After eight months of tight-lipped secret keeping, Layne McGehee and Anthony Noto gathered their close friends and family in a private room in Las Vegas to announce that the couple’s joint bachelor and bachelorette trips would actually serve as their wedding weekend.

“Everyone was freaking out,” Layne recalls. “It was so fun and exciting to see all of our friends’ faces because they thought they weren’t going to be a part of our wedding day at all.”

Layne says she was always sure that elopement was right for Anthony and her, who met back in 2016 through close friends. But it wasn’t until Anthony expressed his desire to see the Tigers play their 2024 season opener against the University of Southern California in Las Vegas that the plans for a surprise elopement took shape.

“I suggested doing a joint bachelor and bachelorette trip to Las Vegas for the LSU game,” Layne says. “But then we thought, why not make it a surprise for our friends and get married that weekend instead.”

Hiring planning company Elope in Las Vegas, Layne and Anthony were largely hands-off when it came to the lead up to the wedding. “That meant that a lot of the weekend was also a surprise to me,” Layne says with a laugh.

1 of 3

The couple was married at The Neon Museum in a ceremony officiated by an Elvis impersonator in true Las Vegas fashion.

Following the ceremony, Layne changed into a short dress for a newlywed photo session in Old Las Vegas. And to finish the night, guests met up with the couple at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant for dinner in a private room overlooking the iconic Las Vegas Strip.

“I made sure the restaurant brought a speaker into the space,” Layne says. “We surprised my dad and his mom with the traditional dances, which was special because they didn’t think they would get to share those moments with us.”

Looking back, Layne says she feels lucky to be able to look back on the entire weekend with zero regrets.

“We wanted to just enjoy and have fun,” Layne says. “I would do it over again, and I recommend it to anyone. There’s such a feeling in the air of love. It was such a fun, exciting and memorable experience.”

Hear from Him & Her

What is your favorite thing about one another?

Layne: It’s hard to choose just one thing, but one of my favorite things about Anthony is the comfort and security he brings. He’s truly my best friend. His determination and passion, whether in his career or learning something new, always amaze me.

Anthony: One of my favorite things about Layne is her fun-loving attitude. She loves a good time, especially with her favorite people. She has a great sense of humor and an endless supply of love to give, and her ability to brighten a room still surprises me.

What is one detail that stands out when you think back on your wedding weekend?

L: Anthony’s sweet and teary eyes when he saw me walking down the aisle. I’ve never felt as special as I did in that moment. And the fact that the whole wedding felt like a movie. I still can’t believe it was real—in the best way possible.

A: I’ll never forget how stunning I was when I first saw Layne walking down the aisle. She looked so beautiful I couldn’t believe it. Elvis was pretty fun and memorable, too.

If you had one piece of advice for engaged couples, what would it be?

L: My advice is to fully embrace and enjoy the engagement stage. It’s such a sweet and special time that passes quicker than you might expect. Don’t let the stress of wedding planning take away from this exciting and fun season of your relationship.

A: My advice is to not let other people’s opinions affect how you approach your engagement and wedding. At the end of the day, it’s about the two of you. Decide together what you truly want and try not to waver from it.

CEREMONY: The Neon Museum, Las Vegas // RECEPTION: Eiffel Tower Restaurant // PLANNER: Elope in Las Vegas //DRESS: Bliss Bridal, New Orleans