Océane and Pierre were planning a traditional wedding in France. Almost everything was already booked and 150 guests invited. But, a few months before the date, the couple cancelled everything, booked flights to Nevada and arranged to be married by a rhinestone-covered gothic Elvis impersonator named Hellvis.

“Cancelling everything was the best decision we made for our wedding”, Océane told us. “The people around us pictured us heading off to the islands, to paradise beaches… wrong! What we really wanted was lightness, something truly out of the ordinary. We’d had our eye on Hellvis for a while, and we figured it was really now or never! He represents everything we love: irreverence, style, fun, and a very rock ‘n’ roll vibe. But above all, everyone expected us to be married by a traditional Elvis… Hellvis surprised our families across the Atlantic!”

Neither Océane, Pierre nor their French photography team had visited Nevada before. Their ideas about Las Vegas came from films, Instagram and the city’s long-standing reputation for questionable decisions made under neon lights. But that was enough to get started. Their wish list was pretty simple: Old Vegas, the Strip, casinos, American fast food and plenty of kitsch.

The ceremony took place at Sure Thing Chapel. The couple walked in together with Hellvis’s in the middle while Blink-182’s First Date was played on the organ. Hellvis brought theatre, humour and a surprising amount of emotion to their 30 minutes together. “We wanted a fun ceremony, and it was, but it was also very intense emotionally. Hellvis knows exactly how to balance solemnity and humour – it was perfect.”

There was one small omission. Océane and Pierre forgot their vows! Instead of treating it as a disaster, they packed them up and carried them into the next chapter of the trip. A few days later, they exchanged the missing words at the Grand Canyon.

After leaving the chapel, the newlyweds explored Las Vegas with their photographers, stopping for photos around the city before heading to In-N-Out for burgers and fries. “We absolutely wanted burgers and fries for our wedding, but eating at an actual American fast-food joint… that was the best!”

Océane added several handmade details to her outfit, customising her bridal shoes and bag with gems. Her bouquet was created by a crochet artist, giving her something permanent to bring home. Pierre’s socks featured the faces of their two cats, who remained back in France while their humans got married on the other side of the world.

The following morning, the couple and their photographers drove into Valley of Fire State Park for photos and to kick off their honeymoon. They then continued with a five-day road trip travelling through Arizona, Utah and concluding at he Grand Canyon. Their full honeymoon trip lasted 15 days and took in national parks, Route 66 and San Francisco.

And if they had to plan it all again? “We’d do exactly the same thing without hesitation!!!” they concluded. “A wedding with just the two of you is just as amazing, we promise.”