Las Vegas Weekly

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Now that Britney Spears is engaged to be married again, methinks she should come on back to Vegas. There are so many options here for tying the knot and celebrating afterward that the bad memories of old mistakes could easily be erased (provided she has any). For anyone hoping to make the most special of days memorable, this city is not just for eloping and accidentally getting hitched to the dude you met in the elevator. Two recent examples:

Chapel of the Flowers

For almost 60 years, this full-service, freestanding Strip venue has been marrying lovebirds. It has three chapels, an outdoor gazebo and glass garden, with cobblestone accents and lush greenery. True to its Vegas locale, Chapel of the Flowers works with couples to plan ceremonies as far out as a year to as immediate as the very same day. From white limos to professional videography and photography and a custom flower shop, the amenities are robust. You can even live-stream your ceremony so family and friends who can’t make it can watch in real time.

Thanks to all of this and more, Chapel of the Flowers won two major industry awards last month. The people’s-choice-style (meaning no official judging panel) Wedding Industry Experts Awards, which honor everything from accessories to planners, deemed Chapel of the Flowers the No. 1 Best Destination Venue in the U.S. and No. 2 Best Destination Venue worldwide. Even if it got the most votes because it has the most dedicated fans—and not because some industry snobs dig it—that’s even more reason to believe that it’s a great bet for a great wedding.

A press release about these recent awards listed others that have gone to Chapel of the Flowers in 2012, including theknot.com “Best of Weddings” and weddingwire.com “Bride’s Choice Awards: Best Wedding Venue.”

12/12/12 at Caesars

On 7/7/7, Las Vegas was overrun with couples hoping to get in on the good luck. Your last chance to be part of the numbers fun this century is 12/12/12, a date that Caesars and Dom Pérignon are taking seriously. Thanks to their unique partnership, all 24 hours of December 12 will offer weddings in various packages that echo the vintage cool of the venue and the luxurious indulgence of the Champagne.

Highlights (meaning this is just a sampling) of the specially designed $3,750 package include: one-night suite accommodations; luxury transportation to the court house; flowers for the bride, groom and maid of honor; a private bridal prep lounge; access to the 12/12/12 Dom Pérignon lounge for the wedding party and guests; commemorative video and photos; and a toast with limited-edition logo crystal flutes. Did I mention the private chapel, complete with customizable LED light show, a plush white-carpet aisle, Austrian crystal chandelier and baroque mirrors?

For $1,212,120, you're promised a taste of the “Vegas high-roller lifestyle” (though I’m pretty sure affording that means you're a high roller already). A celebrity event planner will ensure the seamless execution of a wedding that includes: a private jet to and from Vegas; bottomless Dom Pérignon throughout the three-night stay in a suite; dinner at Guy Savoy; VIP access to PURE; watches for the groomsmen and earrings for the bridesmaids; the wedding and reception at Gehry-designed Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, with “dinner and wedding cake created by a member of Las Vegas’ celebrity chef contingent.” Adding a philanthropic spin to the joyous occasion, a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

So, in the immortal words of Ron Burgundy: You stay classy, Las Vegas.