No Doubt Elvis Was Smiling

A first for me: To be a guest at one of those little wedding chapels on the Las Vegas Strip. My perception was not the reality.

PERCEPTION: I had this notion of a quiet little place where you walk into an empty foyer and ring a bell. From out of the kitchen (because the chapel doubles as their house) out comes the 70-something  couple whose supper you just interupted. Sign some papers, he puts on a tie, she goes to the organ, which is a little dusty since this is the first wedding performed in 10 days. The Polaroid Instamatic takes your picture and as soon as it develops, it's tucked into a velour-covered folder (pink or blue) and you are on your way, husband and wife. The couple who performed the ceremony go back to their casserole.

REALITY: This place had a fleet of at least a dozen limos, a staff of over 40, a steady stream of couples tying the not, with the option of using the drive-thru window.  Though nodody did while we were there. In the driveway is the huge pink Cadillac with the "4 ELVIS" vanity plate. And of course Elvis himself on one of the signs out front, hips swinging back and forth, in sort of an Elvis grandfather clock rhythm. The main sign boasts that Michael Jordan and Joan Collins got married there. It makes it look like they married each other.  Well Chad and Wren (brother-in-law/sister-in-law) did marry each other on Friday afternoon and we were honored to be their guests. Viva Las Vegas!  DB