Weddings: Romantic Wedding Locations

The Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas

Every girl dreams of falling in love in Paris, so why not get married there? The Paris Chapel at Paris Las Vegas makes that a possibility, giving you the chance to exchange vows in an exquisite Parisian setting. Packages even include a ceremony atop the Eiffel Tower, overlooking the Las Vegas Strip amid the romantic air of Paris Las Vegas. It's sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience not soon forgotten.

Red Rock

Just 20 miles from Las Vegas lies a brilliant red splash of sandstone that proves Mother Nature can put on a show worthy of any Las Vegas act. The strata of exposed rocks reveals more than 500 million years of geological history. The canyon is a bed of an ancient deep sea, where over time sediments washed in and the water evaporated. The boulders and pinnacles range in color from deep red to white. The red color is the result of weathered iron composites. Red Rock's natural beauty provides the perfect backdrop to make any wedding more breathtaking. Red Rock is visible from a number of areas around Las Vegas, including golf courses and country clubs in the Summerlin area. You also can check with the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (702) 363-1921 for renting picnic areas.

Mount Charleston

If pine trees and crisp mountain air are more your fantasized scenic wonder, check out Mount Charleston. It is Nevada's fifth highest mountain at 11,918 feet and offers skiing in winter and weekend scenic tours during the summer. Mount Charleston is located 36 miles north of Las Vegas on Highway 95 in the Toiyabe National Forest. Two large picnic areas are available for reservation if you'd like an outdoor wedding. Contact the U.S. Forest Service at (702) 872-5500 for more information. Or, if you'd like a more formal wedding with the romance of a mountain backdrop, try the Mount Charleston Hotel & Restaurant at (800) 794-3456.

Lake Mead

How's this for romance -- you and your significant other exchange your vows on a boat as it glides through the water while granite cliffs tower above. Or perhaps you would prefer a ceremony along the beach. Las Vegas may be in the desert, but it's only 45 minutes from Lake Mead. Lake Mead is the largest man-made lake in the Western Hemisphere. It was created by the Hoover Dam along the Colorado River and occupies about 1.5 million acres with 820 miles of shoreline. Lake Mead offers year-round recreation, everything from boating to swimming to hiking to wildlife viewing. Lake Mead facilities include eight campgrounds, five motels, six RV campgrounds with hookups, four marinas, boat and jet ski rentals, beaches and restaurants.

Spring Mountain Ranch

Nestled at the base of the Spring Mountain Range, Spring Mountain Ranch has hosted everything from raiding mountain men and Ute Indians to the famed Krupp diamond. It's a unique combination of Hollywood glamour and Western charm. In its early history the ranch was home to cattlemen. In 1929 the ranch became the property of Willard George, a prominent Hollywood furrier who raised chinchillas in addition to cattle. In 1944, the ranch was leased to Chet Lauck, famed for his character as Lum on the "Lum and Abner" radio show. In 1955 Lauck sold the ranch to Vera Krupp, wife of German munitions industrialist Alfred Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach. The ranch was renamed Spring Mountain Ranch and was Vera Krupp's residence until 1967. Her bedroom and secret passageway are just as they were when she owned the ranch. Spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and the historic ranch house make it an ideal spot to marry.

Readers' Suggestions

Rebecca Childers from Bixby, Okla.: My husband and I were married at the Little Church of the West. It was a beautiful chapel that resembles an old church, yet it is right there on the Strip. Not only was the ceremony perfect for us, the people at the chapel were wonderful. It was truly a day that I will remember forever and never regret because I did not have a big wedding in my hometown.

Darlene Ackerman from Kamuela, Hawaii: My husband and I got married at the Chapel of Love in the Rose Room on Dec. 28, 1984. It took me three tries but this marriage is as close to perfect as I think possible. I would recommend it to anyone.

Lisa Owsley from Texas: I live now in Texas and just celebrated 13 years of marriage. My husband and I were married at the Little Chapel of the West. This chapel I had seen on many trips to Vegas as a young lady and vowed to myself if I ever married in Vegas that I would get married in this chapel. I always thought it was the most beautiful of all on the Strip and most resembled a old-fashioned church. It was everything I ever dreamed it would be. I recommend this facility on a regular basis.

Gaye from Tulsa, Okla.: I think the perfect place would be to have a small wedding on a houseboat on Lake Mead during sunset.

Barbara Linn from Bloomsburg, Penn.: My fiancé and I are planning a wedding at Little Chapel by the Speedway on 12-31-99. We have never seen it but we are both avid NASCAR fans. What a perfect way to say I do.

Twala Hernandez from West Monroe, La.: We got married at the Little Chapel of the West. It was very romantic. My husband and I thought the ceremony was very touching and thoughtful. Everyone there was so considerate. We went to Vegas alone and everyone made it feel so special for us. Thank you Little Chapel of the West.

Roy and Sandie Toms from St. Charles, Ill.: Our wedding was at Little Chapel Around the Corner on the Strip. Three kids, six grandkids later and 30 wonderful years and we are still going strong! My father and stepmother were married there one year before us. They are married 31 years, and she is 93 now and he is 79! The commitment of the marriage, not the BIG wedding, is what is important.

P. Orziny: We were recently married at the Flamingo Hilton in Vegas. The location of the garden area is totally private and quite lovely, with waterfalls and numerous birds. The staff at the Flamingo do a great job of making your wedding very special. We were happy that we chose the Flamingo with the tropical garden. You would never know you were a few steps from the Strip.