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Formula 1 will invade Las Vegas as some of the world’s most exciting motorsports action hits the Strip for the first time ever, and is back in Sin City for the first time in 40 years. Race fans couldn’t be more excited for the November 2023 event.
Vegas is known as the Wedding Capital of the World, among other nicknames, and if you’re coming to Las Vegas for the Grand Prix then why not make a grand thing even better by getting married?!
In this blog, I’ll offer ideas for couples wanting to wave the checkered flag on single life and step onto the victory podium…uh, make that down the aisle…to say “I do” in Las Vegas as part of their race week itinerary.
F1 Weddings Are Picking Up Speed
F1-themed weddings are nothing new, and they’re becoming ever more popular with race fans. The world famous Imola racetrack in Italy is now offering weddings inside their 3-mile circuit, no doubt making hearts flutter across the globe.
But I guarantee you, they’ll have nothing on a Vegas F1 wedding.
Here’s what you’ll need to pull off the most epic Formula 1 wedding ever as part of your Las Vegas Grand Prix trip.
Attire
Formula 1 has its own style, and for the younger audience what the driver’s are wearing has become just as important as their lap times. Popular driver Lewis Hamilton has pushed the envelope and other drivers and fans are following his lead.
So if you choose to replicate something from Hamilton, you wouldn’t be the first to take cues from the seven-time F1 champion. Fan accounts on social media track his (and other drivers’) attire, peppering them with questions about where to buy their looks.
For your wedding day, you could use his paddock outfits as inspiration. Or you could look toward his street attire or red carpet looks. Whatever you want for the look of your wedding, Hamilton has probably tried it before.
The WAGs (wives and girlfriends) of F1 can also be considered style icons. Many of them live very public lives and are hounded by the paparazzi, so there’s no shortage of inspiration when planning your wedding day attire.
Decorations & Accessories
Checkered flags are the most obvious because they are an instantly recognizable pattern that can be woven into anything.
But don’t stop at the finish line; a short internet search for terms like “automotive wedding” “car wedding” or “hot rod wedding” will result in tons of inspiration.
In the amount of time it takes Ferrari fans and Mercedes maniacs to get into a shouting match over which manufacturer is the best, I was able to find turbocharger cufflinks, piston and spark plug centerpieces, wrenches and screwdrivers built into bouquets… and even toolbox invitations!
There’s so much you can add in the way of decorating and accessorizing. The love for cars runs deep and so do the posts on Instagram that you can cull for ideas.
Bridal Procession Song
Picture yourself walking down the aisle to the F1 theme song. A pianist on social media has already created the arrangement for you!
Played at a regular old wedding maybe no one would notice. But you won’t have to sneak it in at your Vegas F1 style ceremony — have it played with gusto the way composer Brian Tyler intended. Roaring engines, cheering crowds and all.
Photos
Here’s where you can really have some fun. From the engagement photos to the weddings photos to the reception photos, you can go 100 MPH with this theme for your photos.
There are a million ways to incorporate a car into your photos, but the burnout trend might be the most visually stunning. Clouds of smoke billowing up around the newlyweds might require some skilled drivers to do the donuts, but it can be done.
Here’s proof in an album that comes to us all the way from New Zealand (scroll three-quarters of the way down the page).
F1 drivers are forbidden from doing burnouts to celebrate victories, but we won’t tell anyone if you happen to find an empty piece of pavement in the Nevada desert to lay some rubber as part of your photo shoot.
Getaway Car
Whether you incorporate your getaway car into the photos, have it decked out in tin cans and streamers by some sneaky guests, or just rent a classic to use as transportation, the getaway car is a great way to celebrate your race-themed wedding.
Las Vegas has several companies you could rent from. Super cars, classics and sports cars of all kinds are available for hire.
If you wanted to, you could even head to the track and take some laps at one of the driving experiences. We mention this idea in our Exploring Vegas After Your Wedding blog, and it’s worth mentioning again.
You Want My Team In Your Wedding Day Pit Box
The Las Vegas Heineken Silver Grand Prix will attract people from all over the world, and Las Vegas is prepared to host a party like no other place on earth is capable of doing. So why not tie your big day into one of the biggest events in Vegas and F1 history?!
Want to get married while you’re in Vegas for F1?
Reach out to us and we’ll be the best wedding day pit crew you could ask for.
McKenzi Taylor is America’s go-to elopement and micro wedding expert, often featured in small and major media outlets, such as the New York Times. With over 15 years of wedding photography experience, it was after planning her own Las Vegas elopement in 2016 that McKenzi felt her purpose shift into elopement coordination. She started Cactus Collective Weddings soon after in 2017. Since then, she’s become a WIPA board member, and has helped well over 1000 couples get hitched in style around Las Vegas, San Diego and Black Hills.
