{{Short description|Wedding chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} thumb|A Little White Chapel Drive-Thru Tunnel of Vows. '''A Little White Wedding Chapel''' is a chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is notable as the site of many quick celebrity weddings; famously, the chapel offers a "Drive-Thru Tunnel of Vows" for quick, largely unplanned marriages.<ref>no byline (November 2004). "Getting Hitched in a Vegas Chapel", ''Cosmopolitan'' '''237''' (5): 104.</ref><ref name=Couples>McCann, Dennis (2002-02-10). "Couples in Las Vegas take chance on true love", ''Milwaukee Journal Sentinel'', p. H1.</ref> The chapel was built and opened in 1954 by Arvid and Neva Barnhart.<ref name=Vintage>[http://vintagelasvegas.com/post/168560546299/little-white-chapel Vintage Las Vegas]</ref>
Charolette Richards<!-- this is not a typo; "Charlotte" is not her name --> bought the chapel in 1981.<ref name=Vintage /> She came into the wedding business through marriage with Merle Richards, owner of Little Church of the West.<ref name=Vintage /> Merle and Charolette Richards together opened Algiers' Little Church of the West in 1968.<ref>[https://vintagelasvegas.com/post/188048256809/1968 Algiers’ Little Church of the West]</ref> The couple later divorced, and Charolette went into business on her own with Little White Chapel. She has presided over the marriages of Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Michael Jordan, Dame Joan Collins, Britney Spears, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore.<ref>Mansfield, Susan (December 1, 2004). "Elvis, Sinatra and Britney were all married there. Now the Little White Wedding Chapel is coming to Scotland", ''The Scotsman'', p. 36.</ref> Mrs. Richards sold the chapel in 2022 to Cliff Evarts and Melody Willis-Williams.<ref>[https://weddings.vegas/archived-content/iconic-las-vegas-wedding-chapel-sold/ Wedding Capital of the World]</ref>
Similarly named Las Vegas wedding chapels, such as The Little Church of the West, The Little Chapel by the Courthouse, and the Chapel of the Flowers are often confused with A Little White Wedding Chapel. The Little Chapel by the Courthouse was also owned by We've Only Just Begun Inc. (Charolette Richards).
== Notable weddings == <!--DO NOT ADD ENTRIES TO THIS LIST UNLESS AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE COUPLE WAS AN EXISTING WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE *AND* A RELIABLE SOURCE IS CITED FOR THE MARRIAGE TAKING PLACE AT A LITTLE WHITE WEDDING CHAPEL--> {{div col|colwidth=33em}} * Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (January 29, 1958)<ref name=Couples /> * Judy Garland and Mark Herron (November 14, 1965)<ref>Hall, Michelle (October 18, 1998). "Hit the jackpot! Movie-set ambience, natural attractions prove gold is not all that glitters in Las Vegas", ''Boston Herald'', p. 61.</ref><ref name=Chatter>[http://www.vegaschatter.com/tag/Little White Wedding Chapel "Who Knew Drive Through Wedding Ceremonies Were So Romantic?"], Vegas Chatter, December 28, 2010</ref> * Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow (July 19, 1966)<ref name=Chatter/> * Patty Duke and Michael Tell (June 26, 1970)<ref>[https://s3-assets.eastidahonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/29150007/Patty-Duke-2.jpg Eastidahonews]</ref> * Joan Collins and Peter Holm (November 3, 1985)<ref name=Why>Hatton, Spencer (November 26, 2006). "Why rent a castle when you've got the King?", ''Yakima Herald-Republic'', p. B1.