Elvis has left the building and brides are discovering a new side of Las Vegas that has nothing to do with greasy pompadours or rhinestone suits.

When Sophie O’Brien decided it was finally time to tie the knot with her childhood sweetheart, Bernie O’Brien (the couple had a common last name before marriage, by the way), she felt the call of Sin City – not for its bright lights or casino, but also its stunning natural beauty and amazing family activities.

O’Brien, 28, who works in adult education at Youghal in County Cork, Ireland, met her husband, a 30-year-old electrical engineer, after he moved across the street when he was only 8 years old. They legalized the affair in 2014.

“Five months later I got pregnant with twins,” O’Brien said. The couple now have two 7-year-olds and a 3-year-old child.

O’Brien initially booked a local Wedding, but when her grandmother passed away before her big day, the family decided it was time to do something a little different.

“I booked a room in Vegas three months in advance,” said O’Brien, who came to Las Vegas as a child. “I thought, ‘I can marry my partner with my children and immediate family and have a vacation.’ I liked its lightness.

O’Brien held her ceremony last Mother’s Day at a lookout in Red Rock Canyon, just 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, a stunning conservation area in the Mojave Desert.

“About five years ago, I saw a lot of people come to Vegas who wanted a small wedding in a scenic location and didn’t want crappy Elvis.”

Emily Renault of Elopement Las Vegas

“The landscape and the mountains were so special to us because we don’t have anything that big in Ireland. I thought it was perfect,” O’Brien said.

The couple’s wedding planner, Emily Renaud of Elopement Las Vegas, said couples understand that Vegas means more than kitsch chapels.

“About five years ago, I saw a lot of people come to Vegas who wanted a small wedding in a scenic location and didn’t want crappy Elvis,” said Reno, who, for the record, thinks “a nostalgic Elvis wedding in a chapel is great.” .

She added, “I think people are becoming more and more aware that there are so many really scenic spots outside the city. You can get married somewhere really cool and beautiful and then come back and have some fun on the Strip.”

Ready to redefine Vegas? These amazing, unusual places are unforgettable.

red calendar day

Red Rock Canyon which can be used for cycling. Getty Images

Viewed from the Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon – Hollywood’s favorite filming location for classic westerns – currently offers three wedding venues. The easiest is the view to State Route 159, which offers a panoramic view of the canyon. This is a landscaped area with asphalt parking for 25 cars and picnic tables. Move in, “I’m getting married” and leave. What could be better than Vegas?

Afraid to cross the desert in heels? Then check out the Red Spring Boardwalk Platform in Calico Basin. The large wooden boardwalk is surrounded by red sandstone peaks – check out the famous Keystone Rift in the distance – and can accommodate up to 50 people. up to 15 of your closest ones.

A permit is required for all locations in the park, but fees start at just $115 or $6 per person. Visit BLM.gov and RedRockCanyonLV.org for more information.

hot love

Wednesday against the backdrop of stunning natural wonders such as Elephant Rock in Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park. Getty Images/RooM RF

Valley of Fire State Park is 40,000 acres of sculpted red sandstone and limestone outcrops strewn with 2,000-year-old petrified trees. Looking for that Martian environment for your wedding photos? This is it.

Hiring a professional is essential because the Nevada Parks Department only issues wedding permits to licensed and insured planners. All this can accommodate up to 60 guests.

soak it up

Lake Las Vegas is an oasis where locals go to relax and is a great place for more formal desert weddings.

You have found a desert; now head to the oasis. Lake Las Vegas has everything from palm trees to upscale amenities. The 320-acre reservoir, located in Henderson, is surrounded by hotels and restaurants such as the Hilton Lake Las Vegas, Westin, and Reflection Bay Golf Club, where weddings take place. The cost is more than in the desert, from $4,000. “It’s great for people who want a little more of a conventional wedding but with access to Las Vegas,” Reno said.

Time to sleep

Take Hollywood advice – the ultra-flat open Eldorado Dry Lake Bed creates dramatic shadows and unrealistic images. Pro Tip: The colors stand out against the bleached, cracked ground.

“It’s very big,” Renault said. “The vibe and background is incredible.”

Just 45 minutes from the Strip near Boulder City, the park can accommodate up to 50 people. Permissions must be obtained through an insured planner.

Minus – no toilet. So think about limiting your time and hire a party bus with amenities.

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