We were all alarmed by Las Vegas news that broke earlier this month: Elvis Presley-themed nuptials may no longer be performed at wedding chapels.
It initially looked as though a Las Vegas without Elvis could only be a nightmare, but it quickly became a very real possibility.
The rock 'n' roll icon's intellectual property was purchased by Authentic Brands Group in 2013, and since then, the corporation has sent cease-and-desist letters to some Las Vegas wedding chapels demanding they stop using Elvis' likeness and image.
People were worried, and for good reason.
Elvis-themed weddings account for a sizable chunk of the $2.5 billion annual revenue generated by the Las Vegas wedding industry.
According to Lynn Marie Goya, the Clark County Clerk, "We are the No. 1 wedding destination in the world."
"Earlier this year, we commemorated our 5 millionth wedding.
Undoubtedly, a significant element of that appeal comes from Elvis.
Elvis' death could have an influence far beyond the chapels.
Goya remarked that "people bring their family and friends, stay at the hotels, dine at the restaurants, go to the shows, shop, etc."
"It directly employs thousands of people."
Las Vegas and Elvis have a long-standing relationship.
Then, of course, came his 1967 Vegas wedding to Priscilla after his 1964 film "Viva Las Vegas."
And in 1969, Elvis began performing live again, doing more than 600 gigs up until December 1976 at the Las Vegas International Hotel.
For at least 75 years, according to Goya, the best performers in the world have performed here.
Elvis stands out among all of those performers and appears to be associated with Clark County and Las Vegas.
That would be a major loss, in my opinion.
Before Elvis would be compelled to leave the chapel structure, the crew decided to send credit card writer Ryan Smith and editor Kristy Tolley to Vegas to conduct an investigation.
Here are some details on our Elvis-inspired chapel ceremonies and what Losing Them Might Mean For Sin City.
At the Little Chapel of Hearts, Ryan renewed his vows.
My wife and I were never legally married.
Instead, we decided to quickly be married at a courthouse before abruptly departing abroad.
Now seemed like a fantastic time to reaffirm our vows, especially with all the news about Elvis weddings perhaps disappearing (or drastically changing).
I chose to schedule our vow renewal ceremony at the Little Chapel of Hearts since it was one of the venues mentioned in multiple news articles about the impending crackdown on Elvis weddings, including this one.
Prices and packages for ceremonies
I was pleasantly surprised to see not one, but five distinct Elvis-themed wedding packages provided by the Little Chapel of Hearts when I started looking into scheduling our ceremony on the chapel's website.
Prices can reach $777 if you choose a package with all the bells and whistles, including Elvis singing three songs, a bouquet and boutonniere made of fresh roses, videography and photography, limousine service to and from the chapel, Elvis-inspired sunglasses, and a keepsake copy of Elvis and Priscilla's marriage certificate. However, most packages are significantly less expensive, with the standard option providing nothing more than Elvis officiating a ceremony.
We chose to go with the cheapest package that included Elvis singing a song, the $199 "Burning Love" bundle.
Even though it added $50 to the price, we had to have Elvis perform for us if we were going to have the ultimate Elvis wedding.
There were a few more costs as well, in typical Vegas style.
Your Elvis minister's service is $60 (cash only), and if you don't purchase a more expensive package that includes professional photos and films or add them on separately, there are fees associated with getting them.
If you want to take your own pictures or record the event yourself, you'll also need to pay $75 for a media pass (or have any guests do so).
Chapel location and amenities
On Las Vegas Boulevard (also known as the Strip), close to the Stratosphere Tower, is the Little Chapel of Hearts.
Parking was plenty on both sides of the building, and it was simple to locate.
We discovered that the door was shut when we arrived, preventing us from breaking in and making noise during a ceremony that was scheduled to take place just before ours.
We were pleasantly welcomed by name as soon as we entered.
In case we needed to change or wanted to borrow any of their stuff, the staff showed us where to go and explained how things would work. They also directed us to the restrooms and dressing rooms.
