Eloping to Las Vegas from the UK: Our Sure Thing Chapel Wedding
So… you want to get married in Vegas? Same. But how do you actually pull that off from the UK?
Everything here is from our experience eloping in Las Vegas - just the two of us (with no guests or planner!). There was a lot to think about and we learned a few things along the way…
Tips for choosing the perfect chapel for your elopement
Photography @ofcolorandhue
After nine months of going back and forth on what to do, we finally decided on Las Vegas (baby!). Once that decision was made, the next hurdle to hit: chapels. So many chapels.
Do you go full classic with The Little White Chapel – iconic, touristy, very Vegas? Or do you try to find something a bit different?
That’s when I stumbled across Sure Thing Chapel on Instagram. Instantly, we loved it - pink, retro, vintage cool vibes. Just the kind of laid-back place we were after.
We booked the $444 drive-thru package (October 2024 prices). 15 minutes inside the chapel, 15 minutes outside with the classic car for photos. Perfect for just the two of us. Extras were available - we went for the iconic Sure Thing bouquet and Chris’ boutonnière, which brought the total to $715, plus a few souvenirs to collect on the day
Claudia, at the chapel, is genuinely lovely - quick to answer any questions and even put me in touch with their florist for Chris’ custom boutonnière. I’ll go into all the Sure Thing Chapel details on the day itself, but booking was sorted - next up, flights.
And once those were sorted, there was absolutely no going back.
What month to fly to Las Vegas for your elopement
After a lot of searching “best month to get married in Vegas”, we settled on late April / early May. Warm but not unbearable - just right for wandering the Strip without melting.
Fun little fact: We booked our chapel date for 2nd May 2025. I later realised it was angel number 2525, which apparently symbolises big positive life changes. A little bonus we hadn’t planned but loved anyway!
The temperature hovered around 30°C, which for us was ideal. Warm enough to feel like Vegas, but not so hot that you can’t actually enjoy being outside. Our wedding day itself was blue skies and sunshine, and we had a couple of days of on-and-off rain afterward. Unusual for Vegas, but we were so glad it didn’t land on the day itself.
Top tip: if your morning looks cloudy or drizzly (and you like to avoid crowds), head to the Vegas sign early. Our photo wasn’t sunny but there were zero queues, plenty of time for photos, and no pressure to rush - we much preferred it that way!
Things to bear in mind when choosing your month:
Summer (June–August) gets really hot. Think 40°C+ - not ideal if you want to walk around, wear a suit, or enjoy photos outside.
Spring and autumn are the sweet spots: warm days, cooler evenings, and much more comfortable all round.
Popular dates book up fast. Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and big weekends are popular, especially at smaller chapels. If you have a specific date in mind, lock it in early.
For us, the end of April/ beginning of May ticked every box.
What time to get married in Las Vegas
On our wedding day the chapel only had 4 pm or 7 pm slots available on that Friday, and we wanted to get married in the middle of our trip. We went for the earlier slot - we booked our photographer for an hour after the ceremony, which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the evening afterwards: wander the casinos and bars, and head out for dinner without rushing.
This meant we missed golden hour for photos. Totally fine for us - we knew in advance and weighed up what mattered more: the evening vibe versus perfect sunset lighting.
If golden hour photos are a must for you, a quick tip is to check sunset times for your month in Vegas. Planning around that can help you snag the lighting you want. Here’s a good link to check Vegas sunset times.
A few extra photo tips from our day:
Our wedding day had bright blue skies, so we took sunglasses for photos to avoid squinty eyes.
Landing in Vegas a few days before the wedding? Make sure you apply high SPF. Nothing worse than a burnt bride or dodgy tan lines in your photos!
If you’re planning photos outside, consider light layers if you’re sensitive to heat - the sun can be deceptively strong even in spring.
Next up: flights
We flew British Airways from Heathrow on 30th April, leaving a few days before the wedding - which I highly recommend. It gives you time to settle in, recover from travel and actually enjoy Vegas before the big day.
