Question of the Day - 17 April 2023

There's an old joke that goes something like this.

Question: "Can you get married in Las Vegas while you're drunk?"

Answer: "Yes, but they make it hard for you to do so. First, you have to stand in line behind all the other drunks getting married."

In reality, from what we understand, it depends a lot on the degree of drunkenness.

That's why both parties to the marriage (absent the single-party exceptions) must show up in person at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. This is, in part, to ensure that they're both of sound mind and fully aware of what they're doing, given that the license is a legal document that's recognized everywhere in the world. And with no waiting period required, it's the only chance for someone in an official position to judge the "sound-mind" provision. Of course, it's also to ensure that the application is filled out properly and the license fee of $102 (a sobering amount for some people) is paid. Emphasis on "paid," if you get our drift.

On the other hand, Nevada certainly makes it easy to get a marriage license. Along with instant licensing, there's no blood test. And with the Clark County Marriage License Bureau open until midnight 365 days a year, we're certain the clerks see plenty of people who've consumed some or more alcohol, cannabis, or controlled substances. 

Cases in point. Probably the most famous celebrity ever to get married while drunk in Las Vegas was Britney Spears. Notorious souse Nicolas Cage married his fourth wife in Vegas while drunk. And being drunk was probably the only explanation for why Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman got married here. And if they can do it, with all kinds of eyes on them before, during, and after, so can you.

Indeed, we found the following quote from a Las Vegas family lawyer: "If, once in front of the clerk, one of the applicants appears to be so intoxicated that they are unable to provide the basic information needed to get the marriage license, the clerk can – and must, by bureau policy – refuse to issue the license.” Don't remember your name or date of birth? Can't reach into a pocket or purse to retrieve ID? Sounds like an awful lot of leeway to us. 

That's why Nevada also makes it easy to have marriages annulled. Britney's marriage was annulled after 55 hours. Nick's lasted four days. Carmen and Dennis made it to day nine. Several law firms in Las Vegas specialize in helping rueful partners get their marriages quickly dissolved. And as you'd expect, it ain't cheap. 

It's the same general story with the wedding chapels. The officiants can, and are supposed to, refuse to marry anyone who appears obviously to be unduly under the influence. They're licensed by the state (having to undergo a background check and attend an in-person training course) and can lose their Certificate of Permission to Perform Marriages under certain circumstances.

On the other hand, again, anyone can become an officiant; you don't have to be ordained or have any affiliation with a religious organization or possess a valid notary appointment. From what we've seen, most chapels will perform a marriage ceremony -- as long as both parties can stand up. 

And maybe even if they can't. Kourtney Kardashian was "falling-down drunk" during her wedding to Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker around a year ago at the One Love Wedding Chapel downtown. In fact, there's a photo of her being helped off the floor by Barker. We understand that it was an "unofficial" ceremony without a license and they had the official wedding a few weeks later at the Santa Barbara courthouse. Still, the photo was, in our estimation, symbolic of the nearly anything-goes attitude that comes with getting married in Las Vegas.