Some elopements hit like a slow song on vinyl. Others? Like a glitter bomb to the face, in the best way. Lizzy and Louie’s Vegas elopement at Sure Thing Chapel was the latter. Spooky, stylish, and delightfully unhinged, it was the kind of celebration that didn’t just reject the rulebook, it lit it on fire and toasted champagne over the ashes! The whole day was a fever dream of red sequins, gothic sweetness, a custom hearse bar, and a very small dog in a very tiny tux. It happened a few weeks before Halloween, but trust, this one would’ve been just as iconic in the middle of May. Because when the love is this real and the vibe is this loud, the calendar doesn’t stand a chance.
Meet Hellvis: Your Unholy Officiant At Your Vegas Elopement At Sure Thing Chapel
If you know, you know and if you don’t, let me introduce you. Hellvis is a shirtless, cursing, jellybean-dispensing icon in sequins and face paint who officiates weddings at Sure Thing Chapel. Equal parts chaos and charisma, he walks couples down the aisle, cracks wildly inappropriate jokes, and turns what could be a quick vow exchange into a performance you’ll be talking about for decades. He offered Lizzy and Louie candy from his “un-holy bible,” posed for photos in the pink bathroom mid-powder break, and even encouraged the couple to break a bottle over his head (don’t worry, we kept it metaphorical this time). He’s not for everyone. But for couples who get it? He’s the perfect amount of too much!
The Wine Hearse: A Gothic Toast
After the ceremony, Lizzy and Louie stepped outside to find the trunk of a white vintage hearse cracked open velvet-lined, stocked with wine and champagne, and glowing with a neon sign that read “’Til Death.” The Wine Hearse is a chapel add-on that feels more like a secret afterparty for the undead, but in this case, it was a mini reception made for two (and a few well-dressed guests). They toasted, they mingled, they clinked glasses beneath the Vegas sun. A moment to breathe. A soft pause in all the strangeness. Still weird. Still wonderful!
Film Forever: A Mixed Format Dream
This couple went all in on the analog experience and I couldn’t have been more excited about it. They added medium format and instant film, which meant I got to shoot this love story on multiple formats, each one giving the day a slightly different texture. From the rich, creamy tones of 120 to the nostalgic grit of Instax, every frame feels like a page from the world’s coolest scrapbook. Nothing forced. Nothing rushed. Just their story, exactly as it unfolded.
Downtown Wanderings & After-Dark Romance
We ended the night wandering around East Fremont, near Fergusons and the old motels. Holding hands, neon lights buzzing overhead, pale pink skies giving way to night. It was equal parts cinematic and intimate, like a late-night scene in a cult film where no one says anything, but everything is understood. They didn’t need anything more than each other. The city buzzed. The streetlights hummed. Their dog tagged along. And just like that, the wildest wedding day ended!
Ready For Your Own Vegas Elopement At Sure Thing Chapel? Let’s Chat!
Analog Elopements | Las Vegas Film Elopement Photographer
This was one of those elopements that reminds me why I do what I do. A couple who leaned fully into who they are. A venue that doesn’t try to sanitize the weird. An experience that left room for both laughter and stillness. Lizzy and Louie gave me everything: goth glamour, chaotic charm, tenderness beneath all the edge! If you’re dreaming of a day that feels like you, and not like anything you’ve seen before Hellvis is ready! The Wine Hearse is parked. And I’ll be there with my cameras, ready to tell the story the way memory intended. Ready for me to capture it? Head to my contact page so we can chat about the ideas you have! If you want to learn more about me and what I do, click here. Can’t wait to hear from you!
