Historic chapels offer ambiance with convenience by Alyssa Exline, Outpost contibutor   Wedding chapels in northern Nevada have existed for many years. People around the world are aware of the services they provide to couples desiring a quick marriage. The Silver Queen hotel and wedding chapel, located in Virginia City, is one of the oldest of these chapels. This historic hotel, named after a 16-foot, silver-based monument given to the city in order to pay tribute to the vast silver mines that once existed, was established in the late 1800s and has been conducting wedding ceremonies for over fifty years. Throughout the years, thousands of couples have gotten married in the small, peaceful chapel located at the back of the modest casino. Couples, sometimes totaling as many as 12 a day, enjoy a ceremony taking place amidst antique furniture imported from France in the 19th century. Red velvet couches rest against the ivy draped walls of the chapel as an old time piano plays throughout the ceremony. The town judge conducts the wedding while the couples stand next to a large brick fireplace as they take their sacred marriage vows. "I still cry at every ceremony," said Susan Carlson, wife of the owner, Tiny Carlson. Tiny Carlson bought the Silver Queen more than eight years ago and has since witnessed several hundred weddings per year. Although most couples make reservations for the big day, they are not required in order to use the chapel. For $95, the happy pair will receive not only a marriage, but wedding champagne, a Silver Queen lucky garter and an old time photo. "Everything you can imagine has happened here," said Susan Carlson, in reference to wedding memories of the past. Beginning with something as minor as clothing, throughout the years people have attended their wedding in everything from traditional wedding attire, including black tuxedos and long white dresses to shorts and t-shirts. People have also had guests of all types in attendance for their weddings. For some that means bringing man's best friend the dog to the ceremony in a matching bandanna, but for others that includes exchanging vows in the presence of a mule. Many wedding bloopers have occurred at the Silver Queen as well, including everything from forgotten wedding rings to mishaps involving times. Tiny Carlson describes one of the most memorable and exciting weddings as being when several years ago the Captain and Tenille from the old television show renewed their vows at the chapel during a televised event. Many people coming to the Silver Queen simply want to do the same, renew their marriage vows after a number years of marriage. In order to officially renew vows in front of a judge it is necessary to obtain a new marriage license although that is not always needed at the Silver Queen. "Sometimes we'll let couples go to the chapel alone and say their own vows to each other," Susan Carlson said. they're happy because that's all they really want." Some people like the history associated with the Silver Queen and Virginia City as a whole better then other chapels in the area. Virginia City was first established as a mining camp around the 1850s when gold was beginning to be discovered. The city's population began and continued to increase in great amounts in the years to follow. Couples also enjoy the chapel because they are allowed to design their own weddings and bring in their own minister or priest if they so desire. If they use the judge provided for them, they are able to make a personal recording of each ceremony in order for the couple to remember their special day. The Silver Queen wedding chapel is one that is filled with many memories consisting of more then a half a century full of weddings. The memories of the past are what drive the history and the excitement in the chapel to continue on in the present years. People continue to get married there due to, not only the convenience, but the ambiance that is included while getting married in the historic, little chapel.     copyright May 1998 Nevada Outpost http://www.jour.unr.edu/outpost