Las Vegas' First Couple to Marry on the Busiest Wedding Date of the Year - 11/12/13 - Says
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Las Vegas' First Couple to Marry on the Busiest Wedding Date of the Year - 11/12/13 - Says

Married at Midnight!

Photos and Video Now Available of Extraordinary Wedding

LAS VEGAS - November 12, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - At the stroke of midnight, the first couple to marry in Las Vegas on the iconic date of 11/12/13 said "I do" with Elvis officiating and a 6-tier, piping hot wedding cake made entirely of Smashburgers. The wedding kicked off the nation’s busiest wedding date of the year – 11/12/13 with more than 2,500 couples around the country expected to marry throughout the day.

Elvis, a.k.a. Brendan Paul of the Graceland Wedding Chapel, walked the bride, Darlene Hielscher, down the aisle, to her groom, Bryan Porter, while strumming the guitar. As he presided over the wedding, Elvis worked in song titles of his classic songs, making the couple vow to always "love each other tender" and to never "suspicious minds." Finally, once Elvis pronounced the Ormond Beach, Fla. couple "husband and wife," they sliced right into the wedding cake that included layers of Smashburger’s signature Classic Smash; Bacon Cheeseburger; Spicy Baja and the Sin City Burger, a one-of-kind burger created specifically for Las Vegas. Nearly 100 hamburgers were needed to make this unique creation to come to life. Bryan, an avid Elvis fan, wore shorts and a blue Hawaiian shirt with guitars. The bride donned a white lace-top, jeans and her favorite pair of boots.

"This was the most exciting thing we’ve ever done," says the new Mrs. Porter. "We’ve always wanted to get married in Las Vegas. When we were talking about when to get married, Bryan thought it would be fun to get married on 11/12/13."

Bryan adds, "Well, I thought of the date 11/12/13 because I wanted an anniversary I could easily remember."

Their love of burgers and each other began in 2011. They went on their first date and met for lunch. They talked for hours as they drank beer and ate hamburgers. Afterward, Bryan asked Darlene if they just went on a date. She replied, "We rode in the same car, ate burgers and held hands: I’d say that was a date."

Darlene, 43, sales assistant, and Bryan, 46, IBEW electrician, have been engaged since winter 2012. They dated in high school and reconnected two years ago. This trip also marks their first to Las Vegas and for Darlene, her first time to the West coast.

The couple was selected from a national campaign Smashburger executed earlier this year. With hundreds of interested couples from around the country, lovebirds were asked to submit a video via social media, explaining their love for one another and of course, burgers. To see Darlene and Bryan’s winning entry, click here: http://youtu.be/uAknNjo4sU8.

"Smashburger is a young and vibrant brand. As such, we love adding a modern twist to traditions, that’s why we wanted to have this unique wedding. What says new and trendy more than getting married by Elvis on a unique date like 11/12/13 with burgers," says Stacie Lange, senior vice president of communications, Smashburger.

As for the full package of what the couple received as Smashburger’s winning couple, in addition to the Elvis-and-burgers-themed nuptials:

- Roundtrip airfare from their hometown to Las Vegas courtesy of Smashburger.

- Two nights of accommodations in the spacious and stylish all-new Bally’s Jubilee Tower suites at Bally's Las Vegas.

- Couples’ Massage at Bally's Las Vegas Spa.

- Two tickets to Jubilee!, the longest-running show on the Las Vegas Strip and the last showgirl production of its kind.

- One year’s worth of Smashburgers that can be experienced at any Smashburger location throughout the U.S.

To download photos, go to http://www.wireimage.com/search/#events?q=[187902738]&ep=1/60/1&s=3. (Courtesy Isaac Brekken, Getty Images.) For broll and soundbites, email Marina Nicola at mnicola@wearevoxsolid.com.

About Smashburger

Smashburger is America’s fastest growing, fast casual "better burger" restaurant with more than 230 corporate and franchise restaurants operating in 30 states and in four international countries. The company began in 2007 with the vision of Rick Schaden and funding by Consumer Capital Partners—the private equity firm that he and his father Richard own. By offering fresh, premium "smashed to order" burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, signature side items and hand-spun Häagen-Dazs shakes, Smashburger has modernized the way people think about burgers. Known for localizing its menu in every market with regionally inspired burgers, side items and local craft beers, Smashburger has received numerous awards, including topping Fast Casual’s 2012 Top Mover & Shakers list, America’s Most Promising Company by Forbes magazine, INC. 500’s List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies and INC’s #9 Hire Power Award winner, as well as regularly receiving "best burger" awards in cities around the world. To learn more, visit www.smashburger.com.

About Consumer Capital Partners

Consumer Capital Partners is an innovative investment and operating company, focused on starting up, operating and investing in consumer, franchising and lifestyle brands. Consumer Capital Partners also engages in modern channels of giving across a broad spectrum of contemporary causes. To learn more about CCP, please visit www.consumercp.com.

About Bally’s Las Vegas

Bally’s Las Vegas is located on the center of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip, across from Caesars Palace and next to Paris Las Vegas. The 44-acre resort features two 26-story hotel towers including the all-new Jubilee Tower and offers 2,814 guestrooms, including 244 suites. The resort features 11 restaurants, a relaxing pool oasis, a lavish spa and casino space featuring a Party Pit, poker room, 1,100 slot machines and a first-class Race & Sports Book known for its stadium-style seating and abundance of high-definition television screens. Entertainment options include Jubilee!, the longest-running show on the famous Las Vegas Strip and the last remaining showgirl production of its kind, as well as VÉRONIC Voices starring female tribute artist Véronic DiCaire. Bally’s Las Vegas is also the new home to a staple in Las Vegas nightlife, the legendary Drai’s After Hours. Every Sunday, guests can indulge in the finest array of food from around the world, including caviar, sushi, lobster and Champagne at the world-famous Sterling Brunch. For more information, please visit www.ballyslasvegas.com or caesars.thedigitalcenter.com to access media materials and request high-resolution images. Find Bally’s on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

About Graceland Wedding Chapel

Graceland Wedding Chapel has been a part of Las Vegas for more than 60 years. Thousands of couples over the years have walked down the aisle in this quaint little chapel, located right on the Las Vegas Strip. Offering something a little more ‘Vegas’ for those who want to re-create a wedding fit for a ‘king’ — the king of Rock ’n’ Roll that is. Since Elvis himself made an appearance at the chapel back in 1967, the chapel is the first to offer the ever-popular "Elvis" Wedding, where upon request Elvis will walk the Bride down the aisle, give her away, and provide musical entertainment. Since then, many musical and film celebrities have either made an appearance (Johnny Depp, Salma Hayek, Matthew Perry, Jay Leno, Andie McDowell and others) or actually said "I Do" (some include Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rob Zombie and band members from the Beastie Boys, The Thompson Twins, Def Leppard, KISS and Deep Purple). Normally though, the people who come to the chapel to marry are everyday folks from all walks of life and from almost every country in the world. The chapel features stretch limousine service (also a cotton candy pink 1967 Cadillac Brougham, for those who really want to be authentic), fresh or silk flowers, professional photography and digital recordings of the ceremony. Please visit www.gracelandchapel.com to learn more or like us at www.facebook.com/gracelandchapel.

Media Contacts:

Vox Solid Communications

Marina Nicola
mnicola@wearevoxsolid.com
702-586-2137

Erika Pop
eepope@wearevoxsolid.com
702-249-2977

Social Media Links:

www.Facebook.com/Smashburger
www.Twitter.com/Smashburger

Social Media Handles:

@SmashburgerLV, #SmashWedding
@BallysVegas
@GracelandChape

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