Lights, camera, wedding bells! Las Vegas has long been a hotspot for celebrity nuptials, where stars can tie the knot in style and with a touch of pizzazz. From iconic singers to A-list actors, Sin City has seen its fair share of famous “I Dos” over the years. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of the most unforgettable celebrity Las Vegas weddings that have taken place in this dazzling desert oasis of Nevada.
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Most Iconic Celebrity Weddings in Las Vegas
With a nickname of “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” it’s no wonder superstars and famous folks come to Vegas to get hitched. The Las Vegas celebrity wedding scene is one of the most alluring things about the city. Wedding bells are always ringing even if you’re not invited to a glam ceremony. From Elvis to J. Lo, there’s no telling who’s making marriage history in the heart of Sin City. Don’t believe us? Check out these most notable celebrity Las Vegas weddings that took place over the last seven decades.
1950s to 1960s: The Early Icons
The 50s and 60s marked an era of glamor and romance in Las Vegas, with iconic celebrities tying the knot in unforgettable ceremonies. While this generation of star-struck nuptials harkens to a simpler time (no cellphones, no internet, etc.), it perfectly represents the halcyon days of elegance, flair, and wedded bliss for these top icons of the epoch.
Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu (1967)
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll and his bride epitomized star-studded elegance against the backdrop of Sin City’s glittering lights. On May 1st, 1967, Elvis married his long-time girlfriend, the enchanting Priscilla Beaulieu. Miles away from Graceland, the lovebirds decided to get hitched at the Aladdin Hotel in Vegas, which is now Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow (1966)
The 1966 wedding of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra and Hollywood star Mia Farrow was a whirlwind affair that captivated fans and the media alike. Despite their notable age difference (Sinatra was 51, and Farrow was 21), the couple tied the knot at The Las Vegas Hotel, adding to the lauded reputation of celebrity Vegas weddings.
Ann-Margret and Roger Smith (1967)
The red-haired bombshell Ann-Margret was known for her sultry voice and captivating performances. On May 8th, 1967, at the Riviera Hotel, she tied the knot with the handsome actor Roger Smith amidst the glitz and lights of Sin City. Although Ann-Margret admitted the venue wasn’t exactly what she pictured for her wedding day, the matrimonial magic of Vegas worked for their union, as the couple stayed married for 50 years.
1970s to 1980s: Rock Stars and Screen Legends
Flower power, hair bands, bell bottoms, and life in the fast lane—Las Vegas hosted one of the most eccentric and robust decades for iconic weddings. Just check out these Generation X weddings and walk down memory lane (or bygone wedding aisles) with these celebrity weddings in Vegas during the 1970s and 80s.
Jon Bon Jovi and Dorothea Hurley (1989)
Hard rocker Bon Jovi, didn’t give love a bad name when he secretly married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea, at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Vegas on April 29th, 1989. The same-aged New Jersey natives dated for 10 years before, and at the height of Jovi’s career, the two exchanged vows. They’re still going strong after four decades of wedded bliss.
Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford (1991)
Fireworks sparked in Sin City when steamy actor Richard Gere and supermodel Cindy Crawford got hitched in December of 1991 at The Little Church of the West. After dating for a few years, 25-year-old Crawford and 42-year-old Gere thought, “Why not!?” and they eloped in Vegas. While the marriage only lasted four years, this celebrity Vegas wedding made front-page news in media history.
Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy (1989)
Chicago Bulls baller and Nike poster boy Michael Jordan met Juanita Vanoy while she was working as a bank loan officer. After a time of courtship, they got married at The Little Church of the West a year after the birth of their son in September of 1989. It was a small, private ceremony in the middle of the night, but it wasn’t a secret for long as the news made media headlines. The couple was married for 17 years before finally divorcing on mutual and amicable terms.
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore (1987)
Box office-busting actors Bruce Willis and Demi Moore dated a few short months before taking the matrimonial plunge at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas on November 21st, 1987. The event was 100% spontaneous. While they were gambling and enjoying the casino, Willis made a passing statement to the effect, “I think we should get married.” Moore thought it was a good idea at the time, and the rest is Las Vegas celebrity wedding history.
1990s to 2000s: Pop Stars and High-Profile Couples
This era is all about the rise of the internet, which revolutionized how we dated, proposed, and planned weddings. From matrimonial laser light shows to building a dedicated wedding website, new technology, and online access transformed the realm of getting hitched – especially for celebrities. To prove this point, recall how online social media exploded for these celebrity weddings in Las Vegas during the Generation Z era.
