Las Vegas Weddings · Complete Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Getting Married in Las Vegas
Legal requirements, ceremony options, real costs, permits, and insider tips — everything you need to know, from the original Las Vegas elopement specialists since 1998.
$102
Marriage license
None
Waiting period
Same day
Marry after license
From $299
Ceremony packages
Why Las Vegas
The Most Accessible Place to Get Married on Earth
No other city in the United States makes it easier to get legally married. Nevada requires no waiting period, no residency, no blood test, and no advance appointment. The Clark County Marriage License Bureau is open every day until midnight. You can land, get your license, and be married before dinner.
But getting married in Las Vegas has evolved far beyond the chapel. Today, couples fly in specifically for the desert — for red sandstone formations, ghost towns, ancient lakebeds, and helicopter ceremonies above the Grand Canyon. The logistics are simple; the setting is extraordinary.
This guide covers everything: the legal requirements, your ceremony options, what things actually cost, when to come, and the insider tips that make the difference between a good day and a perfect one.
Pick a Style
Ways to Get Married in Las Vegas
The legal steps are the same for all of these — a license, a licensed officiant, and one witness. What changes is the setting and the price.
Strip & chapel weddings
The classic image of a Las Vegas wedding: a chapel on or near the Strip, a package that bundles the officiant, a few photos, and sometimes a limo. Fast, inexpensive, and everywhere. Great if you want the traditional Vegas experience; less so if you want privacy or a landscape.
Drive-thru & Elvis ceremonies
Only-in-Vegas novelty. A drive-thru window ceremony or an Elvis-officiated vow exchange leans all the way into the kitsch. Legally identical to any other ceremony — you still need the license, officiant, and witness.
Desert ceremonies
What LVWC specializes in. Red sandstone at Valley of Fire, an 1800s ghost town at Nelson, an open playa at Eldorado. A permit and a licensed officiant, photography built around golden hour, and room for a small group. The scenery does the work.
Helicopter weddings
A ceremony in the air over the neon Strip at night, or a flight to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Two to four people, no guests, maximum spectacle.
Sign & Go
The minimum viable legal wedding: a licensed officiant and witness meet you anywhere — your hotel, the Welcome sign, a park — sign the license, and you're married. Same-day, from $299, no permit.
Vow renewals
No license required — a renewal is a celebration, not a legal act — so any location and any officiant works. Popular as a milestone-anniversary trip.
Step by Step
Legal Requirements
- 1
Obtain a Nevada Marriage License
Both partners must appear in person at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, located at 201 E Clark Ave in downtown Las Vegas. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID — passport or driver's license. Cost is $102, payable by cash or card. There is no waiting period: you can apply and marry the same day. The license is valid for one year from the date of issue.
- 2
Meet the Eligibility Requirements
Both partners must be 18 or older. A 17-year-old may marry only with notarized parental consent plus authorization from a Nevada district court, and only if the parties are within three years of age; no license is issued under 17. Nevada does not require blood tests, medical exams, or residency. If either partner was previously married, you must state the month, year, and place the last marriage ended — a divorce decree is not required at the bureau.
- 3
Book a Licensed Officiant
Nevada law requires a licensed officiant to perform the ceremony. LVWC provides one with every package. If you book independently, confirm your officiant holds a current Clark County Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages. Your ceremony must take place after the license is issued — never before.
- 4
Have One Witness Present
Nevada requires one witness, aged 18 or older, to be present at the ceremony and sign the marriage license. Only one is needed. If you are eloping with no guests, LVWC provides a qualified witness at no additional cost, so a private two-person ceremony is fully legal.
- 5
Have Your License Signed and Filed
After the ceremony, your officiant and witness sign the license and your officiant files it with the Clark County Recorder within 10 days — you don't need to return to the bureau. Certified copies of your marriage certificate are then ordered from the Recorder online, by mail, or in person. Your LVWC officiant walks you through exactly how.
