LAS VEGAS — Fast and no-frills weddings are a defining part of the city’s identity in modern Las Vegas.
The city became a popular wedding destination in the early 20th century following the relaxation of marriage laws in 1931. The state removed the requirement for a blood test and waiting period that other states imposed. As a result, Nevada was the quickest state to get married in. In 1942, quick weddings in Las Vegas increased dramatically as couples rushed to marry before military deployment during World War II. That year, of the 1.8 million weddings that took place in the country, 20,000 of those happened in Clark County.
During this period, dedicated chapels like the Little Church of the West opened on the Strip and are currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As more visitors flocked to the entertainment capital, the number of weddings increased because of the quick nature of the events. In the 1950s, the Little White Wedding Chapel introduced drive-thru ceremonies to capitalize on expedited ceremonies.
In modern-day Las Vegas, quick weddings and drive-thru ceremonies are just as popular. For example, in 2025, Clark County issued around 70,000 marriage licenses.
