There’s good news for anyone thinking of tying the knot in Las Vegas this Valentine’s Day.
A pop up license bureau is being set up at McCarran International Airport to help speed up the process, just in time for Feb. 14, considered by many to be the most romantic day of the year.
According to the Clark County Marriage License Bureau, more than 80,000 wedding licenses are issued annually and about 80 per cent of those are to tourists. Around 1,500 of those licenses are issued for Valentine’s Day — about double the normal rate for a single day.
The pop-up bureau will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Feb. 9 through 17, in the baggage area of Terminal 1 and couples must pay the $77 license fee by credit card. It’s recommended couples fill out the online application form prior to purchasing their license to save time.
After completing the application online, the couple will be issued a reference number they should take with them to the Marriage License Bureau or the temporary office at the airport. Couples will then provide their license to a legal officiant — depending on his qualifications, Elvis may or may not fit the bill.
The time around Valentine’s Day this year is expected to be particularly busy due to the Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 16. The day is considered a particularly lucky one to get married. And for Americans, the fact the date marks the start of the President’s Day long weekend means even longer line ups at the license bureau.
"The days around Valentine's Day and the Presidents' Day weekend are always some of our busiest," County clerk Lynn Goya said in a press release. "This pop-up marriage license office will make it easier for couples flying here to pick up a marriage license."
In 2016, more than one out of every 25 marriages in the U.S. took place in Clark County. Couples can find a directory of wedding services and vendors at WeddingChamber.Vegas.
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