Elvis has quite literally left the building as Las Vegas chapels are no longer allowed to officiate weddings involving The King’s persona.
Listen to your favorite music now on Audacy and check out Elvis Presley Radio
According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, the licensing company that controls Elvis’ name and image, Authentic Brands Group (ABG), sent cease and desist orders to Vegas chapels ordering them to cut the use of Elvis branding in their chapels. All are expected to be compliant by now.
“This couldn’t hit at a worse time. It’s not a good thing,” said Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya, who leads the Las Vegas wedding marketing campaign. “It might destroy a portion of our wedding industry. A number of people might lose their livelihood.”
According to the article, Elvis-themed ceremonies contribute a large amount to the city’s wedding industry, which produces $2 billion per year.
Viva Las Vegas/Vegas Weddings, the Elvis Chapel, Elvis Weddings and Las Vegas Elvis Chapel are just a few of the many businesses affected by the new orders. Aside from coming after an already-difficult couple of years for the wedding industry with COVID, many are upset that Vegas is losing one of its most-popular attractions.
“Elvis weddings are synonymous with Las Vegas,” said president of Vegas Weddings and Viva Las Vegas Weddings, Melody Willis-Williams. “We keep Elvis alive.”
Added Kent Ripley of Elvis Weddings, “We get bookings that have been planned for three, four, five years to have an Elvis wedding. They want to protect the Elvis brand. But what are they protecting by taking Elvis away from the public?”
Clearly, this new order has people “All Shook Up.” What are your thoughts?
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram