By Jordan Baker and Billie Eder
The stretch limousine pulls up outside Las Vegas’ Graceland Chapel, and Jo Beeby steps out in all her bridal finery; a Sharks jersey long enough to be a dress, a diamante headband, and nails painted white, black and blue. “Groom” Phil also wears his Cronulla jersey, with a champagne rose pinned to his chest.
Another limo arrives soon after, carrying Scott and a wedding veil-clad Lisa Sligar, both in their pink Panthers jumpers with red roses. Two more antipodean couples follow, in what will be the first of 12 Australian weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies at a single Elvis chapel on a Wednesday afternoon.
Lisa and Scott Sligar renew their vows in Las Vegas
As Australian footy fans descend on the wedding capital of the world, limousine companies’ booking lines have been running hot with +61 and +64 country codes. Beeby’s driver was “picking up all Australians today, all getting remarried,” she says. The Beebys watched the Sligars arrive with surprise; it turns out they know each other from home.
The Sligars watch from a pew as Elvis – clad in black and multicoloured rhinestone, with his suit unzipped to his chest – escorts Jo Beeby down the aisle, singing Can’t Help Falling in Love. Elvis makes the couple promise to “always love you tender, and never leave you at Heartbreak Hotel … [or] have a Suspicious Mind.”
There are 50 wedding chapels in Sin City, many of them lining Las Vegas Boulevard – also known as Chapel Row. They range from Graceland, which claims to be the city’s first Elvis-themed wedding venue (it married Jon Bon Jovi, Salma Hayek and Johnny Depp), to The Little White Chapel, which married Joan Collins, Mickey Rooney (twice), and Judy Garland.
Jo and Phil Beeby renew their vows in Las Vegas
The White Wedding Chapel, in its elaborate white and gold wrought iron finery, offers a drive-thru service known as the Tunnel of Love, while the nearby Viva Las Vegas chapel offers a range of themes, from retro diner to Beetlejuice. Prices range from $150 to $1500 for a package that includes a limo, a bouquet, photography and a rose boutonniere.
Elvis from Graceland Chapel, aka Brendan Paul – a fine arts graduate and former punk rocker – says he’s the original Elvis celebrant, and has done it for decades. On Valentine’s Day, he did 37 ceremonies; one year, he presided over 4700. Usually, he marries or renews the vows of about five to seven Australians a week, but the arrival of the National Rugby League sends couples flocking to his door.
Over the days leading up to the NRL kick-off, he estimates up to 40 per cent of couples are from Australia or New Zealand. Last year, he had a Rabbitohs mascot in the chapel (he still doesn’t quite understand what rugby league is).
It’s easy to marry in Las Vegas. A licence costs $120, takes minutes (although there’s often a queue), and imposes few rules; you have to be 18, have a government-issued ID, be officially single, and not be “nearer to kin than second cousins or cousins of half-blood,” the Clark County website dictates.
The Graceland Chapel in Las Vegas
“I’ve married people who’ve known each other two hours,” says Paul. “I like to believe they all last.”
The Sligars wed in a church almost 32 years ago and wanted a different vibe for their vow renewal. “We thought, we’re going to go full bogan [in Las Vegas] because our first wedding was so formal – really traditional and nothing like what we would do today,” says Lisa.
A few hours later, Greg Kendall dons his Sharks blazer for a commitment ceremony with his long-time partner, Janine Bradley. She wears a white wedding dress, and bucks the Graceland Chapel trend by avoiding league-related accessories. Still, when asked whether the couple is more excited about the wedding or the footy, she is quick with her answer.
“The footy,” she says. “He’d be lying if he said the wedding.”
It’s number three for both of them. “Third time lucky in Vegas,” Bradley jokes, as her father leads her the few metres to Elvis’ podium. “It’s [Dad’s] third time walking me down. He knows what he’s doing.”
At lunchtime on Friday, Warriors fans Mel Henry and Victor Field will tie the knot for real. They obtained their licence at the registry on Wednesday; it took about 20 minutes, due to the queue. They won the trip and the wedding in a competition held by One New Zealand, a telco, and will wed at the Little White Wedding Chapel.
They met on Tinder, and bonded over their shared love of the Warriors. Field will wear a traditional suit (he accidentally forgot his Warriors blazer), and Henry will wear “a short corseted top with a tulle dress with a giant bow,” she says. Their reception will be at the official fans’ event.
The Herald’s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL.