Here’s the thing nobody tells you when you start planning a Vegas chapel wedding: most chapels include their own in-house photographer, and outside photographers are restricted or not allowed at all. If you already have a photographer you love, the chapel you pick decides whether they can even walk in the door with a camera.
I photograph Las Vegas elopements almost every day, so I keep a very close eye on this. As of 2026, only three Vegas chapels let you bring your own photographer. Here they are and how it works at each one. (Chapel policies change, so always confirm when you book!)
The short answer: the three chapels that allow outside photographers
- Little White Wedding Chapel – your own photographer is welcome, and it’s free
- Sure Thing Chapel (and Sure Thing Too) – also free
- That Chapel Downtown – outside photographers allowed
Every other chapel in town either bundles its own photography or charges a fee, and many simply say no. More on that below.
1. Little White Wedding Chapel (free)
The most famous chapel in Vegas, open since 1951, is also the friendliest to outside photographers: bringing your own photographer is completely free. Just tell the chapel when you book that you’re bringing your own, and your photographer checks in with you 30 minutes before the ceremony (that check-in time is strict, don’t be late!). The ceremony itself is sweet and short, around 7 minutes, or about 15 with Elvis.
The chapel’s own photographers get priority on the photo spots, but there is truly nothing an outside photographer can’t shoot here, and the staff is wonderful to work with. This is my home chapel: I shoot here almost every day and know every corner, from the Tunnel of Love to the pink Cadillac. I wrote the full insider guide here: Little White Wedding Chapel Las Vegas (2026 update).
2. Sure Thing Chapel (free)
Sure Thing on Fremont Street is actually two chapels a couple of doors apart: the original all-pink retro room and the newer, soft-blue Sure Thing Too. Your own photographer is welcome for free here too. Everything happens inside the chapel during your time slot, and if you want photos outside, their vintage-car add-on parks a classic car out front for after the ceremony.
3. That Chapel Downtown
The third chapel on the list, a newer, modern option downtown that welcomes outside photographers. Their packages evolve quickly, so double-check the details when you book.
What about every other Vegas chapel?
Almost every other chapel bundles its own photography, and their house photographers get exclusive access during the ceremony. A few allow an outside photographer for a fee (A Special Memory chapel is one example, confirm directly), but at most chapels your photographer would literally have to wait outside.
One mix-up I see all the time: The Little Vegas Chapel is not the Little White Wedding Chapel. Similar names, completely different photography policies. If the chapel name doesn’t have “white” in it, double-check before you book.
Why bring your own photographer at all?
Chapel photo packages are built around the ceremony: a set number of minutes and photos, all inside the chapel. Your own photographer is with you for the whole story: the nerves and champagne before, the ceremony, and then out into the city for the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign and Fremont Street after dark, which is where Vegas photos get REALLY fun. That’s exactly how a Las Vegas elopement works when you plan the day around the photos.
Quick answers
Do we pay a fee to bring our own photographer? Not at the three chapels above. At the Little White Wedding Chapel and Sure Thing Chapel it’s free. Elsewhere, ask before you book; some charge a fee and most decline.
Do we need to tell the chapel in advance? Yes, just mention it when you book your ceremony. Your photographer then checks in with you before the ceremony and everything runs smoothly.
Can our photographer shoot during the ceremony itself? Yes! At these three chapels your photographer covers the ceremony too. House photographers get spot priority, but nothing gets missed.
Planning a chapel elopement and want the photos to feel like you? I’m a Las Vegas elopement photographer and these chapels are my daily office. Send me your date and I’ll tell you honestly if it’s open 🙂
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which Las Vegas chapels let you bring your own photographer?
As of 2026, three do: the Little White Wedding Chapel, Sure Thing Chapel (and Sure Thing Too), and That Chapel Downtown. Most other Vegas chapels bundle their own house photographer, and many do not allow an outside one at all. Policies change, so always confirm when you book.
Do you pay a fee to bring your own photographer?
Not at the three chapels above. At the Little White Wedding Chapel and Sure Thing Chapel it is completely free. Elsewhere, ask before you book, since some charge a fee and most decline.
Do you need to tell the chapel in advance?
Yes. Just mention it when you book your ceremony. Your photographer then checks in with you before the ceremony, usually about 30 minutes ahead at the Little White Wedding Chapel, and everything runs smoothly.
Can your photographer shoot during the ceremony itself?
Yes. At these three chapels your photographer covers the ceremony too. The chapel’s house photographers get priority on the photo spots, but nothing important gets missed.
Is the Little Vegas Chapel the same as the Little White Wedding Chapel?
No. They have similar names but completely different photography policies. If the chapel name does not have the word white in it, double-check the outside-photographer rules before you book.
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