As an ordained priest (and licensed wedding officiate in the State of Nevada), Father David officiates Catholic and Christian weddings in Las Vegas wedding chapels, in private homes, hotel suites, various outdoor locations, and other special venues - including at St. Jude's Chapel of the Holy Family, where he celebrates Nuptial Masses as well as simple Catholic/Christian wedding ceremonies. St. Jude's, of course, is his favorite wedding venue. "There's nothing quite like a church wedding," he says. "And St. Jude's is one of the most uniquely beautiful churches in Southern Nevada. Also, it's nice to know that the donation for the use of the church goes directly to the children of St. Jude's Ranch."
Father David also officiates many weddings in chapels and hotels in Las Vegas – including Bellagio, The Venetian, Caesar’s Palace, Garden Chapel at the Flamingo, Treasure Island, and at Loew’s Lake Las Vegas Resort; as well as at diverse locations such as Bali Hai Golf Club, Red Rock Country Club – and the Valley of Fire.
Father David St. John has lived in Las Vegas for almost 12 years and has been very involved in the local tourism industry – particularly in the area of weddings.
An Independent Catholic priest in the National Catholic Church of North America, Father David is also an entrepreneur: Chief Operating Officer of Barrett St. John Publications; Partner in Weddings Las Vegas; Partner in Ultimate Las Vegas; President of Vegas Attitude, LLC., and creator of numerous web sites specializing in Las Vegas weddings and tourism information.
Ultimate Las Vegas (ULV): Let’s start with the most obvious question. How can you be a Catholic priest and a Las Vegas businessman at the same time? Isn’t that like having one foot in heaven and the other in, uh . . . somewhere else?
David St. John (DSJ): I suppose you could put it that way. Priests (and bishops) in the National Catholic Church and other Independent Catholic jurisdictions have always been bi-vocational . . .
ULV: Wait a minute. Bi-vocational? What is that?
DSJ: Being bi-vocational merely means that unlike our fellow priests in the Roman Catholic Church, we are not supported by the church. As a result we have to actually work for a living. So, perhaps, you could say it’s like having one foot in heaven and the other firmly planted in the world. Our calling is the priesthood, but our earthly vocation is whatever we choose. I happen to promote Las Vegas tourism, sell extraordinary wedding packages, and officiate Catholic and Christian weddings.
ULV: Let’s get one more thing out of the way. That looks like a wedding ring on your finger. I thought Catholic priests took a vow of chastity. What gives?
DSJ: Yes this is a wedding ring on my finger. I am happily married and have been for over 31 years. It is true that Roman Catholic priests do not marry, but Independent Catholic priests are allowed to be married. It is a choice. They are equally allowed to not marry, should that be their choice.
ULV: Does this come as a surprise to many people?
DSJ: Roman Catholics – especially those that are not even aware that there is such a thing as Independent Catholicism – are quite surprised by it. But then they nearly always remark that it does, in fact, make a lot of sense. They seem to like the idea that a priest can also share in the experience of marriage, and the experience of working for a living out in the world. Imagine; a Catholic priest who knows what it’s like to keep a marriage going, to raise children, to deal with life in the outside world. When I celebrate a couple’s marriage ceremony, I know first-hand what they are getting themselves into. There is such a thing as marital bliss, but it takes a lot of work and a lot of sacrificial love to attain it.
ULV: Does this make any difference in the marriage ceremony?
DSJ: No, it’s just a fact that some couples appreciate. For the short time we are together during the ceremony, it changes the dynamic just a little. In reality, however, it is the couple who are celebrating the marriage. Our belief is that the Sacrament of Marriage is the only Sacrament not celebrated by the priest. It is celebrated by the bride and groom themselves. The priest is only there to facilitate the Sacrament, and to witness it and accept in on God’s behalf. The dynamic of which I speak is that as the facilitator, I am able to do so not only from God’s viewpoint, but also from a feet-on-the-ground, earthly perspective as well. This is not doctrine nor dogma. It’s just a personal feeling I have. Protestants find this to be true in virtually all cases, but it is somewhat unique in the Catholic world.
ULV: What are some of the other differences, if any?
DSJ: Roman Catholic priests can only marry couples in the church. I can marry couples in many different places, including wedding chapels, hotels, gardens, country clubs, or even out in the middle of the desert – such as in the Valley of Fire. I use to do a few helicopter weddings, at the Grand Canyon – but not anymore. I have lost my desire to fly.
Another difference is that we do not deal in nor honor annulments. The Roman church has many rules and regulations regarding previous marriages and how they are dealt with. Divorce is never desirable, but in the real world we consider it sufficient. I could tell you countless sad stories (some even horror stories) about annulments and other “paperwork” requirements that caused a great deal of grief to couples who couldn’t get married in the Roman church.
ULV: What is your favorite type of wedding?
DSJ: I like all types of weddings and locations – especially as long as it is meaningful and appropriate for the couple. Usually, however, I find that the simpler the better. There is nothing wrong with big weddings, and having tons of photos, etc. if that’s what the couple (especially the bride) want. But sometimes those things take priority and create a great deal of stress and suddenly the actual marriage ceremony becomes a minor irritation to get through so they can get more photos and more video or whatever. I always appreciate it when the ceremony is treated as the main course and everything else is the frosting on the cake.
ULV: What is your take on the Las Vegas marriage scene today? Has is changed much in your 12 years here?
DSJ: It is still quite healthy. My first year here, there were about 104,000 marriage licenses issued in Clark County. The high point came in 2004, with 128,000, and the last year for which we have complete results is in 2007, in which about 109,000 marriage licenses were issued. And I believe those numbers are going up again. That is still, on average, about 300 weddings per day. Per day! I am continually amazed when I think about it.
When I got here, most wedding chapels were free-standing and privately owned. But that was about the time when more and more hotels were putting in their own wedding chapels. They were discovering what a lucrative business it could be. Now, most new hotels either have an actual wedding chapel or a wedding department which arranges weddings somewhere on the property. And new wedding chapels pop up every now and then. It has become a very competitive business with more and more people trying to get their piece of the pie. That’s not a bad thing, though, as long as we all work to maintain high standards and concentrate on providing quality service to the couples.
As I said, I think the wedding business is healthy, and entering into a new phase, just as Las Vegas in general is doing. We are the crossroads of the world. The world comes here to have fun – and to get married. Couples who plan to elope to Las Vegas often let the cat out of the bag and end up bringing many friends and family with them. They find that a Las Vegas wedding – even with airfare, hotel, food, shopping, and a little gambling – can be far less expensive and far less an obligation to family and friends, than what it would require back home.
But it doesn’t matter whether they get married in Sioux City or in Sin City. After the fun and excitement and romance of their wedding day, the success or failure of their marriage always depends on the importance they give it and their willingness to make it grow. We can provide the party, but they have to do the work.
