Sure Thing Chapel Brings Vegas-Style Weddings to NYC's Lower East Side

Sure Thing Chapel, a Las Vegas-inspired wedding venue founded by Amy Hybarger and Victoria Hogan, has opened its first New York City outpost on the Lower East Side. The chapel features a pink exterior and a street-facing window that draws onlookers, while its interiors include red draped curtains, a hanging heart, light pink chairs, disco ball pigeons, and a mirrored ceiling. Officiants include a topless drag Satan-meets-Elvis character called "Hellvis," as well as Tillie the Clown, a genderless NYC-based drag performer, and Grace, a former human rights worker. The venue offers vintage photobooth services through a connecting door to Autophoto, a photo booth museum. Couples Sophia and Carlos, who met via OkCupid nine years ago, married there to avoid large traditional weddings, with Hellvis blessing them in the name of "Love and Satan's music, a.k.a rock 'n' roll." Marie and Daniel renewed their vows for their 20th anniversary, accompanied by their 11-year-old chihuahua Vincent Price wearing a bedazzled jumpsuit. Hellvis described officiating as "the best gig in the world," and Tillie emphasized the importance of love amid dark times and attacks on queer people. The chapel aims to disrupt New York's bridal "Good Taste Industrial Complex" with its untraditional and nostalgic approach.