Elvis weddings in Vegas could be a thing of the past after chapels are warned to stop using the impersonators.
Authentic Brands Group, the licensing company that owns the rights to the king's image and likeness, says it is protecting his trademark and cease and desist letters are going out to Las Vegas wedding chapels.
The move is sending a shock wave through sin city's wedding industry. "I got a letter. The letter was one that did not return to sender, by the way," says business owner Kent Ripley.
The letter alleges that Ripley's livelihood as an Elvis impersonator and minister is commercial exploitation and trademark violation. "This is this is my idol. Like, you know, my hero. I'm all shook up!"
Ripley has worked his way up to co-owning his own chapel, the name-- Elvis Chapel on Casino Center Boulevard. He says his business is just healing from the pandemic's devastating economic blows. "That was a bad time. Now, this is, if this comes out, we're just not even recovered from that."
The wedding industry in Las Vegas is estimated to generate $2 billion a year.