Las Vegas ends late-night wedding-license service

hampster · September 1, 2006

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Las Vegas bills itself as "the wedding capital of the world," but late-night revelers who decide they want to tie the knot now must wait until morning.

The county's marriage-license office, as of Wednesday, will be closed between midnight and 8 a.m.,

when much of Las Vegas is still very much alive.

"It's one of the things Vegas is known for -- you can gamble,

get drunk and get married all in the middle of the night," said Jay DeLeon,

manager of the Graceland Wedding Chapel

where Elvis impersonators make special nuptial appearances.

Probably the best known late-night marriage seeker was pop star Britney Spears,

who shocked the world in 2004 when she married a childhood friend just before sunrise in Las Vegas.

That union was quickly annulled.

People can still get married around the clock at one of the city's few all-night wedding chapels;

it will just take a bit more planning to obtain the $55 license,

said Cheryl Vernon, who supervises the marriage-services office in the county clerk's department.

Vernon said the new office hours were not the result of a push to curb irresponsible life decisions,

but simply because too few early-morning customers -- about 15-30 people --

came in to justify a late-night shift.

About 300 to 500 people seek licenses on a normal shift, she said.

Last year the office issued 122,259 marriage licenses.

Vernon said most late-night license seekers have been jet-lagged travelers,

lugging suitcases and trying to avoid daytime lines, rather than spontaneous celebrants.

Still, there were notable exceptions.

"Yes, we did have our few -- like Britney (Spears). She came in at five in the morning," Vernon said.

If it's good enough for Britney it's good enought for everone :lol:

Cheers

Paul :whistle:

Saddle Bronc · September 1, 2006

Oh, they're just operating like retailers. They didn't say people COULDN't come to the office early, only that they would have to wait till regular hours for service (if in doubt, look at Macy's, Lord & Tayor, etc. the day after Thanksgiving--people camp in the parking lot to be able to get in when the door opens). :lol: :lol:

*Robert* · September 1, 2006

hmmmmm

Hilarious Clinton · September 1, 2006

You can still get married at any time. I suggest getting a license when you first land. This way you can keep your options open and get married whenever you want if you drink too much.