Explained: How Vegas became the ‘marriage capital of the world’ | Explained News,The Indian Express
In Hollywood films and TV shows, the quintessential Vegas wedding is a kitschy affair, often associated with Elvis impersonators as officiants and spur-of-the-moment decisions by inebriated tourists. But, getting married in Vegas is also a lot quicker, cheaper and simpler.
From Elvis and Priscilla Presley to Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck — dozens of shotgun celebrity weddings coupled with countless pop culture references over the decades have put Las Vegas on the map as the ‘marriage capital of the world’. Today, Sin City boasts of a $2 billion wedding industry, with hundreds of couples from across the world opting for ‘drive-thru’ ceremonies at one of Vegas’ iconic chapels every single day.
In popular Hollywood films and TV shows, the quintessential Vegas wedding is a kitschy affair, often associated with Elvis impersonators as officiants and spur-of-the-moment decisions by inebriated tourists. But apart from the excitement and theatrics, getting married in Las Vegas is also a lot quicker, cheaper and simpler than anywhere else in the United States.
Las Vegas first came to be associated with quick and easy wedding ceremonies in the 1900s when the state of Nevada eased its requirements for obtaining a marriage license. While it could take up to a few days to get a marriage license in most states, it only took a couple of minutes in Vegas. Quickly, young couples from neighbouring states, including California, began flocking to Nevada to tie the knot.
In 1931, the Vegas wedding became central to the city’s budding tourism industry after officials legalised gambling and also shortened the time in which couples could get a divorce.
The popularity of these wedding increased during the 1940s, when World War 2 spurred a large number of young men and women to get married before being drafted. About 20,000 weddings took place in 1942 in Clark County, according to a report by Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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