Clark County Marriage License Bureau
What to Bring and When to Go
Address
201 E Clark Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Hours
Daily 8 AM–midnight, including all holidays
Cost
$102 (cash or card)
What to bring
Valid government-issued photo ID for both partners
Waiting period
None — marry the same day
License valid for
1 year from date of issue
Choose Your Setting
LVWC Ceremony Options
Every package is all-inclusive: officiant, permit, 200+ edited photos, florals, and license filing. No hidden fees.
From $900
Valley of Fire State Park
Nevada's oldest state park, 50 miles from the Strip. Ancient Aztec sandstone formations glow red and orange at golden hour. Permit required, secured by LVWC. Up to 100 guests.
View Package →From $850
Nelson Ghost Town
An authentic 1800s mining ghost town in El Dorado Canyon. Weathered chapel, vintage vehicles, raw desert backdrops. 50 miles from the Strip. Up to 100 guests.
View Package →From $1,499
Eldorado Dry Lakebed
Vast Mojave desert floor with unobstructed 360-degree mountain views. 30 minutes from the Strip. Closest desert venue to Las Vegas. Up to 100 guests.
View Package →From $1,499
Las Vegas Strip Helicopter
A ceremony and flight over the neon Strip at night. 75+ aerial photos included. Departs from Las Vegas. 2–4 passengers.
View Package →From $4,950
Grand Canyon Helicopter
Private helicopter flight to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for a ceremony above one of the seven natural wonders. 2–4 passengers.
View Package →From $299
Sign & Go (Any Location)
A licensed officiant meets you anywhere — hotel, home, office, or an iconic spot like the Welcome sign. Same-day available. No travel fee, no permit, fully weather-proof. The fastest legal marriage in Las Vegas.
View Package →The Real Numbers
What It Actually Costs
Nevada marriage license
$102
Fixed by Clark County. Everyone pays this.
Officiant
$0 with a package
Included in every LVWC package; $75–$200 if booked separately.
Venue permit (state / county land)
$0 with a package
LVWC secures Valley of Fire and Nelson permits for you; independent couples pay the park fee plus a special-use permit.
Photography
$0 with a package
200+ edited images included; standalone desert photography runs $400–$1,200.
Florals
$0 with a package
Bouquet and boutonniere included.
Transport to a desert venue
From $0
Included on some packages (Area 51, helicopter); otherwise plan a rental car or private SUV.
Attire, hair & makeup
Varies
Bridal hair and makeup from LVWC; attire is whatever you bring.
Guest lodging & travel
Varies
The biggest variable if you invite people — see the guest section below.
For a month-by-month view of how package prices move through the year, see our Las Vegas wedding pricing trends guide, or 10 tips for a cost-effective wedding.
Timing the Weather
When to Get Married in Las Vegas
Spring (Mar–May)
The best window. Mild days, wildflowers at Valley of Fire, comfortable golden-hour light. Also the busiest — book early.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot — 100°F+ afternoons — but dry, and sunrise ceremonies at 6 AM are genuinely pleasant. Fewer crowds, better availability, lower guest hotel rates.
Fall (Sep–Nov)
Ties spring for ideal. Warm days cooling into perfect evenings, dramatic low-angle light. October Saturdays book first.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool to cold — 30s in the morning, 60s by afternoon — with the clearest air and longest shadows of the year. Valentine's week is the single busiest stretch at the license bureau.
More on this in the best time to get married in the desert and how to choose your wedding date.
Countdown
Your Planning Timeline
6–8 months out
Book your date. Spring and fall Saturdays at Valley of Fire and Nelson sell out this far ahead — the permit slots are genuinely limited. Everything else can wait.
2–3 months out
Confirm guest travel, block hotel rooms, sort attire, and decide on hair and makeup. Book any add-ons (extra photography, second location, live musician).
2–4 weeks out
Final headcount and timeline to LVWC. Confirm ceremony time — desert ceremonies are timed to golden hour, which shifts by season.
