This is the new way to marry in Vegas! Gone is the day of the Las Vegas drive through wedding or the “Chapel O’ Love” sort of setup that’s become a cultural punchline. Eloping to Fabulous Las Vegas has become a much more picturesque proposition, thanks to Las Vegas Elopement Expert, McKenzi Taylor. McKenzi’s company, Cactus Collective Weddings, is an all-inclusive Las Vegas destination wedding company for couples who want to run off to Vegas to get married, but who don’t want to sacrifice the magic and romance. McKenzi has taken weddings off the strip and into the scenic outdoor backdrops Las Vegas’ surrounding terrain has to offer. “It puts a completely different spin on things, and couples walk away with the most breathtaking photographs,” says McKenzi.
McKenzi and her husband Matthew eloped to Las Vegas where they tied the knot in Red Rock Canyon (the couple is pictured left). This sparked the idea for her company, Cactus Collective Weddings. Now she re-creates that same magical experience for hundreds of couples from all over the world, each year. “People come to us looking for that intoxicating combination of glamour, excitement and turn-key ease. We handle everything from location permits, to the ceremony, a champagne and cake reception, extra added touches to personalize vows, and of course, stunning photography. A Las Vegas local since 2013, McKenzi anticipates coordinating 400+ of these weddings in 2020.
“We’re creating experiences for couples to get married surrounded by million-dollar views, for just a few thousand dollars per wedding package,” adds McKenzi. Though many of her clients choose to elope privately, some bring up to twenty, or even up to fifty guests, making those ceremonies more of an intimate destination wedding experience. Cactus Collective Weddings does work with local couples, but the majority of McKenzi’s clients are from all over the U.S., and all over the world. They leave it up to her expertise to coordinate their big day, remotely, and they are pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the whole process goes. “The number one comment I get from my clients is, ‘Wow! You made that so easy!'”
Now an embedded local and an expert in all things Las Vegas nuptials, McKenzi has witnessed Las Vegas wedding trends come and go, taking note that although more than 80,000 couples got hitched in Las Vegas in 2018, alone, the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel’s business had suffered in recent years, and couldn’t seem to find a buyer for their wedding chapel when they attempted to sell it last year. “People now realize that eloping to Las Vegas doesn’t have to be so cookie cutter. Couples can make eloping to Vegas an elegant destination experience.”
Very few companies have the expertise, staff and logistical knowledge to do weddings in these locations, giving Cactus Collective Weddings a unique and profitable niche in the Las Vegas wedding market. As far as seasonal preferences, McKenzi says that October, November, April and May are the most popular months for ideal weather.
Imagine taking your vows surrounded by 360-degree views of Nevada’s breathtaking terrain. “It’s a far cry from getting married by Elvis,” says McKenzi.
Photo – Jessie Emeric
