Las Vegas' Elvis Presley-Themed Wedding Chapels Face Uncertain Future

LAS VEGAS, NV — Elvis Presley-themed shotgun weddings are as much as part of Las Vegas' identity as its casino resorts. But according to a new report, the King of Rock and Roll might be leaving the wedding chapels for good.

Authentic Brands Group, the company that bought the rights to Elvis Presley's likeness in 2013, issued cease-and-desist orders to multiple Vegas wedding chapels that specialize in Elvis-themed ceremonies, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. The company said it wants to stop the unauthorized use of Presley’s name, likeness and his iconic voice in ads and merchandise.

That includes overseeing ceremonies of everlasting love (or at least the kind of love that lasts through the weekend).

A spokeswoman for Authentic Brands told Patch in an emailed statement that its the guardian of Presley's estate, and it's their responsibility to "safeguard his legacy," including by ensuring all products, services and ads using his name, image or likeness are officially licensed by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

The company added that it has strong relationships with official Elvis tribute artists, fan clubs and festivals, as well as a large global network of licensed merchandise partners.

"There is no intention to shut down chapels that offer Elvis packages in Las Vegas," the company said. "We are seeking to partner with each of these small businesses to ensure that their use of Elvis’ name, image and likeness are officially licensed and authorized by the estate, so they can continue their operations.

"Elvis is embedded into the fabric of Las Vegas history, and we are committed to protecting and expanding his legacy for generations to come."

Reaction to the letters has been swift.

Tim Ritchey, an Elvis officiant in Las Vegas, asked in a Facebook post Wednesday, "Will this be the END of Elvis Weddings in Las Vegas?"

"The 1st Elvis wedding in Vegas took place in 1977..... 45 years later, and someone wants to end what could crush the Vegas Wedding Industry down 35%-40% percent," Ritchey wrote.

In a comment on his post, Ritchey said Elvis would be "p----- if he were alive today!"

Jesse Garon, a native of Mesquite, Texas, whose made a career as an Elvis impressionist, told the Review-Journal he would be devastated if forced to stop.

Garon told Patch in a phone interview Wednesday he hasn't received a cease and desist order yet, but that it would be like a "kick in the teeth." He and other Elvis-themed chapels are looking at hiring lawyers and pursuing litigation, though he said he hopes the letters are just a publicity stunt coinciding with the release of the movie "Elvis," set to release in theaters later this month.

"In 35 years, we’ve never had this stuff happen, nothing like this," the fast-talking impressionist said.

But if he does get a letter, Garon has an idea how he'd respond.

" I would probably get some [other] Elvises and picket when the movie gets out here in the next couple weeks," he said.

Carolyn Goodman, the mayor of Las Vegas, told Patch in an emailed statement Wednesday afternoon that the city's wedding industry has struggled through the pandemic, and the economic devastation it has caused.

"These obviously are not people or a company that give a hoot about this community or its people," she said.

Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who led a marketing campaign promoting the city as a destination for weddings, said the order couldn’t have come at a worse time for the industry.

Garon, the Elvis impressionist, said the King himself wouldn't approve of the letters.

"It’s not how he was. He was very giving. I don’t think he’d stop people trying to impersonate him because it’s the sincerest form of flattery," he said.

Garon added that the public seems to be on the side of the impersonators.

"We got people coming up to us telling us, 'It’s terrible what they’re trying to do,'" he said.

But even as the letters go out and news makes the rounds on social media, the shows still go on — for now.

At Graceland Wedding Chapel, multiple brides were escorted down the aisle this week by an Elvis impressionist singing "Can't Help Falling in Love."