Newlyweds in Newfoundland and Labrador seeking a Vegas-style wedding experience no longer need to make the trip to Sin City. Instead, they can drive to the Southern Shore, where Brenda and Bob Lee have spent the past few months constructing their own rendition of the famous Little White Wedding Chapel from Las Vegas.
Located in Mobile, their creation, Mom’s Little White Chapel, is believed to be the first of its kind in the province. The idea for the chapel emerged after the couple, who operate Mom’s Place bed and breakfast, received a request from a guest who wished to exchange vows while staying at their vacation spot. The ceremony went smoothly, leaving the bride delighted and sparking a vision in Brenda Lee’s mind.
“That night, she woke me up at four in the morning, ‘I got an idea. I got an idea,'” recalls Bob, accustomed to his wife’s creative midnight musings. “I said, ‘Yeah, we got to build a chapel. We should have a little white wedding chapel like they got in Vegas and we should be open all hours.’ Why not see [people] when they’re happiest?”
Bob embraced the idea immediately, although he is still astounded by how quickly things have come together. Merely two months after the February 9th ceremony, the chapel’s concrete floor was poured.
Elvis Inspired
Mom’s Little White Chapel pays homage not only to the name of the renowned Las Vegas institution but also incorporates design elements reminiscent of the elopement destination. These include a custom-made sign and a stained-glass window featuring none other than Elvis Presley.
Brenda’s fondness for the King of Rock and Roll stems from her late uncle Terry, who coincidentally shared a birthday with Elvis.
When Dave Pye and Jillian Gardiner, from St. John’s-based company SGO Designer Glass, heard about the unique request, they knew they had to be a part of it.
Gardiner, embracing the creative freedom to design the panel, incorporated special elements into the artwork, including the phrases ‘The King’ and ‘That’s alright, Mama,’ in honor of Brenda Lee’s late mother.
The design process alone took around 20 hours, while the fabrication process required approximately 100 hours from start to finish.
“Creating stained glass of any iconic figure presents a real challenge. We want people to know right away when they look at it who they’re looking at,” explains Pye. “I think this one is probably head and shoulders above in terms of the fun factor for us. It was great.”
Booking Up Quickly
The chapel is currently receiving its finishing touches before the inaugural ceremony, set to take place on July 14. Later in the fall, the Lees plan to add a custom-made steeple. Brenda, who has become a licensed marriage commissioner, will officiate the ceremonies herself.
Slots for the chapel are filling up rapidly. Within the first 48 hours of announcing the chapel on social media, half a dozen brides booked their dates, and the number of bookings has since risen to 32.