</ref> * Bruce Willis and Demi Moore (November 21, 1987)<ref name=Why /><ref name=Chatter/> * Michael Jordan and Juanita Vanoy (September 2, 1989)<ref name=Couples /><ref name=Chatter/> * David Faustino and Andrea Elmer (January 24, 2000)<ref>Jones, Oliver. [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20011038,00.html "Married ... With Children's David Faustino Divorcing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423153228/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20011038,00.html |date=April 23, 2016 }}, ''People'' magazine, February 6, 2007</ref> * Natalie Maines and Adrian Pasdar (June 24, 2000)<ref name=Why /><ref>[http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/06_2000/062600.asp "Dixie Chick Natalie Maines Weds Adrian Pasdar in Early Morning Vegas Ceremony"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218221613/http://www.nyrock.com/worldbeat/06_2000/062600.asp |date=December 18, 2010 }}, NY Rock, June 26, 2000</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023215957/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1472621/natalie-maines-gets-hitched.jhtml "Natalie Maines Gets Hitched"], CMT, June 26, 2000</ref> * Stone Cold Steve Austin and Debra Marshall (September 13, 2000)<ref>[https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b1/4e/9c/b14e9ce0dfd88ee9907f980de8f4fd5b.jpg Pinimg]</ref> * Eva Longoria and Tyler Christopher (January 20, 2002)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tylerchristopher.com/tylerarticles/archives/archive-032002.html|title=Going to the Chapel...in Vegas|last=Maloney|first=Michael|author2=Sheila Steinbach|date=March 12, 2002|work=Soap Opera Update|page=20|accessdate=31 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211103044/http://tylerchristopher.com/tylerarticles/archives/archive-032002.html|archive-date=2013-12-11|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Britney Spears and Jason Allen Alexander (January 3, 2004)<ref>{{cite web | author=Mike Fleeman | title=Britney Spears Married in Vegas | publisher=People | date=January 3, 2004 | url=http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,627413,00.html | access-date=2007-02-11 | archive-date=December 15, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215174137/http://people.aol.com/people/articles/0,19736,627413,00.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> * Henry Thomas and Marie Zielcke (May 10, 2004) * Rufus Hound and Beth Johnson (April 2007)<ref>[http://uktv.co.uk/dave/homepage/sid/7882 Rufus Hound], uktv.co.uk, accessed June 4, 2011.</ref> * Pamela Anderson and Rick Salomon (October 6, 2007)<ref name="ind">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/you-are-invited-to-our-vegas-wedding-894520.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819044817/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/you-are-invited-to-our-vegas-wedding-894520.html |archive-date=2008-08-19 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=You are invited to our Vegas wedding...|date=14 August 2008|work=The Independent|accessdate=31 May 2012}}</ref> * Peaches Geldof and Max Drummey (August 5, 2008)<ref>{{cite news |title=Peaches Geldof has married |newspaper=Die Welt |url=https://www.welt.de/english-news/article2303900/Peaches-Geldof-has-married.html |date=August 13, 2008}}</ref> * Christina Milian and The-Dream (September 4, 2009)<ref>{{cite web |title=Christina Milian & The-Dream Elope in Vegas |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/09/08/christina-milian-the-dream-elope-in-vegas/ |date=September 8, 2009 |work=Rap-Up |accessdate=10 September 2009}}</ref> * Jordan Chan and Cherrie Ying (February 14, 2010)<ref>{{cite news | title=Jordan Chan and Cherrie Ying's extreme funny and emotional wedding | date=2010-02-14 | url=http://asianuniverse.net/forums/Jordan_Chan_Cherrie_Ying_s_extreme_funny_emotional_w_t214026.html | accessdate=2010-02-16 | archive-date=September 12, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160912195119/http://asianuniverse.net/forums/Jordan_Chan_Cherrie_Ying_s_extreme_funny_emotional_w_t214026.html | url-status=usurped }}</ref> * Nik Richie and Shayne Lamas (April 18, 2010)<ref>{{cite web |title=Shayne Lamas and Her New Hubby Post Matching Tweets |url=https://people.com/celebrity/shayne-lamas-and-her-new-hubby-post-matching-tweets/ |date=April 20, 2010}}</ref> * Charlie Brooker and Konnie Huq (July 26, 2010)<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/08/29/x-factor-s-konnie-huq-and-charlie-brooker-eloped-to-las-vegas-for-secret-wedding-115875-22521352/ |title=X Factor's Konnie Huq and Charlie Brooker eloped to Las Vegas for secret wedding |work=mirror.co.uk |date=August 29, 2010 |accessdate=29 