We graciously declined the offer because we came prepared for the occasion.
The ceremony space was neither vast nor lavish, but it did its job well thanks to about 20 foldable chairs for guests and sliding doors that opened effortlessly when it came time to walk down the aisle.
For couples who reserve packages without fresh flowers, a silk flower bouquet was also available.
A ceremony
It's not surprising that our experience was efficient and easy given how many weddings the Little Chapel of Hearts hosts each year.
The church made the entire procedure very straightforward to comprehend, and our photographer was obviously skilled in taking the greatest possible images.
Our Elvis minister was also outstanding.
He was very personal and made the ceremony special for us, with the emphasis on renewing vows rather than being married.
We were able to talk about any specific requirements and assist him in getting to know us better in advance because he made himself available to us before our ceremony, which showed during the ceremony.
It had both serious and lighthearted elements, and it felt extremely genuine and unique.
We recited Elvis-inspired variations of our conventional vows to one another after our more formal exchange.
Among them was my wife's promise to keep my hound dog as our only pet and to refrain from stepping on my blue suede shoes.
I promised to take care of her and not leave her at the motel of heartache.
We were asked what advice we would give to couples getting married and beginning their adventure together after a few laughs and smiles as our officiant bounced his hips and really hammed it up as the King.
He then began to sing.
Oh yeah, what a singer he was.
We were alone in the chapel before my wife entered, so I asked him what song he would perform.
He asked whether we wanted a song for a romantic slow dance and we said, "I don't know yet."
He chose "Viva Las Vegas," a more upbeat tune that felt like the ideal tribute to the occasion and location, after I informed him that my wife laughs when anxious or while being observed by people.
He sung the song's final lines as we finished dancing, and then he instantly declared us to be married "once again."
When the doors finally opened, we walked out together, feeling like we could take on the world.
We ended the trip with a picture in front of the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign while holding our vow renewal certificate.
It was the ideal method for preserving the memories.
Kristy's ceremony to renew her vows at the Elvis Chapel
I married my husband Joe in a religious ceremony about 30 years ago.
We've always wondered what it would be like to reaffirm our vows in a Vegas chapel with Elvis, even though it was ideal at the time.
We felt it was time to pursue this crazy concept because there was a chance that these rituals may end shortly.
We conducted our homework and decided on the Elvis Chapel because it had many positive ratings on Google and a strong reputation.
Warning: There will be spoilers below.
Price ranges for ceremony bundles
There are six different Elvis packages available at the chapel, ranging in price from $195 to $1,599.
The most expensive "Viva Las Vegas" package includes a variety of add-ons, including photography and videography, Elvis singing three songs, a bouquet and boutonniere, Elvis-inspired glasses, and authorization for guests to film and take pictures. However, my husband and I decided the entry-level "Elvis Memories" package was more than enough for us.
Two Elvis tunes, 10 candid pictures taken during the ceremony, a loaner silk wedding bouquet and boutonniere, unique Elvis vows, and our renewal certificate were all included in our package.
I happily chose to let Elvis escort me down the aisle, which was another choice that was offered.
Like Ryan, I quickly understood that there would be extra costs associated with my vow renewal experience.
We paid the suggested $50 tip (in cash) for Elvis and a second $50 tip (also in cash) for our photographer, even though a minister charge is not necessary for vow renewal packages, according to the Elvis Chapel website.
There is a $50 cost for each additional visitor you wish to bring.
We were unable to buy a media pass for unauthorised photography, unlike Ryan's location.
Except for those who purchased the "Hound Dog" package ($325) or the "Burning Love" package ($415), no cameras, flash photography, or recordings of any type were permitted inside the chapel.
Although our normal package only came with 10 images, we thought they turned out so well that we paid an additional $375 to add on more.
It was simple to justify because we hadn't had professional photos taken since our wedding over 30 years prior.
Location and features of the chapel
The Arts District, a vibrant area with independent art galleries and performance spaces in former warehouses, is a few streets from the Elvis Chapel on South Casino Center Boulevard.
