Superhero Paolo and Barbie Francesca tell us how to get married in Las Vegas at Elvis’s chapel
This post on how to get married in Las Vegas kicks off a new Blog category on wedding venues. And like any self-respecting launch, it had to be done in style. So we decided not to share just any wedding, but one that’s really close to our hearts: Paolo and Francesca’s American wedding. The groom in question is one of the two founders of Given2, so… it doesn’t get more real than this!!!! But let’s not waste any more time. Fair warning: grab some tissues, you’re going to need them!
Thanks to Hollywood movies, we’ve all picked up the idea that getting married in Las Vegas is what you do when one of you needs a green card. The cliché is that Vegas weddings happen for some strange, hidden convenience that has little to do with the romantic ideal of two sincere hearts promising each other eternal love. Well, this story is going to change your mind! And personally, I’ve always wondered how it actually works. Haven’t you?
The couple (or rather, the bride) explains everything, including the more “technical” stuff. Enjoy!
The Couple
We decided to get married in Las Vegas because on our very first date (Wednesday, January 14, 2004), while Paolo was driving me home, I asked him: “wait, are you a superhero?!” And so we kept living our story like an animated movie, full of knights errant and monsters to defeat, knowing deep down that one day we’d live happily ever after.
Real life, though, was a whole different story. I’d had a bit of a complicated life, raised by my grandparents who, given their age and health, passed away. Then, a year and a half into our relationship, Paolo’s mom was diagnosed with brain cancer. After a year and a half of illness, she left us too. Two years after her death, his dad also passed away suddenly from a heart attack. So we found ourselves facing the world on our own while still very young. Our way of doing it was to play, and we kept on playing no matter what, because we truly believe that if you have joy deep in your heart, nobody can take it away from you!
So, surrounded by the unconditional love of our friends, we set the remote to “Happiness on” and promised ourselves we’d work hard to live happily ever after. And we did, starting with making things official. After all, what’s the most fun way to get married while also lightening up such a heavy, serious moment? Doing it in Las Vegas!!!
Now I’m sure you’re wondering…
How Do You Get Married in Las Vegas?
First, we looked online and found out it was actually way simpler than you’d think. We found a “package” on www.vivalasvegasweddings.com that included: a white limo (seats 10) to take us to the Chapel, a grand entrance for the bride and groom complete with smoke and a pink Cadillac, a bouquet (pink, of course), video and photos and, naturally, the one marrying us was none other than… ELVIS!
All for just 770 dollars!!!
For the paperwork, we went to the Las Vegas marriage license office, where the first odd thing we spotted was the sign at the entrance that literally said “DO NOT ENTER IF YOU HAVE HAD MORE THAN TWO DRINKS OR TAKEN DRUGS”.
We filled out a form and they gave us a document that gets stamped by an official after the ceremony. That’s your actual marriage certificate! When we got back to Italy, we had to mail it to Los Angeles, and about 15 days later they sent it back with an “apostille”, aka the validation of the civil marriage.
To make it official, you just need a very simple sworn translation, which costs about 100 euros (there are court-authorized lawyers who do these translations). Finally, with both documents, you go to the registry office to have the certificate recorded, so the marriage is valid in Italy too.
Our Las Vegas Wedding Theme
If you decide to do something like this, you can’t underestimate the outfits…. but we had no idea what to pick! So we focused on the theme of the day, and none other than “Elvis the pelvis in the Memphis” gave us the answer. Peeking at YouTube, right in the “Viva Las Vegas” video, we saw Elvis’s black suit and pink shirt and thought it was the perfect look for the groom and the venue.
Perfect! Truth is, I’ve always been convinced I was a Barbie in another life, and this was my big chance to live the dream: dressing up like my favorite… Fashion Model Barbie! Sadly I didn’t have the long hair, but a wig in 40-degree Las Vegas heat was honestly too much! As for the little white dress, I’d bought it on sale the year before and never worn it because it was “too white”. But how to make it my own?!? Got it! A pink organza bow at the waist to match the pink rose bouquet, white shoes and a flower (pink, obviously) in my hair.
At first we didn’t want to tell anyone. But in the end we told our closest friends and, without missing a beat, they all answered in chorus: “we’re coming too!!!!!!!!!” So along with the rings, we also brought our dearest friends, who, being our friends, totally lived up to expectations 🙂
We weren’t the only crazy ones. When we came down to the hotel lobby, right before getting into the white limo waiting for us, they showed up dressed as SUPERHEROES, surprising us in an already pretty wacky situation. And there it was, proof of how it all started… see, it all adds up, I told myself… I’m marrying MY SUPERHERO and my witnesses are ALL SUPERHEROES.
My heart was literally bursting with happiness, like a sign from above, a playful blessing on everything that was about to happen.
What to Bring to Get Married in Las Vegas
We brought the wedding rings from Rome. And that’s a whole story in itself, starring a lovely Tiffany sales assistant who asked:
“what should we engrave inside? When’s the wedding?”
Answer:
“Ummm we don’t know, because we’re getting married in Las Vegas, we leave next week…. anyway, we’d like it to say Topino – Topina…”.
Suddenly, at those words, the serious Tiffany assistant melted like butter in the sun, turned to her colleagues and announced:
“THEY’RE GETTING MARRIED IN LAS VEGAS, THE TOPINI ARE GETTING MARRIED IN LAS VEGAS!!!!”
Two seconds later, all three floors of the store knew, including the cashier on the ground floor!!!!!!
Even though it was all a fun game, our hearts were in our throats!!! … especially since we’d reached the most serious part of the ceremony…
And now, party time! Next stop: the Stratosphere Tower (the one from the CSI opening credits).
Looking back now, getting married in Las Vegas really was an animated movie: five unforgettable, crazy days, just like in the movies! We’d do it all over again tomorrow. It was the most fun and exciting experience of our lives.
July 10, 2010, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Paolo & Francesca
Che ne pensate, non è una storia e un matrimonio super romantico? Vi siete fatti tentare? Ancora no? Forse cambierete idea dopo aver visto anche il video nel loro sito web di nozze personalizzato, non potete perdervelo!
And what if Las Vegas were just one stop on your honeymoon in America?