Living Las Vegas

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Valentine’s Day at the Courthouse

If Las Vegas is the “marriage capital of the world,” then I figure Valentine’s Day is its Fourth of July. Up to now, I’ve only read about all the wedding action that happens every February 14th, but today I checked it out myself. I took a little field trip to the Clark County Courthouse to see what it’s like to get a marriage license on the busiest day of the year.

I arrived around 11:00 am, and before I had even made it to the courthouse steps, I was greeted by two men in black suits. Each presented me with a flyer promoting a wedding chapel, and both were quite polite as they pointed out their Valentine’s Day specials. By the time I had run the gauntlet to the marriage license bureau door, my sheaf of brochures had grown measurably. One flier offered deals beginning at only $40.

The new Clark County Courthouse is a very pretty building, as I had already discovered when I made a visit to take care of a traffic ticket a few months ago. What I didn’t notice on that trip, however, is the special entrance for the Marriage License Bureau. It has its own deck, complete with pleasant places to sit in the shade of a palo verde tree. Someone had carved initials and a heart into its bark. Ordinarily, I might call this vandalism, but given its location, it seemed almost sweet.

A couple of red paper hearts were stuck on the bureau’s windows, but they paled in comparison to the decorations inside. Valentine’s Day banners hung in jolly festoons over the clerks’ windows, and a big bucket of red-and-white polyester roses dressed up the counter where couples were filling out paperwork. A dozen or so heart-shaped balloons bobbed from the stanchions defining the waiting line.

A queue of a hundred or so brides and grooms snaked its way up to several windows, where clerks seemed to be quite efficient at trading them marriage licenses for $55 each (cash only, exact change appreciated). Even with the crowd, couples were getting back out on the street in less than twenty minutes. Outside, those who had made arrangements were being picked up in limos and taxis in a special loading zone.

All in all, it looked to me like Las Vegas was doing a good job of hosting the annual influx of lovebirds. The license bureau was well-staffed and efficient, and the wedding chapel hucksters were clearly following a code of decent behavior. The weather was balmy, and it was a perfect day for photographs. Whether they’re headed for ceremonies conducted by Elvis or nuptials presided over by ministers, priests, rabbis, or judges, all those brides and grooms picked a splendid day to tie the knot. Best wishes, mazel tov, and thank you very much.

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