Britney Spears and Jason Alexander (2004)
Who could forget pop star Britney Spears’ first wedding to her childhood best friend Jason Alexander? If you don’t remember, her wedding made headlines because the marriage lasted a meager 55 hours before Britney’s media advisors had her get the marriage annulled. They rolled up in a lime green limo, and instead of wearing a wedding dress or tux, they arrived at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas wearing jeans and ballcaps on January 3rd, 2004. While the marriage didn’t last long, they’ve gotten over any hard feelings and are friends today.
Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton (2000)
After two brief months of dating, the Oscar-winning superstars Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton got married at The Little Church of the West Wedding Chapel on May 5th, 2000. It was a casual event, with Jolie wearing jeans and a sleeveless top, and Thornton sporting a trucker’s cap and cowboy boots. It was also a quiet, private affair for the couple. Thornton was 42 at the time with five marriages under his belt, and for Jolie, who was 24 years of age, it was her second time walking down the aisle.
Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon (First Marriage, 2007)
Mega supermodel and Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson met professional high-stakes poker player Rick Salomon when Anderson’s driver was losing to Salomon at the poker tables. Salomon offered to wipe her driver’s debt clean if Anderson gave him a kiss. From that moment on, the two were a tornado of togetherness. They’ve been married to each other twice. The first time was at the Mirage Hotel in Vegas. After they said their vows (the first time), Anderson went on to play a role as a magician’s assistant at a nearby casino.
2010s to Present: Modern-Day Glam
With shifting and more flexible views about marriages, and more freedom for self-expression, the 2010s are a perfect setting for alternative, unorthodox weddings in Vegas. And although COVID was a real downer at the beginning of 2020, it didn’t stop celebrities from taking advantage of the wedding capital of the world. Here are the top mentions for celebrity weddings from the 2010s to the present in Las Vegas.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner (2019)
Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner and boy band wonder Joe Jonas tied the knot on May 1st, 2019, at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas. Social media feeds blew up as the wedding was officiated by an Elvis impersonator, and the couple plunged into a swimming pool – wedding clothes and all – after the ceremony. They later had a more sophisticated wedding service for friends and family in France at Château de Tourreau.
Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos (Renewal of Vows, 2010)
Celebrated actress and talk show host Kelly Ripa and famed All My Children soap opera actor Mark Consuelos were first married in 1996. After 27 years of marriage, the couple (both 52 years of age) decided to reinforce their love in Vegas. Rather than renewing their vows, they chose to do a “nuptial do-over.” In a romantic and charming display, they renewed their love for each other at the same church they originally got hitched, The Chapel of Bells, in 2010.
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez (2022)
“Queen of Dance” actress and singer J.Lo and suave actor Ben Affleck have had a roller-coaster relationship for the last twenty years. However, Jenny on the Block married her Boston Prince Charming on July 17th, 2022, at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. While Lopez has been married four times and Affleck has had two previous marriages, the couple never gave up on love and are happily committed to each other. This celebrity Las Vegas wedding was a real show-stopper with all the traditional trimmings and a sensational wedding gown designed by Ralph Lauren.
Where Do The Celebrities Typically Get Married in Vegas?
As you might have noticed from the celebrity Vegas weddings we covered in this article, A Little White Chapel is a top choice with superstars. This is largely due to its history and popularity. The Chapel has a drive-thru wedding “tunnel of vows,” which some celebrities find both quick and quirky. Since it first opened in the 1950s, the Chapel has married around 800,000 couples, many of whom are famous.
Why Do Celebrities Get Married in Vegas?
There are loads of reasons, but primarily, Vegas is the marriage capital of the world. It’s by far the fastest, easiest way to get hitched, and this might be attractive to some spontaneous celebrities. Vegas weddings don’t have a waiting period, the paperwork is minimal, and blood tests aren’t required. In addition to convenience, Vegas is a short four-hour drive from Hollywood. Moreover, the tradition of superstars tying the knot in Vegas started trending in the 1930s not only for convenience – but also because celebrities at the time could get married discreetly without the plague of the media intruding on the ceremony.
Media credit: All conceptual images about celebrity Las Vegas weddings in this article are copyrighted to VegasNews.com.
