On Thursday, Nov. 6, the Vegas Wedding Chamber once again hosted “Vegas Marries the Military” in the Wedding Capital of the World™, providing free weddings and vow renewals to deserving U.S. military personnel and veterans. Held annually in celebration of Veterans Day, the event symbolizes the convergence of love and duty and serves as the Las Vegas wedding industry’s way of thanking military heroes with the wedding of a lifetime they otherwise couldn’t afford.
After submitting their photos, love stories and details of their service, seven couples from across the nation were carefully selected by the Vegas Wedding Chamber to represent various branches of the armed forces. Jordan (Marine Corps) and Marieh, Jessica and Todd (Navy) and Wyan (Air Force) and Vernelle made their unions official with wedding ceremonies. Couples celebrating their partnership and renewing their vows in Las Vegas included Kris and Mike (Marine Corps), Esther and Andre (Army), Nicolet and Billy (Air Force) and Jason (Air Force) and Shirley (Air Force).
These couples, along with their closest family and friends, received wedding or vow renewal ceremonies at seven different wedding venues across Clark County before uniting for a joyous evening reception at the Vegas Event Center. The celebration featured a buffet dinner, wedding cake, DJ, photographer, videographer and countless photo opportunities. Guests enjoyed a garter toss, first dance, last dance, cake cutting, live painting and signature cocktails, while the heartfelt program included the national anthem presented alongside iconic Las Vegas showgirls, an invocation by Pastor Pete Starzyk and a champagne toast honoring the couples.
The reception also featured special tributes from notable Nevadans, including Lynn Marie Goya, Clark County Clerk; Stavros Anthony, Nevada Lieutenant Governor; and Monse Cristando, director of family support and transition, Veteran Social Club. Event speakers included Brian Mills, Vegas Wedding Chamber president and officiant; and Charity Mills, community outreach advisor. More than 45 Las Vegas wedding vendors and venues donated their time, products and services to enhance the wedding experience and make the event a success.
ABOUT THE VEGAS WEDDING CHAMBER
As the only 501(c)(6) chamber of commerce in the world solely dedicated to the wedding industry, the Vegas Wedding Chamber stands as a beacon in the wedding industry, promoting the growth and success of Las Vegas as the world’s leading wedding destination. Their commitment to community service and giving back is showcased through initiatives such as “Vegas Marries the Military.”
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE CLARK COUNTY CLERK, NEVADA
The Office of the Clark County Clerk, Nevada, overseen by the Honorable Lynn Marie Goya, issues more than 75,000 marriage licenses per year, making it the wedding location with the highest marriage rate in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual Marriage Rate by State report, Nevada has 24.6 marriages per 1,000 population. The U.S. marriage rate is 6.1 per thousand; Hawaii’s rate is 12.5 per thousand with Utah at 11.2 per thousand. Internationally, marriage rates for countries typically range from 5 to 10 per thousand population. Las Vegas was originally recognized with its iconic title as the “Wedding Capital of the World” on Sept. 23, 1953, when the London Daily Herald used it in an article highlighting the city’s popularity for destination weddings. Clark County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya and the Office of the Clark County Clerk have won numerous local, national and international awards in recognition of her commitment to good government, including awards for innovation, saving tax dollars, environmental stewardship, constituent outreach, efficiency and the transformation of the “Vegas wedding” brand from “The Hangover” to one of fun, stress-free excitement. The office is also responsible for numerous other government services, including passport acceptance, lobbyist registration, fictitious firm name certificates and maintaining the permanent records for the Clark County Commissioners. For more information on the Office of the Clark County Clerk, visit clarkcountynv.gov/clerk/about.
ABOUT THE WEDDING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD™
With more than five million weddings and counting and more weddings per 1,000 people than any other place on the globe, Las Vegas remains the undisputed Wedding Capital of the World™. For over a century, a “Vegas wedding” has captured public imagination as the ultimate stress-free, fun, glamorous and romantic wedding, whether it is a spur-of-the-moment occasion or an elaborately planned extravaganza. Offering weddings for every budget—including elopements at iconic Las Vegas chapels, elaborate nuptial celebrations at the Strip’s most elegant resorts and everything in between—the destination delivers dream weddings of every description for every budget. For more information about the Wedding Capital of the World™ or the Office of the Clark County Clerk, Nevada, visit weddings.vegas.
