When reviewing a last minute trip to Los Angeles to visit friends, Lauren noticed the ride home included a layover in Las Vegas. Having only been once for work and trapped in a hotel the whole time, she wondered if they could stay a day and explore the city. She brought the plan to Joel and that's when he joked, "What would happen if we just eloped in Vegas? You know, with Elvis!" "Actually," Lauren added, "did you know you can get married at the Taco Bell?!" After sleeping on it, these jokes didn't seem so much like a joke anymore and a top secret plan was hatched! Joel was off to Macy's for a new shirt. Lauren lucked up on a brand new dress at the thrift shop. Hotels were booked, bags were packed, and all the past wedding planning/COVID/planning/cancelation/planning/stomach virus/planning/monkey wrenches of the past were thrown out the window! Finally, on the afternoon of September 6th, at temperatures around 112 degrees, the knot was tied and Joel and Lauren became husband and wife!