Didion opens with this statement: “To be married in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, a bride must swear that she is eighteen or has parental permission and a bridegroom that he is twenty-one or has parental permission.” The author expresses concern about the lack of requirements necessary to be married. It is similar to going to a fast food restaurant’s drive-thru, except, instead of leaving with a burger and fries, you’re leaving with a new spouse. There is no blood testing needed or waiting period. In actuality it takes more proof and time to become a new member at a movie store.

Didion sarcastically goes on to say that “Someone must put up five dollars for the license.” Not only is Didion letting us know the inexpensiveness of the we

Many people in our nation choose to marry in chapels, but when the author introduces her readers to “Strip chapels” a whole new viewpoint is introduced. “But what strikes one most about the Strip chapels,...” Didion begins. Strip chapels? By placing the word strip in front of chapel, Didion takes any chance of the word chapel sounding respectable. Going to a bar is acceptable to most, but when the word strip is associated with bar, it becomes a social morés. It is generally unheard of for two persons to become one entity in a strip chapel. If the name strip chapel isn’t tacky enough these “holy places” chose to adorn their chapels with gaudy “stained-glass paper windows and their artificial bouvardia.” Not only does it make one question the patrons, it makes you question the business as well.

The author is implying that there is a “cheapness” about Las Vegas weddings, not only in a literal sense but a physical sense also.

Throughout Didion’s entire essay, not once was the importance of God mentioned. As one gives themselves to another under the eyes of God, “until death do us part” the importance of the ceremony should play more of a role in the laws to be married. A vow that is “everlasting” shouldn’t be allowed to be taken, by a drunken woman, who needs to hurry home to “get the kids.” Didion was trying to allow her readers to understand how acceptable the lack of morals is, in parts of our society. The author has done an excellent job of successfully achieving her intended message.

Under normal circumstances marriage is generally considered to be a sacred event. The author leads us to believe that on this particular day the services performed were

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