If your dream is to get married in Las Vegas, here’s your chance. Even better: the wedding will be free, if you’re one of 25 lucky military couples.
The “Las Vegas Marries the Military” contest will award a free wedding or vow renewal ceremony to 25 couples; at least one member of the couple must be in uniform (active, Guard or Reserve) or a veteran.
The ceremonies will take place Nov. 10. The contest is sponsored by the Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce and the Armed Forces Chamber of Commerce, also in Vegas.
While the contest is open to all military members and former members worldwide, the rules state that you’ll have to pay for transportation to Vegas.
To enter the contest, submit a 30- to 60-second video by Oct. 10 on what a Las Vegas wedding or vow renewal would mean to you. Complete contest rules are available here.
Winners will be paired with some of 40 businesses who have donated a cumulative $40,000 in items and services, according to Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Aimee Stephens.
“It’s one of the beauties of getting married in Las Vegas,” Stephens said. “Beyond no waiting period for your marriage license, you can have an absolutely gorgeous wedding for a fraction of the cost from elsewhere.”
Resorts that are donating free wedding packages include the Bellagio, Aria, Excalibur, Luxor, MGM Grand and Wynn Las Vegas. A number of wedding chapels and officiants will also offer free weddings, such as the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, Ace of Hearts Wedding Chapel and Ceremony of Dreams, to name a few.
The 40 participating businesses are offering a variety of donations, from wedding finery such as gowns and tuxedos; ceremony must-haves like cakes, photography, music, hair and makeup; and other services.
Karen has covered military families, quality of life and consumer issues for Military Times for more than 30 years, and is co-author of a chapter on media coverage of military families in the book "A Battle Plan for Supporting Military Families." She previously worked for newspapers in Guam, Norfolk, Jacksonville, Fla., and Athens, Ga.