We treated ourselves to breakfast at Plane Food - a bit fancier than the usual airport options. We’d booked, but when we arrived there were plenty of tables free.
Landing in Vegas is exactly what you expect: busy, loud and a bit of a sensory overload. Leaving a few days before the wedding was a smart move - it gives you time to adjust, soak in the city, and prep mentally. Vegas hits differently straight off a plane!
Word of warning: Vegas flights are… chaotic. Alcohol runs out, the party vibe is real and everyone’s very much in holiday mode. (The return flight? Much calmer😂).
Where to stay in Las Vegas for your elopement
Almost as overwhelming as choosing a chapel - Vegas has so many hotels! We knew we wanted one along the Strip, and they were pretty similar in price. After comparing options, we settled on Hilton Elara.
It ticked most of our boxes: pool, non-smoking (no casino inside!), clean modern room, a nice view, easy to get around, and connected to the mall - super handy. One downside? The check-in experience wasn’t the friendliest.
Tip: if you’re staying here, avoid the timeshare meeting. We got sucked in and lost a whole hour of our morning. In return, we got a voucher for an experience. Rookie mistake: we picked a show on the spot without researching. It was the worst show (in our opinion) - the Criss Angel magic show. Vegas lesson learned: nothing here is free, and your time is far more valuable than a freebie.
The legal bit: What you need before your Sure Thing Chapel elopement
If you’re coming from the UK, Vegas is actually one of the simplest places to tie the knot legally.
90 days before: register online for your marriage license. At the time of our booking it was around $102.
Pick it up soon after you arrive: this is why it’s good not to book your wedding for the same day you land. Delays or queues are rare but you don’t want to stress on the day.
Plan ahead and you’re good to go!
The day of our wedding
Breakfast
Since our wedding wasn’t until 4 pm, the morning was pretty chilled. We went for breakfast at Alexa’s - I was starving so it was a proper big breakfast (none of those usual pre-wedding “can’t eat” vibes). We then hung out by the pool for a bit, enjoying the calm before the day kicked off.
Hair & Makeup
My hair and makeup with @PrimroseGlam was booked for 12 pm, aiming to be ready around 2:30 pm so we could sneak in a drink downtown before the ceremony. While I got glammed up, Chris went off to the casino (classic).
Primrose Glam - couldn’t recommend them enough. One stylist for hair, one for makeup. They were total perfectionists, taking the time to get every detail right. My hair didn’t budge all day, makeup stayed flawless, and the package even included a gown and mini lipstick for touch-ups. A thoughtful little touch I loved. I was so happy with my final look (especially having no trial as I’m from the UK) that I actually fear I’ll never look this good again 😆
Stepping out of our hotel, we were buzzing… just the two of us, finally on our wedding day! We met another wedding party in the lift and realised just how many people were here for the same reason as us. Everyone was friendly and congratulatory, which added to the excitement rather than nerves.
Pre-wedding drink downtown Vegas
We jumped into an Uber to Eval Pie for a quick pre-ceremony drink. Our driver was such a vibe - gave us a little tour of the chapels and cranked up the music. “I guess you guys are heading to the chapel, then?” Perfect start.
After a couple of margs, we were debating whether to grab a taxi to the chapel - it was pretty hot, and I was in heels. In the end, but we decided to walk the 10 minutes down Fremont to the chapel since we had a bit of time to spare. I’m so glad we did! Walking gave us some fun, candid photos along the way and really helped build up the excitement before the ceremony.
Photographers
@ofcolourandhue
We arrived at the chapel and met our photographers, Shevelle and Nick, and immediately felt comfortable. Their easygoing energy made everything feel relaxed and fun.
Vegas has no shortage of talented photographers, so take your time to pick the right one - these photos are with you forever! That said, they book up fast so don’t hang about once you find someone you love.
I found Of Colour And Hue through a Facebook group for UK brides getting married in Vegas - such a handy, active community for tips. After looking through her Instagram, I was sold (and luckily she had availability!).
