Going ‘full bogan’ in Las Vegas: The footy fans getting hitched by Elvis
The stretch limousine pulls up outside Las Vegas’ Graceland Chapel, and Jo Beeby steps out in all her bridal finery; a Sharks jersey long enough to be a dress, a diamante headband, and nails painted white, black and blue. “Groom” Phil also wears his Cronulla jersey, with a champagne rose pinned to his chest.
Another limo arrives soon after, carrying Scott and a wedding veil-clad Lisa Sligar, both in their pink Panthers jumpers with red roses. Two more antipodean couples follow, in what will be the first of 12 Australian weddings, vow renewals and commitment ceremonies at a single Elvis chapel on a Wednesday afternoon.
Lisa and Scott Sligar renew their vows in Las Vegas
As Australian footy fans descend on the wedding capital of the world, limousine companies’ booking lines have been running hot with +61 and +64 country codes. Beeby’s driver was “picking up all Australians today, all getting remarried,” she says. The Beebys watched the Sligars arrive with surprise; it turns out they know each other from home.
The Sligars watch from a pew as Elvis – clad in black and multicoloured rhinestone, with his suit unzipped to his chest – escorts Jo Beeby down the aisle, singing Can’t Help Falling in Love. Elvis makes the couple promise to “always love you tender, and never leave you at Heartbreak Hotel … [or] have a Suspicious Mind.”
There are 50 wedding chapels in Sin City, many of them lining line Las Vegas Boulevard – also known as Chapel Row. They range from Graceland, which claims to be the city’s first Elvis-themed wedding venue (it married Jon Bon Jovi, Selma Hayek and Johnny Depp), to The Little White Chapel, which married Joan Collins, Mickey Rooney (twice), and Judy Garland.
Jo and Phil Beeby renew their vows in Las Vegas
The White Wedding Chapel, in its elaborate white and gold wrought iron finery, offers a drive-thru service known as the Tunnel of Love, while the nearby Viva Las Vegas chapel offers a range of themes, from retro diner to Beetlejuice. Prices range from $150 to $1500 for a package that includes a limo, a bouquet, photography and a rose boutonniere.
Elvis from Graceland Chapel, aka Brendan Paul – a fine arts graduate and former punk rocker – says he’s the original Elvis celebrant, and has done it for decades. On Valentine’s Day, he did 37 ceremonies; one year, he presided over 4700. Usually, he marries or renews the vows of about five to seven Australians a week, but the arrival of the NRL sends couples flocking to his door.
Over the days leading up to the National Rugby League kickoff, he estimates up to 40 per cent of couples are from Australia or New Zealand. Last year, he had a Rabbitoh’s mascot in the chapel (he still doesn’t quite understand what rugby league is).
