L: Composer Dan Slider, entertainer Dennis Bono, former Nevada Lieutenant Governor
Lorraine Hunt-Bono, Clark County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya and producer Damian Costa flanked
by Las Vegas showgirls unveil 70th Anniversary of Wedding Capital of the World
signature song and show title; R: “Las Vegas Will You Marry Me” logo.
(Photos courtesy Andrew Miller for Clark County)
THE WEDDING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD TO HOST 70TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION THIS SEPTEMBER
Extravaganza to Include “Las Vegas Will You Marry Me” Production Show,
Vow Renewal with Hundreds of Couples, More
To commemorate the first time it was referred to as “The Wedding Capital of the World™,” Southern Nevada will celebrate its 70th anniversary this September as the globe’s most desirable wedding destination. Paying tribute to the more than five million couples who have married in Clark County, the Wedding Capital of the World will honor seven decades of love stories.
Las Vegas’s status as the globe’s most desirable wedding location was first recognized on Sept. 23, 1953, when the London Daily Herald referred to it as the “Wedding Capital of the World” in an article about Las Vegas weddings. The destination went on to chart 1 million total weddings by 1974, 3 million weddings by 2000 and 5 million weddings on Feb. 20, 2022.
A spectacular 70th Anniversary Celebration will take place on Sunday, Sept. 3, at Caesars Palace, featuring a vintage-Vegas style show and mass vow renewal ceremony that will be seen around the world. The original production with theme song written by Dan Slider, “Las Vegas Will You Marry Me” will be hosted by Dennis Bono, recording artist and star of “The “Dennis Bono Show,” the weekly show which broadcasts world-wide from Michael Gaughan’s South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas.
The original production of “Las Vegas Will You Marry Me” is written and directed by Lorraine Hunt-Bono and Dennis Bono and produced by Damian Costa, Pompey Entertainment.
Organizers expect to welcome hundreds of couples for a group vow renewal during the event. Participants will enjoy activities and brunch-inspired fare along with the original production show. The event benefits the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.
“As the most iconic wedding destination in the world, the best love stories start in Las Vegas,” said Lynn Marie Goya, Clark County Clerk. “With endless possibilities, couples have been making their wedding dreams come true in Las Vegas for decades. Couples around the world are invited to celebrate their love stories with us at this wonderful 70th Anniversary Celebration.”
Tickets will go on sale in mid-May. General admission tickets will start at $70 and VIP Vow Renewal tickets will start at $170 per couple. Interested parties may register their names to the exclusive presale database by going to weddings.vegas/event.
Clark County Weddings by the Numbers
In 2022, almost 2 million visitors traveled to the destination to attend or have a wedding. More than half of all licenses issued by Clark County last year included a millennial. Among U.S. tourists, Californians comprised the largest domestic population outside of Nevada to marry in Clark County, representing 14,763 of the total weddings. Visitors from the United Kingdom comprised the largest international population of couples married in Las Vegas, with 2,777 weddings last year.
Last year, weddings generated more than $2.5 billion in economic activity for Clark County. A portion of revenue raised from the purchase of each marriage license supports the state’s domestic violence prevention programs including Safe Nest, Safe House and the Rape Crisis Center.
Clark County Weddings History
The city’s most popular wedding date in history occurred on 7/7/2007, known as the “Lucky 7s” day, when 4,492 couples were married. Other popular dates in Las Vegas wedding history include 11/11/2011, 10/10/2010, 2/22/2022, 8/8/2008, 12/13/2014, 12/12/2012, 10/10/2020, 12/31/1983 and 7/4/1998.
Hundreds of global celebrities and international superstars have married in Las Vegas over the decades. Well-known couples who have tied the knot in Las Vegas include Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck, Michael Caine, Betty White, Billy Bob Thornton and Angelina Jolie, Clint Eastwood, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher, Elvis and Priscilla Presley, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow, George Clooney, Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner, Michael Jordan, Tom Petty and many more.
ABOUT THE WEDDING CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
This September 3, Las Vegas will celebrate its 70th anniversary as the Wedding Capital of the World. With more than five million “I do’s” and counting, each year Las Vegas conducts more destination weddings than any other place on the planet. For well over 70 years the Vegas wedding has captured the public imagination as the ultimate wedding destination. For more information about the Wedding Capital of the World or the Office of the Clark County Clerk, Nevada, visit weddings.vegas.
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
NPHY is the most comprehensive service provider for the thousands of young people experiencing homelessness in our community, providing access to life-changing services for homeless youth 24 hours a day. More information may be found at NPHY.org.