Las Vegas is the wedding capital of the world, boasting a whopping 115,000 weddings a year!

Kris LaBuda is the manager of the famed wedding chapel at Flamingo Las Vegas, an iconic part of the Las Vegas experience since 1995. Kris has assisted brides and grooms with their most important day for 16 years, 13 of which have been at the Flamingo.

She’s seen and heard it all, and has generously volunteered to share some of her Vegas wedding insights and stories on the Pulse of Vegas blog.

Kris has seen it all at the Flamingo wedding chapel. Now, she gets to endure our annoying questions!

Pulse of Vegas Blog: What would surprise people about Las Vegas weddings?

Kris: One thing that may surprise your readers about Las Vegas weddings is they really do last. I have met couple after couple walking through our doors who are celebrating their 38th, 40th, 63rd, ad infinitum, wedding anniversary. Las Vegas may have a reputation as “Sin City,” but something about it makes marriages stick.

Pulse of Vegas Blog: Do you do quirky weddings at Flamingo? Elvis? Aliens? Other themes?

Kris: We’ve tried offering quirky weddings, but our Flamingo couples haven’t been super attracted to those packages. We did have a “White Wedding Package” recently, which, among other things, included a Billy Idol impersonator to perform the song “White Wedding” during the ceremony. Whatever the wedding, we can make it special.

Pulse of Vegas Blog: How do Las Vegas weddings differ from what some may think of Las Vegas weddings?

Kris: Does “cheesy” come to mind when you think of Las Vegas weddings? Cheesy’s an image that’s helped Vegas become the wedding capital of the world, but it’s also a misnomer since Vegas offers so many options for wedding venues. Caesars Palace, for instance. Caesars Palace can hardly be called cheesy. At the Flamingo, we work really hard to dispel any associations with unwanted cheese (though we do have pink feather boas on hand, just in case).

We crashed Rachel and Bryan's recent wedding at Flamingo for this photo. Court date pending.

Pulse of Vegas Blog: What’s your policy if someone comes in and wants to get married on the spot?

Kris: We only have a few truly “on the spot” ceremonies every year. Couples that arrive with their marriage licenses in-hand are so cute, though. They’re all cuddly and sheepishly ask if we can squeeze them in. Usually, they’ve seen something about us before they walk through our doors. Performing a legal marriage in Las Vegas requires obtaining a marriage certificate and license from the Clark County Courthouse prior to the ceremony so couples do have to do a little planning prior to arriving. (Find out more.)

Pulse of Vegas Blog: Has an actual Flamingo Las Vegas flamingo ever disrupted a ceremony?

Kris: Yes, we really have had ceremonies disrupted by flamingos. Our Paradise Falls location is right next to Flamingo Island, where the flamingos live. Every day, the flamingos and wild waterfowl, including Sacred Ibis, pheasants, ringed teal and wood ducks, are fed by their keepers, Jackie and Robin. Because they get so many questions about the birds, they started a program called “keeper talk” in which they wear microphones and help our guests understand a little bit more about these interesting birds. When we first started performing ceremonies nearby, we were interrupted by the amplified sounds of the birds and laughter from the audience. Now, though, the wildlife center is included on our wedding schedule. Each of us takes care not to schedule weddings around the flamingo feeding times.

This Sacred Ibis is clearly a flamingo wannabe.

Pulse of Vegas Blog: Any other stories about Flamingo weddings you’d care to share?

Kris: Strange coincidences happen here, too. When I first became a wedding planner, we would run indoor ceremonies at the same time we had outdoor ceremonies planned. I was taking our gazebo bride out to the staging area for a 5:00 ceremony and another planner was taking the other 5:00 bride to her staging area. The two girls looked at each other, astonished, “Kristy?” the indoor bride said, “Is that you?” Sure enough, the two girls were long-lost sorority sisters. Imagine, they booked the same hotel on the same day and time.

If you have questions about Las Vegas weddings, feel free to post them in our Comments section, and we’ll pass them along and share the answers in future posts from our Vegas wedding expert. Learn more about weddings at Las Vegas’ Flamingo hotel.

During the recent Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon (Dec. 6), 85 couples were married (or renewed their vows) at the base of the iconic Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas.

An outdoor wedding “chapel” was built just for the occasion, at roughly 3.5 miles into the 26-mile marathon course, fully equipped with heating lamps, hot chocolate and coffee to warm the brides and grooms (many dressed in Elvis garb) on an uncommonly brisk Vegas day.

Thanks to our friends at Paris for sending over some photos from the event.

Three minutes later, the ceremony, performed by Reverend Jamie Firzlaff (who also took part in the marathon), was complete.

A little insider scoop? One couple came all the way from France to renew their vows in honor of their 40th wedding anniversary. Sure, they live in France, but they got married at our Paris. We’re just saying.

More scoop? One couple at the gathering was originally married at the run-through wedding five years ago. They’ve renewed their vows every year since. (These folks are currently expecting, by the way. That kid may very well be born wearning jogging shoes.)

Nothing's sexier than Paris. And Elvi. But mostly Paris.

This year’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon included entrants from 39 countries competing for $107,000 in prize money. More than 27,600 runners, joggers, walkers and dawdlers took part.

Two runners from Kenya took home the top prizes. Christopher Toroitich and Caroline Rotich won in their respective categories.

Stay at Paris Las Vegas, said to be the most romantic destination on the Strip. And, for the record, they do weddings inside, too. Learn more.

You just never know who you’re going to encounter as you’re roaming around our Pulse of Vegas resorts. And we do roam.

The other night, we stopped by the Flamingo’s Paradise Garden Buffet. Lots of smiling faces, of course. It’s a Las Vegas buffet, after all! We soon noticed a long table, with two people at one end who were clearly wearing attire suited to nuptials.

Lysle and Jennifer could charm the hair off a peach.

Lysle and Jennifer had been married that very afternoon at the Flamingo, and were treating their friends and family to a wedding reception at the Flamingo buffet! Now, that’s a great value. Everybody gets food they love, and it doesn’t break the bank. Only in Vegas!

Naturally, we crashed the wedding reception and helped ourselves to some treats at the dessert station.

All we can eat? They have no idea how much we can eat.

The dessert station only upstaged the bride and groom for a moment or two, promise.

Yes, there were other food stations. We think.

Lysle and Jennifer further got on our good side when they informed us they had absolutely loved their wedding at the Flamingo, complete with a wedding coordinator (included in their wedding package). Oh, and they were staying at Harrah’s Las Vegas of all places. We’re pretty sure they weren’t just trying to kiss up.

The beaming newlyweds were from Wyoming, as were many of their 20-25 guests.

Learn more about weddings at Flamingo Las Vegas. And, it should be said, making small group gatherings (like weddings or bachelor/bachelorette parties) unforgettable is one of our specialties. Like the Flamingo’s succulent berry creamy pie thing. A specialty, that is.

Find out more about Total Experiences, a new, free service that’s like having your very own concierge.

The one and only Flamingo. As Vegas as Vegas gets.

Congratulations, Lysle and Jennifer! You had us at “Flamingo!”

Here’s a handy wedding factoid. Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve are the two busiest days for Las Vegas weddings. Translation: Choose your special day wisely.

You might also want to choose your Las Vegas wedding venue wisely. Our two cents? Bypass the infamous “quickie wedding” and go for something truly extraordinary.

We’ve made it easy to find out more about Las Vegas weddings and all the options available to you.

The actual “being married” part is up to you. We’re a blog. We can only do so much.