Jake and Miki, from Geelong, Australia, decided to ditch the traditional Australian wedding scene and head to the bright lights of Vegas instead. They wanted an intimate day with a black-tie feel and, of course, a Vegas twist.

“We’re from Australia, and so many weddings here are the same—beautiful, but predictable,” Miki told us. “We didn’t want that. We wanted a Vegas wedding, the kind of thing you dream of but don’t always do. The only rule was black and white. Even my sisters went a little wild—one wore a black lace dress with just underwear underneath, and the other had a two-piece with sheer elements. But that’s what made it feel so us, pushing boundaries without it looking cheap.”

For Miki, Instagram was a huge source of inspiration. From her dress (which her sister found for her on sale!) to the gluten-free cake and their photographer, social media played a major role in planning the day. “It all just came together perfectly,” she said. “A Vegas wedding is one of those bucket list kind of things. As chaotic as the day was with kids, it was amazing having them a part of it. One day they will look back and realise how iconic it was.”

Their ceremony at A Little White Chapel was classic Vegas, with Elvis as their celebrant. “Elvis walked me down the aisle singing Can’t Help Falling in Love, which is one of our favourite songs,” Miki continued. “Then, after we said our vows, he serenaded us with Viva Las Vegas. It was surreal. We wanted it to be fun and relaxed, with no pressure, and that’s exactly what it was.”

Adding another layer to the uniqueness of the day was the fact that it coincided with Jake’s 30th birthday. “We kind of did everything backwards,” Miki admits. “We had lunch before the ceremony to celebrate Jake’s birthday, which also served as our reception. Then, we had our ceremony at 5:30 pm and took photos around Downtown. We got back to our hotel around 8 pm, put our kids to bed, and then went and had drinks followed by some dancing.”

As they reflect on their day, Jake and Miki say they wouldn’t change a thing. “The best part was mainly the fact that no one knew we were going to get married while in Vegas,” the bride concluded. “We decided to only tell our immediate family, so it was fun planning it but also keeping it a secret from everyone. The ceremony was so much fun and our photos were fun to capture—walking down the street drinking champagne and eating cake on the curb. It felt like a movie. Strangers were walking past congratulating us. We really were just living in the moment.”