![]() ![]() ![]() "I did the whole day Sunday, 22 ceremonies. Harry Shahoian, one of dozens of Elvis impersonators in the city, who officiates at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, told the Review-Journal that people just "love to be married by Elvis." Weddings are a $2.5 billion industry in Las Vegas, according to the Wedding Chamber of Commerce.īut while Elvis musical tribute acts are freely allowed under Nevada law, businesses using Presley's likeness simply to attract publicity and customers are not protected. Packages today run as high as $1,600 for the Elvis Pink Caddy Luxury Model Wedding Package, which offers couples the chance to be driven up the aisle of the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel by Elvis in a 1964 pink Cadillac convertible. The move comes weeks before the release of Baz Luhrmann's new big-screen biopic "Elvis" - a large-scale Warner Bros production expected to boost interest in the singer.Įlvis-themed weddings have been a lucrative business in Las Vegas since the 1970s. Frankly, I think this thing going to the public has changed their minds." ![]() "This was not on the table a few days ago. "That is their solution, to pay $20,000 a year to do what we've been doing for the past nine years," said Kayla Collins, co-owner of the Las Vegas Elvis Wedding Chapel. It added: "From tribute artists and impersonators to chapels and fan clubs, each and every one of these groups help to keep Elvis relevant for new generations of fans."īut a day earlier, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that ABG was now offering chapels financial "partnerships," including annual licensing deals to continue business as usual. "We are working with the chapels to ensure that the usage of Elvis' name, image and likeness are in keeping with his legacy." That was never our intention," the company said in a statement to AFP. "We are sorry that recent communication with a small number of Las Vegas based chapels caused confusion and concern. 14, 2019 photo, Elvis impersonator Brendan Paul walks down the aisle during a wedding ceremony for Katie Salvatore, center, and Eric Wheeler at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.ĪBG on Thursday apologized for its initial approach, saying it was committed to protecting Presley's legacy. "The Vegas Wedding Chamber shares a concern that many of our chapels and impersonators livelihoods are being targeted, especially as many are still trying to recover financially from the hurdles we all endured with covid shutdowns."įILE - In this Feb. "Elvis Presley long called Las Vegas his home and his name has become synonymous with Las Vegas weddings," Jason Whaley, president of the Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce, told AFP. The move triggered angry responses from Elvis impersonators, chapel owners, and even the mayor of Las Vegas, who called for a little more open conversation - and less legal action - from the group. "It was always our hope that with proper attention and finesse, the Las Vegas wedding chapels affected by the May 20th, 2022, ABG Cease and Desist could negotiate an agreement favorable to all parties involved," Vegas Weddings stated.Every year thousands of visitors to Las Vegas can't help falling in love - at least long enough to get married by an Elvis impersonator.īut the company that controls the rights to the King's likeness has sparked outrage in Sin City by cracking down wedding chapels offering Elvis-themed nuptials.Īuthentic Brands Group, which bought a controlling stake in Elvis Presley's estate in 2013, last month sent cease-and-desist letters to companies offering the kitschy weddings. In response, Vegas Weddings states they were contacted by ABG's legal team to discuss amending the cease-and-desist letters. WATCH: Las Vegas chapels ordered to stop holding Elvis weddings Local leaders and industry professionals expressed concerns that putting a stop to Elvis weddings would devastate the county's marriage tourism industry. Reports that chapels offering Elvis weddings had been ordered to cease and desist last month sparked outrage among the Las Vegas community. The companies are in the midst of negotiations with Authentic Brands Group in an effort to strike a deal that "will keep the King a legendary fixture for all Las Vegas wedding chapels," representatives of Vegas Weddings said. That's according to an update from Vegas Weddings and Viva Las Vegas Weddings on Wednesday, which declared that "Elvis has not left the building!" LAS VEGAS (KTNV) - The company that controls the name and image of rock and roll icon Elvis Presley has apologized after sending cease-and-desist letters to multiple Las Vegas chapels that offer Elvis-themed weddings. ![]()
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