Few places in the world are as synonymous with weddings as Las Vegas, with the wedding industry remaining one of Southern Nevada’s most resilient and adaptive economic revenue sources. The wedding industry creates an estimated $3 billion in annual economic activity in Southern Nevada, according to the Office of the Clark County Clerk’s website (weddings.vegas). More than 70,000 weddings were performed in Clark County in 2025, bringing the total to 5.3 million wedding ceremonies since the county was founded in 1909. The 2026 State of the Wedding Tourism presented by the Office of the County Clerk was held at The Composers Room on Jan. 21 and moderated by County Clerk Lynn Marie Goya.
Goya was joined by Brian Mills, president of the Vegas Wedding Chamber, before introducing a panel discussion with Joy Matti, director of hospitality services for Caesars Entertainment; CEO Donne Kerestic, Chapel of the Flowers, and Kelly Messina, senior director of leisure sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
The panel stated that today’s couples are more intentional, digitally savvy and experience-driven — seeking personalization, efficiency and authenticity alongside the city’s trademark spontaneity. From courthouse ceremonies and chapels to luxury resort celebrations and destination elopements, Las Vegas continues to serve a broad spectrum of consumers, as expectations around service, technology and transparency continue to rise.
The economic impact of weddings spreads throughout the county, boosting income for all hospitality businesses. Revenue for those working in the wedding industry and related businesses includes resorts and creative services to support a diverse and thriving market. Other adjacent businesses include:
● Rental companies: tent, table, chair and lighting rentals particularly for outdoor or DIY venues.
● Creative decor and favors: custom calligraphy, ice sculptors and handmade wedding decor.
● Wedding apparel and accessories: bridal veils, custom hair accessories and personalized bridesmaid gifts.
● Beauty and grooming: specialized bridal makeup artists and hair stylists.
● Stationery: Custom wedding invitations, signage and thank-you note design.
● Planning and experience: honeymoon planners, destination wedding planners and specialized event stylists.
● Food.
● Entertainment and nightclubs.
● Shopping.
● Beverage and dining: specialized bartenders, catering services and wedding cake designers.
● Technology and media: Drone operators for filming, photo booth rentals and digital streaming services for virtual guests.
● Logistics and support: transportation services (limousines, horse-drawn carriages) and officiants.
● Niche services: custom vow writing services and “something borrowed” businesses.
Trends were discussed as the wedding industry pivots to maintain business and generate revenue.
“We performed fewer weddings at my venue, but we earned the same revenue due to marketing to higher-end and luxury markets,” Kerestic said. The chapel added 16,000 flowers and crystal chandeliers for the critical Instagrammable experiences demanded by millennial and Gen Z couples. Kerestic’s high-profile promotions boosted visibility and led to a 354 percent surge in interest in his venue through digital searches. For example, his venue offered free weddings to couples named Taylor and Travis in 2025. The panel agreed that the market is optimistic about demand driven by both younger, tech-savvy couples and older generations seeking easier, faster and more affordable wedding options.
According to Goya, in 2025, Nevadans getting married in Southern Nevada exceeded Californians by 33.4 percent. In 2007, Californians getting married in Southern Nevada exceeded Nevadans by 45.9 percent. In 2025, Clark County issued 70,598 marriage licenses, a 8.05 percent decrease year over year. Despite the decline, top-tier, well-established chapels shared that their venues have worked to maintain demand.
The Clark County Clerk’s Office plays a vital role in the wedding economy through its regulatory and operational functions. The office’s responsibilities include licensing marriage officiants, issuing marriage licenses, providing certified copies of marriage certificates, maintaining official records and ensuring compliance with marriage laws.
The County Clerk’s Office, along with the Vegas Wedding Chamber, is working with the wedding industry to help amid changing economic conditions.
“My ultimate goal is to have someone in every city in the world booking Las Vegas weddings. If we had even one wedding from every town in the world, we would be doing all right,” Goya said.
The Clark County Clerk’s customer-facing website, Weddings.Vegas, publishes articles and videos on Las Vegas wedding-related topics. Part of Goya’s strategy is to raise awareness through wedding-related events, compelling storytelling and traditional and social media platforms, in partnership with the LVCVA, The Vox Agency, Pompey Entertainment and Candid Communications. The Vox Agency, a local public relations firm, pitches industry leaders and offers high-visibility content to be shared to generate organic traffic and interest. Venues and adjacent businesses are encouraged to ask their couples if they are interested in collaborating and sharing their story about getting married in Southern Nevada.
“Every wedding starts with a love story,” added Goya, “and we want to hear about everyone.”
The Clerk’s Office continues to build public-private partnerships focused on innovation and consumer demand to shape the next chapter of Southern Nevada’s wedding industry.
The state of the wedding industry in Southern Nevada
