Las Vegas has always enjoyed bragging rights as the America's hot spot for weddings.

Things may be changing according to new statistics from Clark County showing a drop in weddings -- or at least, a drop in the number of marriage licenses issued -- in 2007.

According to today's Las Vegas Review- Journal, some Las Vegas chapels are noting a dip in brides and grooms, while others see an increase in vow renewals.

Alan Choate's article, Fewer Going to the Chapel, offers an excellent overview of this breaking story.

As Choate reports: "The number of marriage licenses issued in Clark County dropped in 2007 for the third straight year to just under 107,000, the lowest number since 1996."

"A variety of factors get the blame: the economy, gas prices, national trends in marriage and family, international competition, and a fracas over a rogue wedding chapel that was forcibly closed in October."

"But just because weddings are down doesn't necessarily mean the wedding business is down. Some in the industry point to increased traffic and new opportunities, and there's evidence that Las Vegas' share of the national wedding market is holding steady."

In its hey day, Las Vegas wedding stats were up to 125,967, in 2004. Interestingly, the 7-7-07 excitement did not drive the number of weddings off the charts in 2007. Better luck on 8-8-08!

Read more of Fewer Going to the Chapel.