As a Las Vegas Elopement Photographer, I’ve had the privilege of capturing elopements all around the city. While I adore the amazing locations and national parks Nevada has to offer, my heart is consistently drawn to one of my all-time favorite elopement locations—the Neon Museum. If you’ve been following me for a while you’ve probably noticed that it’s a spot I talk about quite a bit, but for a good reason! Known as the “Neon Boneyard,” this non-profit sanctuary protects, showcases, and teaches about the city’s most iconic signs, offering a glimpse into Las Vegas’s rich history from the 1930s onward. Within its open-air gallery, over 200 signs from old businesses invite couples into a world brimming with nostalgia and charm. Capturing Tori and Michael’s elopement here highlighted the dreamy juxtaposition of their stylish wedding look against the museum’s vibrant and historical backdrop.

There are a few options to consider when thinking about incorporating the Neon Museum as part of your elopement day. They offer three different types of session opportunities: Portrait Hours, Private Shoot, or their Sweetheart Wedding experience.

Portrait Hour

The portrait hour is a pre-scheduled one hour block of time in a shared public space inside the North Gallery, typically one hour before sunset during the week. Previous dates have been on Tuesdays and Thursdays—here you can find the upcoming portrait hour dates. The number of tickets is limited up to 15 guests total and this includes all members of your party, even your photographer/videographer must have their own ticket to enter the gallery. The portrait hour ticket is $75/per person and can be purchased directly on their website.

Legal ceremonies are not allowed during portrait hour, however this would be a perfect option for couples wanting to spend some of their portrait time here either before or after their ceremony or a day after session! If you’re wanting to have the space to your own, that’s what we’ll cover next; booking a private shoot.

Private Shoot

This is a private experience in the museum which means there won’t be other visitors in the space during your shoot. Legal ceremonies are not allowed during private shoots, however you have the unique opportunity to have the entire gallery to yourself, resulting in timeless portraits on your wedding day! When booking a private shoot, you have to option to choose between both the North Gallery and the Main Collection. Here’s information on each gallery and pricing:

North Gallery

This smaller space features signs from such iconic properties as the Golden Nugget, Stardust, Lady Luck, New York New York, Liberace Museum, Pioneer Club, and many more. There are no functioning signs in the North Gallery.

The North Gallery is usually available daily 10:30am-Sunset (depending on other bookings).
• Starts at $400 for 30 minutes // $800 per hour.
Additional fees apply to groups larger than 10 (including photographer/videographer).

Main Collection

The Main Collection is the largest space, holds the primary museum collection and is where guided tours are held. The 21 restored signs are turned on and the unrestored signs are up-lit with LED lights at sunset. 

The Main Collection is usually available (depending on other bookings):
• 11:30am-2:00pm, Mo-Fr – starting at $800/hr
• 10:00pm-11:00pm, Mo-Th – starting at $1300/hr
Additional fees apply to groups larger than 10 (including photographer/videographer).

To book a private photoshoot, you can either email photoshoots@neonmuseum.org or I can help coordinate planning with you during our consultation call!

Sweetheart Wedding Experience

Now that we’ve covered the two options that don’t include legal ceremonies, let’s talk about the option that DOES allow you to say “I do” amongst the iconic signage.

The Neon Museum has a speciality curated experience called their “Sweetheart Wedding” that is designed to accommodate different needs and preferences, offering a range of services for your special day. Here’s a quick breakdown of everything that is included:

• Available Monday-Sunday (September-May)
• Private ceremony in the North Gallery
• 60-minute ceremony and photography experience
• Up to 50 guests
• Optional Add-ons

Here you can find more information if this sounds like it would be the perfect fit for you! To book your ceremony, you can either email events@neonmuseum.org or I can help coordinate planning with you during our consultation call!

Once you’ve decided that this unique location is the perfect setting for your elopement, take some time to familiarize yourself with how to obtain your marriage license in Nevada to make your marriage official! My blog on ‘How to Get Your Marriage License in Nevada‘ provides all the guidance you need to ensure your marriage is legally recognized.

Throughout this time of planning your elopement, remember that I am here for you every step of the way. Whether you have questions, need assistance, or simply want to chat about your ideas, don’t hesitate to reach out! 

Please note that the details provided here are accurate as of February 2024, but they may be subject to change. I advise double-checking the Neon Museum’s official website for the most up-to-date information at the time of your visit.