We looked at venues locally, but nothing stood out and the costs were spiralling out of control! Weather in the UK and Ireland is never guaranteed and that also played a big factor in our decision.

We liked that there were lots of things we could do in Vegas and surrounding areas. We read about the process, and it seemed very easy. Although we decided to get married just the two of us, there was the option to invite more people if we decided to. 

We looked at Trailfinders wedding packages for inspiration and The Bliss Chapel was exactly what we were looking for.

It was so simple, the only information required at the time of booking was what colour you wanted your flower bouquet to be, the time of the ceremony and what music choice you wanted. I was given a contact at Bliss Chapel who was fabulous. They gave me a list of hair and make-up artists, recommended restaurants, and answered questions that I had as they arose. Nothing was too much trouble and emails were answered very promptly.

With regards to carrying my wedding dress on a flight, we travelled with British Airways, took them with us as hand luggage and the crew hung them up - my dress was actually in with the pilot! If you really wanted to, you could hire wedding attire in Las Vegas.

The day before, Bliss Chapel called me to check I had everything and told me that my limousine would arrive at a certain time and the driver would call 30 minutes prior to arrival. We had opted to be less traditional and arrived together, but there was an option for additional transport if we needed it. 

Everything ran like clockwork, the sun was shining, the driver was on time and took pictures on our phones at various spots along the way. We collected our paperwork at the sheriff’s court which is next to the chapel. 

When we arrived, I was given the most beautiful yellow rose bouquet and we were introduced to our photographer who doubled up as our witness. We were put into a nice calming area, where we were told how the service would run and given some drinks to settle the nerves. 12 photos were included in our package, but we opted to upgrade on the day to get all the pictures taken.

The room could hold up to 50 guests and it was beautiful, as were all the areas where you had photos taken - all neutral tones with some flower and foliage walls. We didn’t opt for an Elvis wedding, but we did see the King and it looked fun!

The whole ceremony took 30 minutes and with some after pictures we were then dropped off by our limousine to our restaurant of choice.

We flew in and out of Los Angeles (LA) and had a road trip around our wedding. We went to the Californian winelands just outside LA and booked a hot air balloon ride. We then went to Palm Springs to see Joshua Tree National Park, before heading onto Vegas for the main event. After the wedding, we drove along parts of Route 66 stopping at some quirky places. We then made our way along the back end of Route 66 and finished in LA where (as I love the film Pretty Woman) we treated ourselves to a few nights at The Beverly Wilshire.

Other options that we looked at that could easily be combined with Las Vegas were Hawaii, a cruise from LA, and the Caribbean.

If you can, book Las Vegas through the week to get the most amazing deals on hotels. 

You don’t get your wedding certificate straight away as you have to order it online via the sheriff’s office a few weeks later. Buy a few original copies as you need them for name changes on banks etc. They arrive about five days after ordering.

Although in the UK and Ireland the perfect time to get married may be the summer for the weather, Las Vegas is very hot at this time of year, so spring or autumn may be a better time to go. 

If you’re thinking about a fun, stress free wedding, with more than Elvis and casinos then consider Las Vegas, you will not be disappointed, whether it’s just the two of you or a larger party. We were so happy with Bliss and all the support we received.