Two Las Vegas Haunts are Hot this Halloween

Wedding Goddess Wisdom

Some people love the idea of saying “I Do” on Halloween!

My husband once officiated a wedding at a Halloween festival in New Jersey for an audience of 400. The young couple he married was dressed like the car accident victim’s in the movie Carrie. They asked him to wear the scary mask of horror icon Jason. He was assisted by a Ghoul and a Goblin character. When he left the stage we discovered he was, in fact, the warm of up act for Billy Mummy, of Lost In Space fame, who immediately took to the stage.

We had never imagined we would ever see so many intensely professional Halloween costumes and people walking around in “character.” Except, perhaps, at a Las Vegas Halloween wedding!

Here’s a hoot of an idea for Halloween Brides and Grooms: Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, which is known for its penchant for wackiness and recreating favorite movies and themes, is offering special Halloween themed wedding packages through October 31. They were recently named by Travelocity as one of this year’s hottest “Halloween Getaways.”

As if getting married isn’t scary enough, the folks at Viva Las Vegas can transform their chapel into anything from a foggy, Gothic graveyard—complete with the Grim Reaper, candles, and creepy music—to the costumed set of the Rocky Horror Picture Show (Minister Frankenfurter’s services included).

Nothing like having a Sweet Transvestite officiate your Halloween wedding!

Find out more at: http://www.vivalasvegasweddings.com/

Things that go bump in the arena. The folks at Travelocity also suggest heading over to the Vegas-meets-Liberace style Haunted Village at Orleans Arena. Say your vows ... and then visit these seven decaying haunted houses (with names like “Hysteria Hotel” and “The Morbid Clown Manor”), an above-ground graveyard crawling with ghouls and zombies, dizzying carnival rides, a DJ and live music. Tickets must be purchased in advance (Now through October 31, 7 p.m. – midnight).

Find out more at: http://www.monstermayhem.net/

Here’s an interesting historical factoid. Halloween was originally an important Celtic holiday known as Samhain (pronounced Sow-en), a time to reflect... to honor and remember the dead ... and connect to the spirit and memory of loved ones. For ancient cultures such as the Celts, and people who today observe earth-based religious practices, it is believed that the spirits of all loved ones live on. It is said that the "veil" between the two worlds is thinnest during this time of year, especially on All Hallows Eve, and those who have passed on can be more easily "contacted."

This is how costumes and images of black cats and witches hats, goblins and ghosts, skeletons and RIP tombstones became the cultural symbols associated with the holiday. In the modern interpretation and commercialization, these elements connected with death have become associated with Halloween.

Samhain remains part of the Pagan Wheel of the Year of important Holidays. It has also was adapted by the Roman Catholic Church as the holiday we know as All Souls Day, which is celebrated November 1, the day after Halloween.

Halloween, today, is still lots of fun. So enjoy trick or treating, a good haunting, or getting hitched! And if you do decided to marry, perhaps you will light a candle as a gentle remembrance of the loved ones who have passed on.

Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway is an interfaith and non-denominational wedding officiant and columnist. She creates unique ceremonies for couples of all backgrounds and faiths, and is also widely recognized as a bridal stress expert. She is author of WEDDING GODDESS: A Divine Guide To Transforming Wedding Stress into Wedding Bliss (Perigee Books, May 2005). Visit Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway at WeddingGoddessWisdom.com.

Posted October 27, 2006 7:56 AM by Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway | Permalink | Email This