Elope in Las Vegas

Your wedding day is supposed to be the happiest day of your life. Unfortunately, it can also be the most stressful day of your life. If you and the love of your life want to express your commitment to each other without your "disapproving" families, eloping may be the perfect solution.

Steps

  1. Consider your decision to elope and make sure that you are doing it for the right reasons. Yes, there are plenty of people who elope in Las Vegas in the heat of the moment, but if you don't consider your decision carefully, you'll likely regret it. Even if you plan your elopement in advance, understand that your family and friends will be hurt by your decision. If they see you are 100% committed to your partner and your decision and that eloping was what you truly wanted, it will definitely make things easier.
  2. Find a place to get married. With so many places to get married in Las Vegas, you may find it hard to choose one. You can have a simple civil ceremony at the Office of the Clark County Commissioner of Civil Marriages, or you can go to a church, synagogue, or wedding chapel.
  3. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's website lists 49 licensed wedding chapels, and you can browse them all or look up "Weddings" in the Las Vegas phone book or do your own Internet search. While you can always find someplace to get married on a moment's notice, you should reserve a date and time if you have want to elope at a specific site, since that Garden Gazebo Chapel you want may be booked way in advance.
  4. Consider what you want. Do you want an Elvis Presley impersonator to marry you or a minister, priest, or rabbi?
    • Be sure to compare prices, and make sure you know what you're paying for. Some wedding packages may also include extras like photography and flowers, and well as the wedding officiant.
    • The Office of the Commissioner of Civil Marriages performs civil ceremonies from 8AM to 10PM, including on weekends and holidays. No appointment is necessary, and you'll rarely need to wait longer than an hour. A witness is required, but if you don't have one, ask for one.
  5. Pick out your outfits and accessories to wear on the day. Some chapels provide formal wear, but in general you'll need to pick out what you want to wear just as you would for any other wedding. Keep in mind that some chapels only allow formal attire, while in others, you can wear whatever you want.
  6. Research and plan for other essentials, such as the wedding cake, hair, nails, makeup, jewelry, etc. Do as much of your planning in advance as possible if you want to have a special ceremony. Some packages take care of everything, but if you need to make arrangements on your own, the chapel or the Las Vegas Tourism Bureau will be able to assist you.
  7. Get a Las Vegas Marriage License. Obtaining a marriage license is particularly easy in Nevada. No blood test is required, and there is no waiting period. You can download and print the marriage license application from the Clark County Marriage Bureau's website, but you must bring it to their office in person. The office is open from 8AM to midnight daily, including weekends and holidays. Keep in mind that you may have to wait an hour or more on busy holidays. The Clark County Marriage Bureau also has offices in Mesquite and Laughlin. The hours for these offices vary by day, and they are both closed on holidays.
    • Submit two marriage license applications. Both of you must fill out and submit a license application. It is a simple, one-page form. Bring photo identification with you to verify your age.
    • If you've been married before, your former spouse must either be deceased or you must be legally divorced in order to get a marriage license. If you've been divorced, you will need to provide the date and location where the divorce decree was issued, but you need not bring a copy of the decree itself.
    • You must be 18 years old and you can't marry a relative closer than your first cousin.
    • If either the bride or groom is a minor, like 16 or 17 years old, a parent or legal guardian must be present and consent to the marriage. An original or certified birth certificate showing the parent's name or a certified copy of the court-issued guardianship papers must accompany the application.
  8. Once you have your marriage license, you have one year in which to get married. Bring your license to the Commissioner of Civil Marriages or to the church, synagogue, or chapel of your choice, and enter wedded bliss.
  9. Break the news to your friends and family. At some point, you'll need to tell everyone you got married in Las Vegas, and you may want to wait until after the honeymoon.

Tips

  • Residents of a country other than the U.S. can get married in Las Vegas, and the procedures and fees are the same. Marriages performed in Nevada are recognized worldwide, but your home country may require a special document called an apostille to finalize your marriage. Apostilles are issued by the Nevada Secretary of State.
  • If the wife wants to take her husband's name, this will need to be done later in your home state or country. The Marriage Bureau issues a certificate with the present surnames and does not facilitate a name change.
  • Make sure you have enough money for all your wedding and honeymoon expenses.
  • Find out if any huge event is taking place in Las Vegas while you're there. If there's a major boxing match or large convention, be prepared for longer lines at major restaurants and attractions.
  • Give the cab driver directions to your destinations, and make sure you have enough cash to pay them.
  • While a marriage license can't be issued in Nevada for a renewal of vows if you don't live there, many chapels will perform such a ceremony. They may require you bring your marriage certificate as proof that you are married.

Warnings

  • Be prepared if your "disapproving" families scream at you when you return home. If you're in a dangerous situation, you might have to move as far away as possible just to prevent them from destroying your marriage.

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