I remember having a few fears when I initially moved to Las Vegas to pursue photography. “What if I’m not hardcore enough for Vegas? What if all Vegas weddings are cheesy?” And, at the top of my photographer fear list, “What if I have to shoot a wedding involving Elvis?”
If you’ve never been to Vegas, of seen a Vegas wedding isn’t that what you picture in your mind? A cheesy Elvis wedding?
Well, I’m hear to clear up that misconception for you. Do Elvis weddings actually exist in Vegas? Totally. I know so many Elvis impersonators that I could start a collection. But are all Elvis weddings cheesy? Maybe, but what I quickly learned was that cheesy doesn’t always equate to being bad. Actually, every Elvis wedding I’ve ever photographed (and there have been many, oh so many) have been so much fun. And the fact that each ceremony is so fun, and the couple is having a blast, and the guests are laughing, and cheering, and crying made me understand something. People choose Elvis in Vegas because they want their wedding day to be fun, memorable, and different.
I sometimes forget that all the pomp and circumstance that comes with having a traditional wedding day can be overwhelming and stressful, and its not for everybody.
That brings me to Kira and Dan. They came down to Vegas for that very reason. They wanted a wedding day that was fun, memorable, and unique. I have to say, I had SUCH A GOOD TIME shooting this wedding.
Wee Kirk o’the Heather
The day began at the iconic Wee Kirk o’the Heather. If you haven’t heard of it, its the oldest continually operating chapel in Vegas. Its been around since 1940, and in the same location for just as long.
Wee Kirk o’the Heather has the quaint charm you’d expect from a quintessential wedding chapel in Vegas. Located literally blocks from the Marriage License Bureau and Fremont Street, we were within walking distance of some pretty awesome photo locations.
Kira and Dan chose this chapel because the name held special meaning to them, and thats a story for another day.
The Couple
Kira and Dan met at a bar almost 10 years ago. To say that Dan’s pickup method to get Kira’s attention was strong is an understatement, because he literally walked up behind her in a bar and picked her up off of the dance floor. Thats one way to get a girl’s attention! After a memorable night involving lots of spilled rice and alcohol, the two were inseparable. They’ve been on an incredible journey together ever since. Here’s how Kira puts it, “…almost ten years later, we have bought a couple houses, got two pups, moved across the country, started new jobs, I got a degree, went through some hard times, and we are here, finally getting hitched.”
The Ceremony
As fun as you’d expect it to be, Kira and Dan’s ceremony consisted of Elvis not only singing and dancing, but also some really touching moments during the vows…..and maybe a bit of hip thrusting and “uh huh’s” thrown in for good measure.
Our Journey Around Fremont
After the ceremony both Kira and Dan joined me for a trip around Fremont Street. Our first stop was at a convenience store to pick up some gigantic Coronas, purely for hydration of course.
As we walked the streets we’d often run into the colorful characters of Fremont who wanted to constantly congratulate and hang out with Kira and Dan.
We had such a good time walking around and taking photos with some of the awesome street art that downtown Las Vegas has to offer. When we were at the end of our session we headed through the Fremont Street Experience down to the historic Plaza Hotel to finish up with some photos under the sparkling lights in front of the Plaza.
I didn’t want our session to end! Walking around Fremont and downtown with Kira and Dan made it feel like I was walking around with old friends. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat, these two were incredible souls. You could feel the love between the both of them when they look at each other and Kira sums up their relationship perfectly, “We are each other’s cheer leaders and always want the best for each other. We look at this journey as a partnership and can’t imagine doing it without each other”.
Here are more photos from our session together to enjoy:
Photography: The Amberlight Collective | Venue: Wee Kirk o’the Heather | Elvis: Eddie Powers | Dress: ASOS | Shoes: Top Shop | Hair & Makeup: La Bella Mafia
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