The Magic of Marriage Takes Over Las Vegas

From mass vow renewals to live music and magic, Las Vegas loves to celebrate love in a monumental way. One annual event returned in spectacular fashion last weekend, drawing a national guest list of couples in love.

The Wedding Capital of the World hosted The Magic of Marriage on Sept. 28 as part of the 71st anniversary of the Wedding Capital of the World. Pompey Entertainment produced the event at the legendary Composers Room in the historic Commercial Center District on Sahara.

Exciting Evening Events

Couples traveled from across the city and country to participate in the event. Several were local to Vegas Valley, but others crossed state lines to attend the Magic of Marriage.

Kurt and Steven flew in from St. Louis to celebrate a particularly auspicious day for them. Their love story goes back to 2009, where they got married at the Neon Wedding Chapel on Fremont Street. Their wedding anniversary, along with their joint birthdays, all fall on September 28. The vow renewal, along with the event, made perfect sense for the occasion.

“This event happened to fall on our three-year anniversary, so here we are today,” Kurt says. He notes that he received an email from the Clark County office regarding the event. “We hadn’t been to Vegas since we got married … so why not go back to Vegas, on our birthday, on our anniversary, to get [our vows] renewed?”

On the bar room stage, a wedding gown designed by Sondra Falk welcomed couples in a beautiful showcase of sparkles and skirts. Moving towards the back of the venue also revealed a fun surprise. An interactive room showcasing a progressive timeline of celebrity Vegas marriages lined the walls, along with a display of Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s wedding cake. A kiosk with the Weddings.Vegas interface allowed couples to submit their respective stories, and look through the useful information on the site.

In Love with All the Fun

As the emcees, The Conjurors team Matthew Pomeroy and Natasha Lamb were an energetic presence, announcing the events and stunning audiences with magic tricks throughout the evening.

The evening started with a cocktail hour. Drinks were flowing, like the Forever Vegas with gin, Luxardo, raspberry monin and tonic and the Magic of Mimosa mocktail with orange juice, limeade and Sprite.

At sunset, couples went outside to witness a Las Vegas Strip view backdrop. Clark County clerk Lynn Marie Goya read a poem titled “touching you i say” by e.e. cummings. A vow renewal followed right after, where doves flew and couples kissed against the sunset backdrop.

Dinner followed with flowing champagne, where designers Natalie Diep and Marilyn were honored as the first-ever Wedding Dress of the Year winners. Matthew and Natasha also took crowds through a card trick to continue the magic motif.

During the meal, those dozens of couples enjoyed live performances and mind-bending tricks by other famous local magic acts. Features included Farrell Dillon, who holds a regular showtime at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, and longtime performer and magic consultant Douglas Lefrovich. Music performances by Chadwick Johnson, Zowie Bowie, Amanda Myers and many others kept the dinner show rolling.

Giant slices of cake followed dinner. Almost instantly, couples stood up and gathered around the DJ booth to dance throughout the night.

Prizes Beyond Spouses

Throughout the night, a silent auction benefitting A Greater Hope charity in need stayed on display in the foyer. Prizes included various local giveaways like show tickets, immersive experience passes, luxury beauty memberships, athletic classes and gift baskets, among many others. Attendees Michael Harr and his wife Edna won a slot machine, a prize that the couple notes that they didn’t expect to win.

“I thought I used up all my luck when I met her!” he says. 

The couple got married in Las Vegas seven months ago at the Stained Glass Wedding Chapel. They met on Bumble last year. 

“This is the woman I love and want to be with for the rest of my life,” Michael says. “Marriage is like a warm blanket that you surround each other in. We have one another, and we’re wrapped in this warm thing called marriage.”

“He’s my world,” Edna says. “Whenever I’m with him, I feel protected.” 

Memories from the Magic of Marriage

Each couple’s story is unique, and a variety of marriages took center stage at Magic of Marriage .

Barbara and Randy Carlisle got married at the Westgate two years ago during a “gangster-themed wedding.” After decades of friendship, where they met on a chat room, the couple found their way to each other after going through separate divorces.

When asked what makes marriage magical, Barbara says that “a good sense of humor and honesty” are the main drivers for a great marriage. 

“[Getting married] wasn’t just the answer for me, it was the answer for both of us,” she says.

For more information on marriage magic by the Las Vegas wedding club, explore Weddings.Vegas for upcoming events and information on marriages in Las Vegas.