chapel hostess

[Alucardkoten]

what is a chapel hostess?
in this text
The mother cries; the stepfather, awkward in his role, invites the chapel hostess to join them for a drink at the Sands. The hostess declines with a professional smile; she has already transferred her interest to the group waiting outside. One bride out, another in, and again the sign goes up on the chapel door: “One moment please—Wedding.”
Marrying Absurd BY Joan Didion
thanks

 

[watercanyon]

Does this refer to Las Vegas, Nevada, USA? If so, or if it is in a similar place, they have 'Wedding Chapels' where people can just walk in and ask to be married. No big planning, with or without friends and families. These places perform weddings one after another - maybe two or three in an hour. The 'wedding hostess' would be the woman who coordinated things, like a hostess at a restaurant would coordinate who sat at what table.

 

[jtm22]

(this is a guess based on context...) Imagine a "Maître D'" (the person who greets you and finds you a table at a restaurant) but in the context of a wedding chapel, such as in Las Vegas, for example... The "Chapel Hostess" is the woman who greets ato-be bride and groom at the wedding chapel and who ushers them into the chapel when the other wedding is finished and it's their turn.

 

[Alucardkoten]

yes,this text really refers to Las Vegas.
Thanks for your help