Love is in the air for a Vegas Valentine’s Day

By Brian Nordli

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 | 6:06 p.m.

Valentine’s Day is here, and love is in the air of the nation’s unofficial marriage capital.

In 2011, more than 1 of every 25 marriages in the United States took place in Clark County, county spokesman Dan Kulin said.

Wedding chapels, casinos and the Clark County Marriage Bureau are expected to be swarming with couples planning to get married on the holiday of love. While the number of nuptials taking place in Las Vegas skyrockets on numerically significant days such as Nov. 11, 2011 (11/11/11), or July 7, 2007 (7/7/07), Valentine’s Day weddings also are a Las Vegas tradition.

This year is expected to be no different. Here are some of the ways people are planning to get hitched – or at least maybe start their journey toward getting hitched – during this weekend of love:

• 

  Richard Brian

  Office of Civil Marriages

  For the couples interested in the no-frills, get-down-to-business wedding, there is the Clark County Office of Civil Marriages, 330 S. 3rd St. The fee is $75 – cash or credit cards are accepted – and couples must have a witness in attendance (the office does not provide a witness). The office also requires appointments for weddings. Call 671-0577 to schedule an appointment. Friday's hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  But before you head to the ceremony, head to the Marriage License Bureau at 201 E. Clark St. to pick up your marriage license.

  County Clerk Diana Alba is bracing for a busy weekend at the bureau. To speed up the process, couples are encouraged to complete a preapplication online. From there, all that’s needed is the reference number, the $60 license fee, a form of identification and, of course, your spouse-to-be.

• 

  Courtesy Image

  'Twilight' wedding

  At the Viva Las Vegas Main Chapel, Dracula will rise from his grave to unite a member from the Dracula clan and a member from the Wolf Clan in a real-life “Twilight” wedding.

  Caricature artists Dan and Gigi met in 2011 and found out they had a clashing heritage akin to the movie. According to Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapels, Dan is a descendent of House Draculesti (Dracula), which is a rival of Gigi’s Cherokee Aniwaya (Wolf) Clan. The couple’s wedding at 8:30 p.m. is open to the public (anyone attending is encouraged to dress in vampire, wolf or human attire) and will be streamed online.

• 

  Leila Navidi

  Speed dating

  While other places are focused on matrimony, The D is focused on the future. The downtown casino will try to break the world record for largest speed-dating event. From 6 to 9 p.m., 1,000 romantic hopefuls will have a chance to meet their significant other in front of the D Bar. The event is free, but all participants must register at vegasspeeddate.com or thed.com.