1–2 days before
Get your marriage license at the Clark County bureau. Doing this the day before removes all time pressure from the wedding day itself.
Wedding day
Arrive rested. For a desert ceremony, budget 3.5–4 hours door to door. Your officiant handles the license and filing.
If You Bring People
Guests, Lodging & Getting Around
Most LVWC weddings are elopements or small groups — desert permits at Valley of Fire and Nelson allow up to 100 people, but the average is under a dozen. If guests are flying in, block hotel rooms early for spring and fall, and warn them that Strip rates spike around conventions, Formula 1, and Valentine's week.
Desert venues are 30–70 minutes from the Strip with no rideshare coverage at the location, so plan transport as a group: a rented SUV, a private van, or one of LVWC's transport-inclusive packages. Our hotel guide for wedding guests and wedding transportation pages cover the details.
After the Wedding
Your officiant files the signed license with the Clark County Recorder within 10 days. Once it's on file you order certified copies of the marriage certificate — get two or three. For a name change, update the Social Security Administration first, then the DMV and passport office. Our marriage license guide has the full step-by-step, and international couples and LGBTQ+ couples have dedicated guides.
From 28 Years of Experience
Insider Tips
Book your wedding date before you book your flight
Wedding dates at our most popular locations are limited per day and fill months in advance for spring and fall Saturdays. Book your date with LVWC before booking anything else — we handle everything behind the scenes. Dates move fast in April and October.
Get your license before your wedding day if possible
We recommend visiting the Clark County Marriage License Bureau the day before your ceremony — it removes the time pressure and lets you relax on your wedding day. That said, same-day is completely fine if needed; the bureau is open daily until midnight and the process takes less than 15 minutes in most cases. Bring your ID and $102 cash or card. Your LVWC officiant will walk you through the full packet and handle the filing for you.
Plan for 3.5–4 hours total for a desert ceremony
The ceremony itself is 15–20 minutes, but account for the drive (45–70 minutes from the Strip), time at the location for photography, and the return trip. Most LVWC couples plan a late afternoon departure for golden hour timing.
Dress for the terrain, not the chapel
Desert floors are sandy, rocky, and uneven. Flat shoes or low wedges are strongly recommended. Heels sink into sand and make movement difficult. Light, breathable fabrics in desert tones photograph beautifully against red rock. Layer for morning ceremonies — desert temperatures can be 20°F cooler before noon.
Weekday dates have the best availability and intimacy
Saturday ceremonies at peak venues book first. Friday and Sunday ceremonies offer identical scenery with better availability. Weekday elopements are the most intimate — quieter at the venue, fewer competing permits, and often easier to coordinate for a small group.
Your officiant handles the filing — certified copies are ordered online
After your ceremony, LVWC files the signed license with Clark County on your behalf. You do not need to return to the bureau. Certified copies of your marriage certificate are ordered online through the Clark County Recorder's Office — your officiant will explain the process and walk you through it.
Common Questions
Getting Married in Las Vegas FAQ
What are the legal requirements to get married in Las Vegas?
How long does it take to get married in Las Vegas?
Do you need a witness to get married in Las Vegas?
How much does it cost to get married in Las Vegas?
Is a Las Vegas marriage legally valid everywhere?
Can we get married in Las Vegas if we are not US citizens?
Is same-sex marriage available in Las Vegas?
Do we have to get married in a chapel?
What is the best time of year to get married in Las Vegas?
What is the Clark County Marriage License Bureau address and hours?
Can you get married at Valley of Fire or Nelson Ghost Town without a permit?
How far in advance should we book?
What happens after the ceremony? How do we get our marriage certificate?
Do we need to be married in Las Vegas, or can we take the license home?
Ready to Begin?
Start Planning Your Las Vegas Wedding
Desert permit windows fill 4–8 months in advance. Contact LVWC today to check date availability and lock in your package.
