Rachel & Tom’s Hellvis Wedding at A Sure Thing Wedding Chapel

Rachel and Tom came to Las Vegas with a pretty clear idea of what they wanted from their wedding at A Sure Thing Wedding Chapel: something fun, a little ridiculous, and still meaningful enough to give them the traditional wedding photographs their families would love. With Hellvis officiating, they picked a ceremony that leaned completely into the playful side of getting married in Vegas.

Their ceremony took place inside A Sure Thing Wedding Chapel surrounded by its pink and red decor and giant illuminated hearts. Hellvis stood between them in full red sequins as Rachel and Tom exchanged vows. Rachel’s heart-covered veil and stockings, bright red shoes, and Tom’s heart-covered suit fit the chapel almost suspiciously well.

Of course, a ceremony with Hellvis was never going to stay serious for very long. When it came time for Rachel and Tom to kiss, Hellvis made sure there was absolutely no chance of being overlooked. That combination of genuine wedding moments and completely ridiculous reactions is a big part of what makes photographing a ceremony like this so much fun.

After the ceremony, we had some time to take advantage of the chapel itself. Rachel had specifically told me beforehand that she wanted plenty of fun, ridiculous photographs with her friends while still making sure we captured some sweeter and more traditional portraits for their parents. A Sure Thing Wedding Chapel gives us plenty of opportunities to do both.

We started with the giant heart backdrop for a newlywed portrait with Hellvis. Between Rachel’s heart-shaped glasses, Tom’s suit, and Hellvis taking center stage, there wasn’t much reason to tone this one down.

Then we moved into one of my favorite photo spots at A Sure Thing: the bathroom. Yes, the bathroom.

The retro bathtub, floral wallpaper, vintage telephone, and Elvis portrait make it far too good to ignore. Rachel, Tom, and Hellvis clearly had no interest in giving me a normal bathroom portrait, which was exactly the right decision.

Back inside the chapel, we kept playing with everything the space gave us. A disco ball, red velvet curtains, pink furniture, and Hellvis looming over the newlyweds gave us another photograph that probably isn’t going into anyone’s traditional wedding album template anytime soon.

That is also what I enjoy about photographing weddings here. A Sure Thing has its own personality, so instead of trying to make it look like every other Las Vegas wedding chapel, we can embrace what makes the place different.

Eventually, Hellvis led Rachel and Tom out of the chapel and onto the streets of Downtown Las Vegas. In the middle of a bright June afternoon, dressed in red sequins and platform heels, there was really no subtle way for this group to travel.

And that was the point.

Rachel and Tom wanted their wedding photographs to reflect the fun they were having rather than turn the day into a serious photo shoot. Their ceremony with Hellvis gave us plenty to work with, but underneath all the theatrical chaos was still a wedding between two people surrounded by friends who came to Las Vegas to celebrate with them.

For couples who want their Las Vegas wedding photography to feel less traditional, A Sure Thing Wedding Chapel is one of those places where being a little weird is very much part of the experience. And if Hellvis happens to officiate, I recommend being prepared for just about anything.