How Much Does It Really Cost to Get Married in Las Vegas?

How much does it cost to get married in Las Vegas? A simple, legal wedding can cost less than $200 in total: about $102 for the marriage license, $75 for a private ceremony with an officiant and witness, and $20 for a certified copy of your marriage certificate. Chapel packages, rush paperwork and an apostille for use abroad add to that total.

This guide adds up every cost, so you can see the real total before you book anything.

Las Vegas wedding cost breakdown

Every legal Las Vegas wedding has three required parts and a few optional ones.

The license fee is set by the county. For the details, including payment methods, see our Las Vegas marriage license cost guide.

Three real totals

These totals use the county license fee of about $102 and the $20 certified copy fee. Check both on the Clark County website before you travel, because county fees can change.

What is the cheapest way to get married in Las Vegas?

The cheapest legal route is a marriage license plus a simple civil ceremony. You need three things: a valid Nevada marriage license, an authorized officiant, and at least one witness.

That is exactly what a basic ceremony covers. At Just Vows the ceremony is $75 with the officiant and a witness included, so a couple who arrives alone does not need to bring anyone.

What makes a Las Vegas wedding expensive is everything around those three things: chapel packages, themed ceremonies, photography, flowers and limousines. None of it is needed for the marriage to be legal.

Chapel vs courthouse wedding cost

You have three ways to have the ceremony itself.

• A wedding chapel. Packages are priced by the chapel and often include music, photos, flowers or a theme. Add-ons can raise the total quickly, so ask for the full price in writing.
• The county civil ceremony. Clark County performs civil ceremonies at its Office of Civil Marriages, by appointment. The county sets the fee.
• A private ceremony studio. Just Vows performs a simple, non-denominational ceremony for $75 with a witness, in a private studio rather than a chapel or a public office.

Compare the three side by side on our courthouse wedding alternative page.

Hidden costs of a Las Vegas wedding

These are the costs couples most often forget.

• Certified copies. The souvenir certificate is not proof of marriage. Banks, employers and passport offices want a certified copy, at $20 each from the county.
• Time. Your officiant has up to 10 days to return the signed certificate to the county. If you need proof quickly, rush ($75) or same-day ($135) filing is cheaper than changing flights.
• Getting documents home. If you leave Las Vegas before the certificate is ready, you pay to have it shipped.
• Apostille. If you will use the certificate in another country, you may need an apostille ($185 to $285 plus shipping).
• Card fees and travel. Allow for card surcharges, parking and rides between the license bureau and your ceremony.

The $75 price covers the ceremony itself, with a licensed officiant and a witness included. If you would like extras such as professional photos or flowers, ask about them when you book.

Cost of a certified marriage certificate

A certified copy costs $20 per copy from Clark County. Most couples order at least two: one for a name change and one to keep. Couples moving abroad often order more, because some offices keep the copy they are given.

To learn how long it takes to get one, read how long it takes to get your Las Vegas marriage certificate.

How to keep your wedding cost low

1. Apply for your license online at weddings.vegas before you go to the bureau, to save time in line
2. Choose a ceremony that includes the witness, so you do not pay anyone extra
3. Pay for rush or same-day filing only if you have a real deadline
4. Order every certified copy you need at once, instead of ordering again later
5. Check whether your country needs an apostille before you pay for one

What a $75 ceremony includes, and what it does not

A low price only helps if you know what is in it. At Just Vows the $75 ceremony covers:

• A licensed, non-denominational officiant
• A witness, so you can come as a couple
• A private studio, not a chapel or a public office
• About 15 minutes for the ceremony itself
• Returning your signed certificate to Clark County within the standard window

It does not include the county license fee, certified copies, rush or same-day filing, apostilles or shipping. Those are separate because not every couple needs them. A couple who lives in Nevada and is in no hurry may pay only for the license, the ceremony and one certified copy.

When you compare prices with chapels, ask the same question every time: “What is the total, including the witness, the filing and any fees?” Some packages look cheaper until the extras are added.

Is it cheaper to get married in Las Vegas than at home?

For a small legal wedding, often yes. Many couples spend more on one dinner out than on a simple Las Vegas ceremony. National surveys put the average US wedding with a reception at many thousands of dollars, while a legal Las Vegas wedding can stay under $200 plus travel.

The real cost of a Las Vegas wedding is usually the trip, not the wedding:

If you live within driving distance, a weekday trip keeps both the hotel and the wedding costs low.

How timing changes the price

The ceremony price stays the same, but the cost around it moves with the calendar:

• Weekdays usually mean cheaper hotels and shorter lines at the license bureau.
• Weekends and holidays raise hotel prices and can mean longer waits.
• Special dates such as Valentine’s Day or repeating-number dates are the busiest of all. Book early and expect higher travel costs.
• Ceremony time matters for paperwork: same-day filing is only possible for a weekday ceremony by 2:30 PM, so an evening wedding may need rush filing the next business day instead.

Planning around these points can save more than any discount on the ceremony itself.

Frequently Asked Questions