Couples who dream of an Elvis-themed wedding in Las Vegas may find it more difficult to have one.
Las Vegas chapel owners who perform the weddings received cease and desist letters on May 19 from Authentic Brands Group (ABG), the company that licenses Elvis-related products.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal originally reported the story, saying that the use of Elvis’ likeness in themed ceremonies is no longer allowed. The letter says they are stopping the unauthorized use of “Elvis Presley’s name, likeness, voice image, and other elements of Elvis Presley’s persona in advertisements, merchandise, and otherwise.”
The ABG also oversees the estates of major estates Marilyn Monroe and Muhammad Ali.
The chapels were told they must comply by May 27 or seek legal counsel.
The Elvis Chapel, Elvis Weddings and Las Vegas Elvis Chapel are among those confirmed to have been notified.
The wedding industry in Las Vegas is a $2 billion/year business and this is a devastating blow to the chapels.
“We are a family-run business, and now we’re hanging with the big dogs,” said Kayla Collins, who operates LasVegasElvisWeddingChapel.com and the Little Chapel of Hearts with her husband. “That’s our bread and butter. I don’t get it. We were just hitting our stride again through COVID, then this happens.”
In response to all the publicity about the issue, the ABG made a statement on Wednesday. They said, “(There is) no intention to shut down chapels that offer Elvis packages in Las Vegas.”
Instead, they are looking to work out licensing deals with the chapels.
“We are seeking to partner with each of these small businesses to ensure that their use of Elvis’ name, image and likeness are officially licensed and authorized by the estate, so they can continue their operations,” Authentic Brands Group said. “Elvis is embedded into the fabric of Las Vegas history.”