I adored the chapel's simple, mid-century modern design; it served as the ideal backdrop for the eye-catching turquoise marquee for the Elvis Chapel and a reproduction of Graceland's entry gates.
Another attractive setting for outside photographs was a sizable gushing water fountain in a tiny stone courtyard.
A "do not interrupt" sign informed us that another ceremony was in progress when we got there, so we spent the time by shooting selfies.
The photographer arrived shortly after and escorted us inside the chapel.
Elvis was everywhere.
The walls were decorated with movie posters and images of the King.
Diamond dust was used to create two enormous black-and-white prints, one of Elvis and the other of him and Priscilla on their wedding day.
A lifelike facsimile of Elvis and Priscilla's wedding cake was also on display in the lobby.
We decided to use the silk boutonniere and bouquet that came with our package for our pre-ceremony photo session.
For some of our shots, the photographer also offered Elvis-inspired sunglasses.
The ceremony location itself was simple and simultaneously dramatic.
It had a red carpet running down the centre aisle and 50 gold seats.
There was an altar space as well, lined by palms and backed by a large gold stage curtain.
Elvis talked with us for a while before the ceremony to find out more about our past, such as how long we've been married and where we were from.
He struck us as being incredibly kind and interesting.
He was by far the best Elvis impersonation I've ever met out of all the ones I've come across in my life, and there have been quite a few.
Elvis sang "Can't Help Falling in Love" as I walked up to the altar.
He made a few small adjustments to make the ceremony more special for us before asking us to exchange vows using formal language.
As I read my vows, I was surprised to find myself becoming a little tearful.
While my husband denied feeling moved, I am certain that I saw him start to cry a little.
Our Elvis minister ended the usual vows with an Elvis-focused version, similar to Ryan's ceremony.
My spouse and I made a commitment to one other that we would both love the other deeply and never leave the other in the heartbreak hotel.
The celebration was then concluded with singing and dancing to Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas."
We always have fun, whether at home or in Vegas with Elvis, and it was the ideal reminder of what has made our nearly 30-year marriage so unique.
The "Elvis in the room" is the pending legal action.
The Little Chapel of Hearts' Elvis minister and chapel management did respond to certain queries regarding the present legal position, despite the fact that the Elvis Chapel staff was unable to do so because of the back-to-back marriages scheduled for that day.
Although the chapel had not yet received one of the cease-and-desist letters, the management mentioned this when scheduling the ceremony, so she made the decision to see a lawyer nevertheless.
That conversation led the chapel to decide that it would continue to provide Elvis-themed marriages until a court ordered it to stop.
Our Elvis minister stated that should a court rule in favour of Authentic Brands Group, the chapel would have to make significant changes to its business as these ceremonies account for roughly half of the chapel's revenue. He cited a significant impact for the chapel if it had to stop hosting Elvis-themed weddings.
But despite this, he doesn't think anything will truly change besides possibly requiring chapels to pay a licence fee.
ABG appears to largely concur, expressing a desire to reach a mutually agreeable resolution with the congregations.
The business issued a prepared statement saying, "We are sorry that recent communication with a limited number of Las Vegas-based chapels caused confusion and worry."
"That was never the plan.
To make sure that the use of Elvis' name, likeness, and image is consistent with his legacy, we are collaborating with the chapels.
These organizations support the continued popularity of Elvis among younger fans since Elvis is ingrained in the culture of Las Vegas.
In conclusion
Undoubtedly, Elvis-themed weddings and vow renewals in Las Vegas are not only a lot of fun but also very profitable for the city.
It's possible that Elvis-themed weddings will no longer be permitted in Las Vegas, but for the time being, it appears that they will continue. Ultimately, though, it may come down to the "money, honey," as Elvis would say.
According to some sources, chapels may need to pay ABG a yearly charge to maintain the Elvis celebration.
No matter what happens, there is never a better time than the present to get married or renew your vows with Elvis.
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