Weddings in Las Vegas? To most of us, the idea seems pretty tacky. We envision couples getting married at drive-thru chapels, or stumbling into a ceremony officiated by an Elvis impersonator before heading down to a greasy buffet and a night at the casino.

Sure, there's still plenty of sleaze to be had, if that's the kind of wedding you want. But weddings in Las Vegas can be some of the most elegant events imaginable, even if they are a bit more impersonal than a wedding held in the church you've attended since you were three.

If you want a truly memorable experience (in a good way), it's best to work with one of the hotels on the Strip, or to a lesser degree, in the downtown/Freemont Street area. The little outskirts chapels are pretty hit-and-miss, but the well-known hotels will usually let you download comprehensive brochures from their websites, so you know what you're getting into.

Many of the Strip hotels will even assign you a wedding coordinator, who will help you plan your special day. They will handle all of the details like booking the chapel, providing flower arrangements, and even helping you obtain a marriage license.

You can also opt to have your coordinator work with you to plan your reception. Hotels like the Luxor will decorate one of their event rooms for your reception, and can arrange catering from one of the many fine restaurants housed in the hotel.

Extras, such as limousine service, professional photography, and suite reservation, can also be added to your wedding package.

If you're looking for an even classier event, focus your energy on the newer, more upscale hotels on the north end of the strip, such as the Palazzo or the Wynn. These hotels host wedding events that easily outclass even the most elegant of ceremonies. The Wynn, for example, provides a limousine service to and from the Clark County Courthouse so you and your love can obtain your marriage license, and offers private check-in to their Fairway Villa - an exclusive 2,490 square foot sanctuary with a secluded patio and private massage room.

There's just so much to do in Las Vegas that you really won't need a separate honeymoon. World-class shopping, celebrity chefs, helicopter tours, lush poolside lounging, and spectacular shows are just a few of the attractions that you can enjoy with your new husband or wife.

Of course, if you're looking for a bit of class (or, in the case of the Wynn, a lot of class), you can throw away the notion that weddings in Las Vegas are cheap. You can expect to pay between $10,000 and $30,000 for your event - and that doesn't include accommodations for your guests.

Weddings in Las Vegas have certainly evolved from the tawdry affairs depicted on television and in movies. Cheap weddings can still be found, but with all Vegas has to offer, it's worth saving and waiting to experience a truly memorable wedding.