Love and Marriage in Las Vegas
Everybody loves Las Vegas and everybody loves the idea of falling in love in Las
Vegas. That's not a fact... that's a warning. You see, Marriage is the second biggest business in Vegas,
and only gambling is bigger. So they want you to fall in love and marry and they make it so easy, too.
How to Get Married in Las Vegas
So, let's assume that this is the real thing, and that person peeking at your laptop in bed right now is
the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. Well, it's easy to get married in Las Vegas. In
fact, it's so easy that when you show up to get your marriage license in Clark County (where Las Vegas is) you will see on
the application a suggestion that you seriously consider what you're doing. It's about as easy to get hitched in Vegas
as it is to place a $5 bet on black or red in roulette... and your chances of getting divorced later are about the same as
betting on black or red.
Okay, here's what you need:
Get a license at the Clark County Marriage Bureau. You'll have to answer some basic questions like you're at
least 18 years old and you're not already married, and show proof of identity and your driver license with a photo will
do. If you were previously married, you have to write down when the marriage ended. It's OK to bring
a cheat sheet with multiple fomer marriages. It's against the law to lie so don't start your marriage by fibbing about
that wedding of yours that you were too drunk to remember.
No blood test is required,
so a needle won't give you an excuse to say no. There is no waiting period, so following the pilot rule of not drinking
before flying is appropriate here as well. Then pay $60 by cash or credit card. Yep, leave some of your credit
line open when you're at the casino so you can pay for your marriage license. Oh, there is a $5 fee for a credit card
payment.
Then comes the ceremony. You can get married anywhere. And as
you walk out of the offce clutching your new marriage license you will be greeted by recruiters for local wedding chapels
and they'll have their limos right there.
You can have a civil ceremony courtesy
of the taxpayers plus a $50 fee seven days a week. But you do have to call 702-671-0577 to make
an appointment. The Marriage License Bureau is in downtown Las Vegas at 201 Clark Avenue and it's open seven days a
week from 8-AM till midnight. Between midnight and 8 in the morning you can think about it... play some craps because
marriage is also a roll of the dice... but remember to keep $65 ($60 for the license, $5 for the fee) available on your credit
card.