| Below are some excerpts from "I Do" in Las Vegas. The book is beautifully illustrated with vintage wedding photographs and historic copies of wedding certificates dating back to 1852. |
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Chapter
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Excerpt
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Performing a wedding ceremony by hanging out of the Drive-up Window contains its own hazards. Summers in Las Vegas record normal everyday temperatures at 110° to 120°. As the dark side of the moon is cold, so is the backside of the presiding minister from the air conditioned chapel - set at extra low temperatures to keep the grooms from sweating too profusely or the brides from fanning or fainting - as some of the nervous couples are usually already "in heat." Blazing onto the face and upper torso of the minister, hanging onto the narrow ledge of the counter and attempting to effectuate an inspiring ceremony - in record time might I add, is the desert heat, rasping sand and sometimes not so gentle winds which even a nomad would find inhospitable. |
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At a Victorian chapel one warm summer day, I recall a double wedding ceremony, with the brides both wearing extremely skimpy wedding outfits, emphasized by very low-cut necklines, which vaunted their extremely prominent bosoms. The grooms were huge men, displaying muscular bodies, with arms and hands covered with tattoos. Their long hair was tightly gathered at the back of their necks (in one case bleached blonde.) Most of the wedding guests were either dressed like the brides or physically similar to the grooms.... After the wedding I learned that the wedding party was gathered mainly from the wrestling world, the two blushing brides were topless dancers. It was a double ring ceremony - in more ways than one! |
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...The Essence of Love which pervades the atmosphere around each soul harmonizes, and the "two become one"... upon levels which the human eye can not see, nor mortal ear perceive. There is an interweaving of soul qualities... oft forgotten, mostly unknown, in our modern society, which truly adds the "sacred" and essential Spirit which is the basis for a strong marriage... the reflection of the relationship of Christ and His Church, or God and His People. |
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...The helicopter staff on duty introduced the bride and groom to me. I immediately noticed that the bride was wearing a see-through black negligee under the groom's long black leather coat: not to mention her long straight black hair, and extremely long black frosted fingernails, made her look all the colder. They were definitely into the "Gothic" look. Morticia, of the Adams Family, would have been proud! With headsets in place, airborne, and starting down the Strip, I began the ceremony...... |
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In Las Vegas, many times couples come to wed - just the two of them - with no guests. This is actually more the norm. Other couples come with parents, guests, friends and full wedding parties. What is often the case, and very interesting, is that during many of these ceremonies wherein only the couple and the minister are present in the chapel, the chapel itself is filled with love. One can almost hear the flutter of Angel wings as they confer Blessings on the couple being united in Holy Matrimony. I always tell my couples that the chapel is filled to capacity with Angels... and I know that in many cases, this is the absolute truth. |
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...One wedding party contained a lovely bride and four bride's maids - all dressed in black and white flapper dresses. It was pretty, but it left one wonder, "What's next?"
The groom and his gang of best men arrived. Yes, they were all dressed as 1920's gangsters... complete with toy machine guns and fedora hats. The groom was wearing a black and brilliant yellow pinstriped suit, and the best man's matching suit was bright royal blue pinstriped. Both had black shirts and bright ties. The groom's "boys" were each carrying a machine gun. Standing up front, in the chapel, was an interesting experience. I mentioned to the groom that I had never performed a "Tommy-gun wedding" before. ...I don't think that there was an Italian in this bunch from Iowa! |
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Unnoticed by the groom, the back door of the chapel opened and in strolled "Elvis" in his gold and sequined lame' jacket, skin tight black satin slacks, slick black hair and diamond studded rings. Softly he began singing the words to Love Me Tender as he smoothly glided down the aisle toward the couple.
All this time the groom had been staring at me... completely unaware that the voice singing the lyrics he was hearing was strolling up behind him. As hard as it may seem to be believed.... |
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The groom flushed pale, coughed and said, "Oh no! It is a wedding. Not a Renewal of Vows..." as he frantically produced the wedding ring for my appraisal. My female intuition said, "Something is very wrong here!".... |
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