‘INTO your new beginning’ is a slogan that Charolette Richards, Queen of the Las Vegas wedding scene, uses a lot, so much so that it adorns the front page of her website for one of the city’s most famous establishments, The Little White Wedding Chapel.

And I’m about to enter a new beginning, quite literally. For Charolette has offered to not only show me around the place where she’s been tying people’s knots for more than 50 years, but she’s also going to let me take part in a ceremony.

To do so, I’ve had to get an online ordination – yes, yes, you can call me Rev – but even if I stay in Vegas to take up this new career, I wouldn’t be able to simply set up my own wedding shop. You have to live in the city for at least a couple of months and have your own congregation to be able to do that. Who would have thought the regulations on who can preside over a wedding in Vegas would be stricter than those in New York?

Queen of the Vegas wedding scene: Charolette Richards

Somewhat dodgy certificate in hand, I’d arrived at the chapel earlier this morning thinking I would be in and out like a shot – this is the place that invented the drive-thru wedding after all.

But Charolette takes her role as Queen of the scene (she’s the woman who married Michael Jordan, Joan Collin and Britney Spears, though not at the same time) very, very seriously.

‘People may think it’s a quick and jokey business but it isn’t,’ she opines as she shows me round the chapel. ‘I’m here to help people who want to spend the rest of their lives together. There’s nothing jokey about that.’

To back up her view, she shows me that behind the ‘Little’ of the White Chapel is actually a huge complex and warehouse that helps couples get ready for the big few minutes. There’s everything from wedding gown and tux hire (yes, you can get gold lamé if you insist) to a flower store, hair salon, limo hire and, of course, the King to Charolette’s Queen, the resident Elvis impersonator.

Charolette, who can perform ceremonies in half a dozen languages, gives me a few last minute tips. ‘You have to remember that it’s about the couple, not you,’ she says. ‘Whatever happens, God will give you wisdom.’

And with that, we head to the altar and await a British couple who are about to renew their vows.

Charolette and I take a few lines of the service each and I’m just congratulating myself when Elvis turns to me, raises a lip and murmurs: ‘Sing it with me, Jim.’ So I join in with his smooth rendition of Love Me Tender, conscious of the fact I am ruining the happy couple’s commemorative video moment.

Perhaps some new beginnings are best left to the pros after all.

Call 001 702 382 5943 or visit www.littlewhitechapel.com.

For more on Las Vegas see www.visitlasvegas.co.uk

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