Shevelle suggested 1 hour 30 minutes for photos since we wanted two locations - downtown shots and a bit of casino fun and it worked perfectly. We also added film photography by Nick (Analogue Elopements) for $250 - a total yes for me, since I’m a massive film fan - it gave us a different perspective and some extra fun shots. Nick’s package even included some cute Polaroids to take away, which we loved for little keepsakes. The whole thing came to $1300 (2025 prices).
Shevelle and Nick were brilliant at directing poses, weren’t clock-watching to the minute and overall made us feel completely comfortable. At the end of the day, no one knew us there and so didn’t really care. It just felt like another wedding in Vegas in everyone else’s eyes - really fun part of the whole experience.
Photography tips:
If the budget allows, definitely add the Sure Thing classic car for photos - it’s such a fun addition and makes the shots feel extra Vegas.
Think about any props that could make your photos more personal - glasses, a fun accessory, or something unique. We brought a cardboard cutout of our dog Hendrix for the ceremony, which made the photos playful and personal.
Casinos: You can’t always take photos in casinos, so be aware of this. We got lucky that day and had a few fun shots, but it can vary.
Videography – Super 8 Film
Adding video wasn’t originally on our list but we made a bit of a last-minute decision - and we’re so glad we did. Claudia, who runs the chapel can film the ceremony on Super 8 and I absolutely love that vintage, film vibe.
The video cost $750, and it was worth every penny. Not only did it capture the day in such a beautiful, nostalgic way, but it also meant our family and friends could watch it later, which made it even more special. If you’re a film fan like me, I’d definitely recommend it as it adds a really unique layer to your wedding memories. Check her out on Instagram here.
The ceremony
We had roughly 15 minutes inside the chapel for the ceremony and photos before heading to the outside to the classic car. I honestly didn’t know what to expect for the vows - would it be super cheesy? But the pre-written vows the chapel provided were perfect: romantic, playful, and totally us. If you prefer, you can choose to have your own personal vows.
The registrar was lovely, making everything feel personal and relaxed. Even though the ceremony was fairly quick, it felt really special and emotional - exactly the kind of intimate, “just us” moment we wanted.
-
Officiant: Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada, and to Sure Thing Chapel.
What happens here, lasts forever.
So today, we stand together—Cupid overhead—
to show our cards, to bet on one another,
because there’s no thing like true love. That’s for sure.
From now on, you’ve got a built-in partner in crime.
Someone to stand by your side in times of joy and triumph,
and someone to lean on in times of trial.
Someone to be the ace up your sleeve.
When you’ve found your perfect counterpart—the one who feels like home—you’ve hit life’s biggest jackpot.
Against all odds, you’ve found the one, as if they were written in the stars —or, as we like to say here in Vegas, in the cards.Then come the vows exchange:
Officiant to Chris: Chris, do you take Carla to be your wife? Do you promise to spend your life cultivating and celebrating your partnership, side by side as friends, lovers, and spouses?
Chris: I do.Officiant to Carla: Carla, do you take Chris to be your husband? Will you honour the same commitment, to remain joyfully hand in hand as friends and lovers, and now as a married couple?
Carla: I do.And, of course, no Vegas elopement would be complete without:
In the eternal words of our father, the King — VIVA LAS VEGAS, BABY!
By the power vested in me by the lovely state of Nevada, I now pronounce you married.
The whole décor is such a vibe. There was even a disco ball spinning in the room and we had our first mini dance under it. A lovely touch as disco balls are symbolic for us - there was one at our first date, and they’ve followed us around ever since! That’s why we collected them for our UK wedding celebration, and yes, it even started our disco ball hire adventure.
After the ceremony, we popped into the cool chapel bathroom for a few quirky photos (there’s a picture of Elvis on the wall!) and had time for shots at various spots throughout the chapel. Their vintage photo booth was another element we loved.
The Classic Car
Photography @analogueelopements
After 15–20 minutes, we headed outside to their red classic Vegas car for photos. These shots are iconic - we’re so glad we included this. It really adds that classic Vegas vibe and makes for some memorable, playful photos.
