The room was for 5 days but we only paid for 2 as part of an agreement to sit through a time-share presentation (we did not buy). Even then, most hotels on the strip are usually modestly priced. We paid $150 for the 2 nights. Food is cheap, about $150 for 5 days. Airfare, round-trip from Tampa to Las Vegas was about $800, Paying the minister was up to us so we gave him $100. We didn't gamble much but still came out about $75 ahead. We rented a car but you really don't need a car if you stay on the strip. Most hotels offer a free shuttle from the airport and to the airport. The strip is about a mile long with a monorail running through it. Not sure of the cost but it is probably $5 or less per day. There are also cabs and busses that will take you to Fremont Street which is a street that is covered and there are numerous casinos there also. The atmosphere is very festive there with street performers and music.
Regarding the gay people, not sure what the advantage is as I don't believe you get an extra exemption on your US income tax form. Seems to me it would be an unnecessary financial and legal hassle if the marriage ended in divorced. I'm not sure all states would recognize such a marriage either but I could be wrong about this. The family name thing is interesting but I am surmising that most couples would chose to retain their own last name but of course, they legally change their last name if they so choose.
We decided to elope to Las Vegas because we both have a sense of adventure and it seemed very romantic. There is no waiting period once you get the license at the county office which is located about 1 mile from the strip. The cost at the time in 2014 was $60. As we had both been previously married and both at the age of 59 there were no family issues to resolve and no need for a long drawn out process in planning the wedding.
You reach a certain point in life where you either know what you want or don't. Our engagement period lasted 2 months after having known each other about 4 months. Makes no sense at all to waste precious months or years in deciding whether or not you really want to spend the rest of your life with the one of your heart's desire. We both knew what we wanted and we went for it.
Hmm ok i dont know if we have equivalent places to elope in nz. Although Rotorua is sometimes called 'roto-vegas' but it doesnt have heaps of casinos.
Most people from overseas elope TO nz.
A lot of nzers decide to get married in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands which has wedding package deals. Nice setting but it would only be for those who could afford it and not want many guests.
Does it matter WHERE you marry though. I heard some people want to marry on cruise ships, but actually those marriages arent officially recognised cos they are on international waters.
The friend I know wants to marry in her anglican church, its just her fiance thats holding out. Shes spoken of him as her fiance for years. Maybe he will turn a corner, i dont know, apparently he is a pastors son. I heard minsiters sons and daughters can be a rebellious lot and not want anything to do with church. But he moved to nz from south africa to get away from family and start a new life, as so many migrants do.
I just know many people who moved to nz to marry and it didnt work out, so now they marooned on this land by them selves. Thats the thing with international marriages. People do it for the adventure but so many times it only works for the first couple of years and then the cultural differences get too much.