Elvis Themed Vegas Weddings Have Been Banned, But Impersonators Aren't Backing Down

Earlier this week, the licensing company that holds the rights to Elvis' likeness attempted to ban Las Vegas chapels curating Elvis-themed weddings.

The group, Authentic Brands, sent cease and desist letters to a range of chapels in Las Vegas. Despite the news and the threats of legal action, many groups have stood up against the move.

Kayla Collins, whose family has run a wedding chapel that has offered the services for decades, stated, “We are a family-run business, and now we’re hanging with the big dogs. That’s our bread and butter. I don’t get it. We were just hitting our stride again through COVID, then this happens.”

The Clark County for the area, Lynn Goya said that the news could not have come at a worse time, “It might destroy a portion of our wedding industry, a number of people might lose their livelihood.”

The wedding industry in the city generates close to $2 billion USD in revenue each year, with the Elvis-themed ceremonies taking up a large chunk of them.

The letter to the chapels detailed that it would forcibly halt the unauthorised use of Presley’s name, likeness, voice image, and other elements of his persona in advertisements, merchandise, and otherwise.

"Elvis, Elvis Presley and The King Of Rock and Roll are protected trademarks."

Famous Elvis impersonator, Jesse Garon, who married Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker stated, “It would devastate me to have this stop, I wouldn’t know what to do if I couldn’t perform as Elvis for these couples. It’s at least 80 per cent of my business as Elvis."