Reno Weddings Not So Numerous

The wedding business around the Reno / Lake Tahoe / Carson City region isn't what it used to be. The recent souring of the economy doesn't appear to be the root cause, since the numbers of wedding licenses issued have been shrinking for years. In Washoe County, the tally is down 35% over the last five years, Carson City's decline is 28%, and in Douglas County (South Lake Tahoe area) it's 49%. All of this has a ripple effect on revenues derived from related services like hotel rooms, catering services, transportation, and gambling.

The most obvious cause is that the numbers of people getting formally hitched has declined everywhere. Other factors include the loosening up of social stigmas about unwed motherhood and living together without benefit of marriage. Competition from other states eats into Nevada's business as well. We're no longer the exclusive destination for quickie weddings and gaming action, and just getting here is more expensive with elevated airline and gasoline costs.

Even so, the Reno / Tahoe region is still a wonderful place for weddings. Lake Tahoe, for example, simply has no equal for including alpine splendor in a wedding ceremony. The most unique wedding I ever attended was on a sailboat in the middle of Lake Tahoe. This is also a wonderful place for romance. Married or not, you can find something to enjoy during this Valentine's Day weekend.

Source: Reno Gazette-Journal.

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