A guide to getting married at Little white Chapel in Las Vegas
So you’re coming to Las Vegas to elope and get married at the world-famous Little White Wedding- it’s time to pop off! 🎉
This chapel is one, if not the most, popular choice for couples looking to have those quick and classic Vegas nuptials. Although this chapel is known for performing those classic quick ceremonies, that doesn’t mean a little planning isn’t in order.
Naturally, you must be wondering “what do I need to know before getting married here?”. As a photographer that has documented and officially witnessed countless wedding and elopements at this iconic wedding chapel, I got you and I’ll give you the inside scoop- just keep on reading, my dudes!
Booking Your Ceremony
This chapel has been around since the 1950s and has married couples from all walks of life and from all over the world. From having married celebrities over the years like Michael Jordan, Britney Spears, and Kim Kardashian to maybe even having married one of your relatives, this chapel has a deep history of love.
Important Note: This chapel requires a marriage license from the state of Nevada in order for you to be married here. Little White Wedding Chapel will not perform your ceremony without one. If you’re doing a vow renewal, a license is not required but previous proof of marriage is (this can be satisfied with even just a photo of your marriage certificate!). You can read more info on this on their website here.
How to Book / Reservations and Walk-Ins
Booking at this chapel is fairly easy and quick. They’ve made the process super convenient by accepting reservations over the phone or by booking online. While this chapel does accept walk-ins and a reservation/ booking is not necessarily required to get married here, booking in advance is always recommended. The chapel cannot guarantee availability unless you book ahead of time. This is especially recommended as Little White Chapel is known to stay booked, especially during busy months and seasons such as April, May, October, major holidays, and special dates like 11/11. It is advisable to book well in advance to secure your desired date and time. Additionally, if you’re hiring a photographer (ahem, maybe someone like yours truly) then you’ll definitely want to book in advance to make sure you have optimal lighting when you get married at the world-famous chapel!
Booking Fees and Tips
Not only is this chapel’s long, standing history one of the biggest draws, but so is it’s pricing, haha! While booking a ceremony at this iconic chapel remains to be on the more affordable end of wedding pricing, an important thing to note when booking: your booking fee does not include the mandatory officiant ‘tip’ that will be due at the end of your wedding ceremony.
What does this mean? The chapel’s officiants work on a “volunteer“ basis meaning they do not get paid by the chapel to perform the ceremonies. That is where a mandatory tip comes into play- you can expect this to range anywhere from $40-$100 (or more, if you’re feeling generous!) but it’s ultimately up to you! This will generally be due at the end of your ceremony (literally, as soon as you say your ‘I dos’ the officiants will ask for their tip). While you can pay this fee via cash or card, cash is always preferred. So don’t forget to bring some cash for the King!
Lastly, it is important to note that once your ceremony is booked, couples are required to check in 30 minutes prior to their scheduled ceremony. This allows for all necessary preparations to be made before the ceremony begins. So let the planning begin!
Photography Expectations
Photographer Fees
One of the big incentives of getting married at A Little White Wedding Chapel (aside from the fairly cheap booking fees and it’s iconic status as one of Vegas’ oldest running chapels), is that it is one of the very few chapels in Las Vegas that allows you to bring your very own photographer for no extra fee- woot woot!
*In case you were curious, the other two chapels that allow your own photographer are Sure Thing Chapel and Love Story Wedding Chapel
Photography Limits
With that said, it is important to be aware that photography around the property may be limited unless you have specifically booked time in certain areas, such as the Pink Cadillac or the Tunnel of Love. Availability to photograph in these spots is not guaranteed unless it has been arranged and booked beforehand.
Ceremonies at Little White Chapel typically last an average of 5-15 minutes. It is important to note that your total allotted time included in your booking with the chapel is generally 15 minutes in total, including the time it takes for the ceremony. This means you have 15 minutes for your ceremony and photography in your ceremony space for the price paid upon booking. If the chapel is running behind on scheduled ceremonies, this time may be even shorter. If the chapel is not busy, we may be allowed to shoot for longer in these spaces, if given approval by the staff. In true Vegas fashion, it can be a bit of a gamble on what the photo opportunity is like that day!
Capacity Limit and Guest Count
Little White Chapel has been under new ownership since December 2022 and has undergone some improvements. However, it still maintains an old-school and matter-of-fact atmosphere. On busy days, ceremonies are often booked back-to-back, and photography can be challenging in certain areas due to the high number of people. You will want to coordinate ahead of time where couples and/or family and friend photos may be best to photograph with your photographer.
It is also worth mentioning that Little White Chapel may not be suitable for large parties with more than 20-25 people. While the Amore chapel on property can technically host up to 40 guests, the overall property itself is not best suited to facilitate larger groups of people as it can become crowded and hectic quite fast, making it awkward not only for you but your guests to be facilitated around the chapel. Definitely something to note in case this is important to you!
Closing Thoughts and Notes
Overall, if you are considering booking the Little White Chapel, consider planning ahead and be aware of the realistic photography opportunities, time constraints, and convenience when it comes to your guests.
While the chapel has improved in many ways since its new ownership in December of 2022, it is still important to remember that this is definitely an old school chapel that was designed to cater to true elopements, if not, very intimate weddings (usually 20-25 people or less).
And while the customer service is generally decent, keep in mind that the folks running Little White see couples come in and out everyday. Especially if you book during peak wedding season or during the weekends, they will likely be booked back-to-back. While the customer service has improved immensely since their new ownership takeover in Dec. of 2022, sometimes you may still be on the receiving end of one of those old-school, matter-of-fact interactions with one of the staff on your wedding day. But hey, that’s the tradeoff for a chapel that provides the convenience, long-standing history, and pricing that it does - just count it as part of the experience!
Ultimately, A Little White Chapel has a rich history of love and that iconic kitschy Vegas vibe that still offers a unique and memorable wedding experience for couples seeking to tie the knot in true Vegas fashion. Can’t wait to see you here, folks!
To see more of my work, click here! To book with me, click here!
Kind Words
”Working with Cruz was an absolute DREAM!!! We were so extremely lucky that she happened to be available on short notice, and from that first video call we knew she was going to make our elopement truly special. She not only took incredible photos but planned a 10/10 itinerary unique to us as a couple and made us feel so relaxed. She (and her hubby!) were so kind and fun to be around. Cruz is a true artist and her creativity literally left us speechless! After 6 months of geeking out in private we are finally sharing our photos this week and tear up every time we see them. Thanks again Cruz, can’t wait to follow along with all that’s to come 🖤”