During my stay last week on the west coast of Florida, I was told by a number of hoteliers about the excellent business they do in hosting weddings. Turns out, they say, that it's as easy to get married in Florida as it is in Las Vegas. You simply go on a weekday to a license bureau, show your identification and birth certificate, pay the license fee, and then get married on the very same day when you obtained the license. There is no waiting period, no residency requirement. The two of you can be purely from out-of-state. The ceremony itself can be performed by any Notary Public.

So why haven't the local tourist authorities advertised these happy-go-lucky procedures, I asked? Think of all the people who undertake a long trip to a Las Vegas wedding chapel, who could have gone to nearby Florida instead. Think of the added tourism.

Dunno, replied all my informants. From everyone I asked, I encountered a blank stare.

On returning home, I went to Google to check out the Florida law on weddings. Though there was one brief and inexplicable reference to a four-hour course in marriage preparation, there were no other onerous burdens for out-of-state'rs wanting to get married: no requirement of several days' residence, no advance applications, nothing.

So I repeat my earlier query: Why hasn't Florida publicized this? Why haven't they sought the obvious and substantial increases to their tourism from this lack of any wedding barriers? Have I missed something? Or are they asleep at the switch?

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In response to my question of some weeks ago, "Why do people get married in Las Vegas", one reader answered so cogently that her essay deserves to be repeated here:

"I agree with the responses so far -- weddings are becoming prohibitively expensive in my opinion, and I've been to some wedding ceremonies and receptions where (and this doesn't apply to everyone) the effort to "outdo" and produce awe in the attendees has actually created the opposite effect of what was originally intended: to create a memorable event to all who were present. On the contrary, each ceremony and reception has begun to blur into each other in my mind.

"The most memorable weddings I've been to were either very simple, yet gorgeous affairs, or fun, unusual shindigs where the couple had made an effort to put their guests at ease.

"To that effect, a Las Vegas wedding -- at least for now -- not only makes sense to me on a monetary level, but on a "memorable" level as well. Our circle of friends see the stereotypical "shotgun" Las Vegas wedding (even if not technically shotgun) as something funny (and fun), kitschy (in a self-mocking and ironic way) and something guaranteed to give everyone a ridiculous good time ... if planned well. Although I'm not a fan of Las Vegas the city, I can still defend the concept of the Las Vegas wedding just for these reasons.

"In this era of the 'Bridezilla,' it's a refreshing change of pace to attend or have a wedding where the original concept OF a wedding -- to celebrate the love and union of two people -- stands true. No unrealistic effort for perfection, no one-upmanship, no subjecting others to enormous whims... but a true and simple love celebration. And if a couple wants to throw some fun and campiness into the mix, who are we to argue against it?"

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Labels: las vegas, weddings

Although I've touched on the subject before in these posts, and had some explanations supplied by readers, I continue to pose the question in my weekly Sunday radio broadcast: why would any normal person choose to be married in Las Vegas? Some listeners have responded that the answer lies in the cost; the average U.S. wedding is now said to exceed $27,000; in Las Vegas, the price of license and ceremony can be as little as $75. There's also the ease of carrying out the decision; you can have a license within a half-hour of landing, and rush to chapels open round the clock. Most of them are supplied with wedding gowns and tuxedos for rent, instant bouquets, and accessory personnel: a maid of honor nearby, a minister on duty full-time.

But though the number of impulse weddings is considerable, there is evidence that at least three quarters of the Las Vegas ceremonies are planned well in advance by bridal couples who will be accompanied to the event by their neighbors and friends. "Weren't you criticized by your relatives for placing your daughter's wedding in Las Vegas?" I recently asked of a mother who had phoned in a Las Vegas-related question to my show. She seemed puzzled by the question. "They're all thrilled to be going to Las Vegas," she responded. "They talk about nothing else."

So who's crazy? Them or me?

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Periodically, I've asked why it is that so many Americans fly to Las Vegas for the explicit purpose of getting married in a happy-go-lucky, comical ceremony conducted by a minister dressed to resemble Elvis Presley or Rodney Dangerfield. Hundreds of such weddings take place each month in Sin City, and I've wondered why anyone in their right minds would seek out such an experience.

While saving money is itself a reason for choosing to marry in Las Vegas (some chapels there charge as little as $75 for the license and ceremony), why the zany part? After receiving many unsatisfying explanations from readers, I have finally had a letter that comes close to achieving the right tone. It is printed below, without change:

"My wife and I are in our mid-30s and were married at the Little White Wedding Chapel in the fall of 2003. As we waited in the lobby for the preacher, I noticed a picture of Lorenzo Lamas on the wall claiming he was married here, so I knew we were in the right place. We had paid an extra $150 for a tacky Elvis impersonator to host the ceremony.

"He showed up in a yellow velour jacket and sang a bad version of "Viva Las Vegas" after the wedding. We then went outside and had our picture taken with the King and that wedding picture is now framed and hangs on our bedroom wall. After the wedding we treated ourselves to the $17.50 self-service buffet at the Bellagio for our 'reception'.

"Getting married in Las Vegas was the perfect solution for us. My wife had been married and divorced before so she felt no need to go through the stress, hassle, and expense of another wedding. I, being a typical guy and nonreligious, had no need whatever to get married in a church or have an expensive reception. She was thrilled at the idea of a $200, completely stress-free wedding.

"We probably saved over $20,000. We took the unspent cash and used it for a down payment on a house. We get much more use out of that house then we would have paying for our friends to get drunk at an open bar and gorging themselves.

"My wife is my perfect soul mate and getting married at a tasteless chapel in Las Vegas in no way lessoned or cheapened our love for each other. It was a fun-loving, upbeat, humorous experience that is what a wedding should be."

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Labels: las vegas, weddings