The Difference Between a “Pretty Wedding” And An Unforgettable One: From Someone Who’s Seen Hundreds.
A pretty wedding photographs well.
An unforgettable one takes a little bit of courage.
After photographing hundreds of weddings and Las Vegas elopements, I’ve learned that the days guests remember most aren’t always the biggest or most expensive. They’re the ones where the couple chose to do something that felt a little bold, a little meaningful, and deeply personal.
The long cathedral veil flowing past your perfectly done hair.
The white gloves hiding your perfectly made nails, the ones your mom constantly wants to take off.
A non-traditional dress paired with an iconic little chapel in Vegas (yes, we’re still doing that)
These aren’t just choices—they’re statements.
Many brides planning a chic Las Vegas elopement worry about doing “too much” or standing out. But what actually takes a wedding from pretty to unforgettable is the willingness to lean into what feels true, even if it’s not traditional.
Some of the most timeless elopements I photograph happen at places like The Little White Wedding Chapel, where history still lives and lingers in that place. And even at the Las Vegas sign, surrounded by traffic and crazy tourists yelling at us. Fremont Street, neon signs, vintage lights—these locations aren’t just fun or iconic. When done right, they can be the most gorgeous and interesting.
And the weddings that linger the longest in my memory are always the ones that are about more than the couple.
When an elopement is rooted in faith, when God is centered in the day, the entire experience shifts. Its Holy.
A timeless Las Vegas elopement isn’t created by following trends. It’s created by choosing meaning, honoring belief, and trusting your instincts; whether that looks like praying together before vows, exchanging them intimately at sunset, or celebrating afterward under neon lights.
Pretty weddings are planned carefully.
Unforgettable ones are planned bravely.
Las Vegas has a way of holding both elegance and fun and focusing on the part that really matters. And when you allow yourself to embrace that balance, your wedding day becomes more than beautiful.
It becomes unforgettable.