A lot of well-loved movie and sitcom plots would never have been possible if the quickie Las Vegas wedding tradition didn't exist. Movies like The Hangover would be that much duller if there is no way that people could wake up in the morning next to someone they don't ever recall having met, wearing nothing but a ring. And yet, the grand Chapel of Love tradition of Las Vegas may be on the wane.
Really! Are people no longer interested in pledging their eternal troth in a city that people think of for gambling, prostitution and general unfocused sin? For whatever reason, that's how things stand these days. Las Vegas itself has been unable to attract as many visitors as it once did; and those who do visit, don’t really consider the spur of the moment Las Vegas wedding some kind of Las Vegas essential to go for.
Some people believe though, that it isn't as if Americans have suddenly grown a little refinement and taste. It's all down to, as usual, the way the economy is. Weddings in general, all over the country, have been faltering. Just think about it - what is it that you need to get married? You need a groom or bride, of course. But apart from that, you need a stable job, a place to stay, and so on. And in this jobless economy, a time when law school graduates languish without well-paying jobs and business graduates intern for free, where does one find those things?
The quickie Las Vegas wedding industry is therefore trying to find other avenues in which to get business. They would love to have a piece of the gay wedding business, but they can't. Because Nevada doesn't recognize same-sex weddings. For this reason, they are aiming for the next biggest market available to them - marriage vow renewals. Even in their best years, about a third of Las Vegas wedding events are usually vow renewals.
These days, Las Vegas’ nearly 100 wedding chapels have to make do with the vow renewal business like never before. And they are really going after it. They know that the quickie Las Vegas wedding is world-famous. And to lots of international tourists who arrive in Las Vegas, going back with a wedding certificate from Las Vegas is a great souvenir. They certainly know how to go after this market, and they are.
The next time you go to Las Vegas, watch out for these advertisements everywhere - inviting you to renew your vows with a little bit of sin.
No comments:
Post a Comment