other MGM resorts also run wedding chapels. Their sites block automated checks, so contact the resort directly for current venues and packages.

Ask every resort for the full price with service charges, taxes and the day-of-week premium, and what the package includes (officiant, photography, flowers, music), since these vary widely.

Outdoor and Desert Weddings

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, west of the city, is the classic desert wedding backdrop. Weddings need a Special Recreation Permit from the Bureau of Land Management, which issues a limited number of permits for commercial and noncommercial weddings. Applications require insurance naming the United States as additionally insured and an operations plan, with a minimum fee of $130 plus activity-based charges. Email the BLM's Red Rock recreation team well before your date. Remember the park's own entry fee and, from October 1 to May 31, the timed-entry reservation for cars between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Most couples who marry here book through a wedding company that already holds a commercial permit, which handles the paperwork and the officiant.

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire, established in 1935 and about an hour northeast of Las Vegas, has red sandstone formations that make dramatic photos. Weddings and photo shoots need a permit from the park (702-397-2088). Entry is $10 per vehicle, or $15 for vehicles not registered in Nevada.

Planning around the weather

Summer afternoons in the desert are dangerously hot. Plan outdoor ceremonies for spring or autumn, or for early morning in summer, carry plenty of water, and have a backup plan for wind. There is no shade, power or water at most scenic spots. Our outdoor wedding venues guide covers more locations.

What a Vegas Wedding Costs

The license is the only fixed cost. Everything else depends on the kind of wedding you choose. The main cost drivers, from smallest to largest:

• License: $102.
• Ceremony package: chapel packages start in the low hundreds of dollars; for example, Viva Las Vegas from $159 and Chapel of the Flowers from $299 in September 2026. Themed and resort packages cost more.
• Officiant gratuity and extras: chapels often expect a separate tip for the officiant, and some charge for things like limo rides or extra photos. Ask what's included.
• Photography and video: the basic package usually includes a handful of photos; a full photographer or videographer is extra.
• Venue surcharges: weekends, evenings and outdoor spaces often cost more, as at the Wynn.
• Reception: usually the biggest cost. A private dinner at a restaurant is far cheaper than a banquet.
• Guest travel: not your cost directly, but hotel room blocks and dates affect who can come.

A simple elopement with a basic chapel package and dinner for two can come in under a thousand dollars. A resort wedding with a reception for dozens of guests costs many times that.

Planning Timeline

Dates to think twice about

• Special dates such as Valentine's Day and repeating-number dates are the busiest days of the year for chapels and the license office.
• Big convention and event weekends push hotel prices up for your guests.
• Midsummer is hard for outdoor ceremonies and photos.

Guests and Hotels

• Room blocks: resorts offer group rates for wedding guests; the Wynn and The Venetian both mention them.
• Mixed budgets: pick a hotel near the venue and suggest a cheaper alternative. Downtown hotels are close to the Boulevard chapels; see our budget hotels guide.
• Getting there: the famous chapels are north of the main Strip, so plan rides for guests without cars.
• Things to do: for the parties before the day, see our bachelor party and bachelorette party guides.

Practical Tips

• Get the license the day before if you can, so the wedding day isn't spent in a queue.
• Bring the same ID to the license office and the chapel, and make sure the names match the ones you want on the certificate.
• Read the refund policy. Chapel payments are often non-refundable; confirm dates before paying.
• Get everything in writing: what the package includes, the number of photos, how long you have the chapel, and any extra fees.
• Ask about photos and video rules if guests want to film.
• Order certified copies of your marriage certificate after the wedding; you'll need one to change your name. Ask the chapel or the Clerk how.

For a stripped-down version of this guide focused on quick ceremonies, see the Vegas elopement guide.