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aivitals.co.clark.nv.us/webinquiryinternet/DocDescMain.aspx?sk=20100726000520940&ref=5609d551-ce0f-4ad3-aca0-0de6c76fc042 |title=Marriage License, County of Clark, Nevada |accessdate=30 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811064524/https://aivitals.co.clark.nv.us/webinquiryinternet/DocDescMain.aspx?sk=20100726000520940&ref=5609d551-ce0f-4ad3-aca0-0de6c76fc042 |archivedate=11 August 2011 }}</ref> * Russell Peters and Monica Diaz (August 20, 2010)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/north-stars/russell-peters-monica-diaz-divorce-were-no-hard-151749037.html|title = Russell Peters on Monica Diaz divorce: 'There were no hard feelings'| date=June 14, 2012 }}</ref> * Sinéad O'Connor and Barry Herridge (December 8, 2011)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2011/12/sinead-oconnor-wedding-divorce.html|title = Sinead O'Connor Ends Sixteen-Day Marriage| date=December 27, 2011 }}</ref> * Eugenia Martínez de Irujo, 12th Duchess of Montoro and Narcís Rebollo Melció (November 17, 2017)<ref>[http://www.lavanguardia.com/gente/20171128/433272217351/eugenia-martinez-de-irujo-narcis-rebollo-boda-las-vegas.html La Vanguardia]</ref> * Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner (May 1, 2019)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Joelle |last2=Michaud |first2=Sarah |title=Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner Get Married in Surprise Vegas Ceremony After Billboard Music Awards |url=https://people.com/music/joe-jonas-sophie-turner-married-surprise-vegas-ceremony/ |accessdate=May 2, 2019 |work=People |date=May 2, 2019}}</ref> * David Dobrik and Lorraine Nash (May 16, 2019)<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHPrkc44oDg&t=20s (May 18, 2019)</ref> * Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez (July 17, 2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/national/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck-wed-in-las-vegas-drive-through/article_6845902f-3bf4-5830-a53b-9756a905d401.html | title=Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck wed in Las Vegas drive-through | access-date=July 18, 2022 | archive-date=July 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718003951/https://www.stltoday.com/news/national/jennifer-lopez-ben-affleck-wed-in-las-vegas-drive-through/article_6845902f-3bf4-5830-a53b-9756a905d401.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> {{div col end}}
== In popular culture == The chapel has been featured on such TV shows as WWE ''Raw'', ''Supernatural'', ''Friends'' and ''Good Morning America''.<ref>Haas, Jane Glenn (February 15, 2004). "Vegas vows 1-2-3", ''The Orange County Register'', p. TCenter.</ref> Michael Ross and Naomi Defensor, two cast members on the 2011 season of ''The Real World: Las Vegas'', participated in a mock wedding at the Chapel during the June 1, 2011 season finale of that series.<ref>[http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-12-addicted-to-love/1664470/playlist.jhtml "Leaving Las Vegas"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529002151/http://www.mtv.com/videos/real-world-las-vegas-ep-12-addicted-to-love/1664470/playlist.jhtml|date=2011-05-29}}, ''The Real World: Las Vegas (2011)'', MTV.com, Season 25, Episode 13, accessed June 4, 2011.</ref> The wedding scene depicted in the 2025 Oscar-winning film ''Anora'' was shot at A Little White Wedding Chapel in March 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=Oscar-winner 'Anora' spotlights Las Vegas wedding chapel's celebrity legacy |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/movies/anora-role-latest-pop-culture-highlight-for-strip-wedding-chapel-3311879/ |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == *List of wedding chapels in Las Vegas
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://www.alittlewhitechapel.com/ A Little White Wedding Chapel]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Little White Wedding Chapel}} Category:Wedding chapels in the Las Vegas Valley Category:Buildings and structures in Las Vegas