My top 3 tips for your Sure Thing Chapel elopement
Top tip #1: organise a playlist before you go. You can share it with the chapel on the day and they play it for you. Because time is tight, only a few songs will fit, so think about the order. Our aisle song was “Just the Two of Us”, Claudia later edited over the Super 8 film which was a lovely touch.
Top tip #2: think about extra photo strips from the booth. We probably didn’t have time for many, but it would’ve been nice to have a couple more. This is something you can let the chapel know in advance.
Top tip #3: check out the souvenirs online before you go. These are really special to take home - we bought a tote bag, a silk scarf, some T-shirts, and matches. We really wanted the matches as wedding favours for our UK wedding, but due to plane restrictions you can only take home two.
What to do after your Sure Thing Chapel elopement
Post-wedding drink downtown Vegas
We really wanted our day to feel spontaneous, so after photos we headed for our first post-wedding drink (another margarita for me😅). Fremont Street is full of cool bars - we headed back to St Eval and sat outside the pizzeria. Every 30 seconds someone was excitedly shouting “congratulations!”. We’re not normally one’s for attention, we embraced it and loved every second.
A few cocktails later (and slightly on the tipsy side), we headed into Four Queens Casino.
Tip: wander into a casino in your wedding attire - you might be in luck! We joined a table with some locals who were very kind… and somehow helped us win, despite having no idea what we were doing. Totally unplanned wedding-day luck - must be the 2525 lucky date!
After exploring downtown, we headed back to the hotel back on the strip to freshen up and made our way to the Bellagio fountains (really romantic at night with the lights and music). Dinner was at Mayfair Supper Club, which I’d booked a month in advance and would highly recommend for a fun, fancy post-wedding celebration. Cosy jazz vibes, live show, cabaret dancers… at one point we even ended up in a conga line around the restaurant and got multiple shout-outs of congratulations from the host. Food service was a bit slow, but the entertainment and fountain views more than made up for it.
Quick round-up:
If you’re thinking about eloping to Las Vegas - absolutely say go for it (zero regrets from us!). We planned ours only six months ahead, and a few things really helped our day run smoothly:
Research time of day & month: Pick a slot that suits your vibe. We went for 4 pm so we could enjoy the evening afterwards.
Join a Facebook community: Helps you find genuine reviews and suppliers.
Arrive early in Vegas: Gives you time to soak up Vegas, collect your wedding license and feel relaxed.
Get it filmed and/or photographed: Totally worth it for the memories you’ll keep forever.
Think about flowers & props: Small details make a big difference in photos and help capture your personal style.
Add the Sure Thing classic car: Adds that extra Vegas vibe to your photos.
Take a polaroid camera: We took so many little keepsake photos throughout the day - such a nostalgic, fun thing to do..
Suppliers we loved:
Florist: @luciedjuliet
Hair & Makeup: @primroseglam
Photographers @ofcolourandhue & @analogueelopements
Super 8 Videographer @clauddoingthings
And of course @surethingchapel
This trip is also why Reel the Love exists.
Experiencing our own Sure Thing Chapel elopement influenced my entire brand I designed- from my love of pink, retro details to how important it is to capture the moment. Through wedding content creation, that’s exactly what I now do for couples getting married in the UK and beyond… (hello Vegas couples, I’d love to join you!).
Sure Thing Chapel update 2026
One last thing worth mentioning if you’re looking at Sure Thing Chapel specifically: while we were there, they’d just opened Sure Thing Too next door. It’s a slightly different setup - still very much in the Sure Thing family but with a baby blue colour palette and slightly different decor. It makes it a great backup (or alternative) option if your preferred time or package isn’t available at the original chapel.
And exciting news for anyone not keen on flying all the way to Nevada… Sure Thing NYC is opening in Spring. Details are still limited but you can prebook on the Sure Thing Chapel website. If it’s anything like the Vegas chapels, it’s going to be such a great option for couples who love the aesthetic but want something closer to home (or at least closer than Vegas). Or if you simply love New York. I’m very excited to see what they do with it.
All in all, eloping to Vegas from the UK was smoother than we’d imagined. What’s one thing you’d want to know before booking your own Vegas wedding?