Anthrax Drummer Charlie Benante Marries Singer Carla Harvey Wedding Exclusive

Charlie Benante and Carla Harvey tied the knot — rockstar style!

The Anthrax drummer, 62, and The Violent Hour vocalist, 49, said “I do” at The Secret Garden in Las Vegas on Sunday, Oct. 12. More than 200 guests attended the wedding, including members of the couple’s bands, alongside members of KISS, Pantera, Mötley Crüe, Chris Jericho, Dream Theater and Nickelback.

“The wedding is like an elegant Russ Meyer movie with a rock and roll twist,” Benante tells PEOPLE.

KISS bassist and co-lead singer Gene Simmons officiated the ceremony, just five days after he was hospitalized following a car crash in Malibu, California.

“The initial idea was a small, intimate wedding with just a few friends and family, but we knew that we would not be able to get away with a small wedding once other friends heard about it,” Benante says. “We just want our closest in a room together celebrating.”

The “overall vibe” of the wedding was “very ’50s with a bit of horror.” The “elegant” space was filled with pinball machines and candles, exuding a playful, yet romantic ambiance. Entertainment included an Elvis Presley impersonator, showgirls, a live band and “a jam session with some of the musicians on hand.”

For Benante, who also plays guitar, and Harvey, who previously sang for the metal band Butcher Babies, choosing to wed in Sin City was a no-brainer.

“Everyone would have fun in Vegas,” Benante says. “Elvis loved Vegas and what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. There were Rat Pack parties at the venue in the 1960s.”

The couple revealed that Harvey took the helm when it came to wedding planning. Benante’s daughter, Mia, from a previous marriage also assisted. After he was freed up from touring, Benante focused on helping with the music and flow of the celebration because timing and execution were especially important to him.

The bride and groom chose a wedding color palette of black, gray, white and purple — the last of which had a sentimental meaning.

“The color purple is very important to my family as that was my mother’s favorite color,” Benante says. “Though my mother can’t be with us physically, when we see the color purple we know she is with us.”

Wearing a floral lace mermaid gown designed by Calla Blanche from Here Comes the Bride Barrington, Harvey made her grand entrance in a vintage Corvette. She exited the vehicle and walked down the aisle as “November Rain” by Guns N’ Roses played.

After she exchanged handwritten vows with Benante, Harvey changed into a bedazzled and feathery dress from Mew Mews.

“The thing about Carla that is great, she is very artistic,” Benante gushes. “The way we see things are very similar. Carla has a lot of drive and strives to be better and better.”

The newlyweds shared their first dance to “All I Want Is You” by U2. The song choice is a special nod to their engagement. Benante proposed during a U2 show at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Jan. 27, 2024. He noted in his engagement announcement post that the rock band played “All I Want Is You.” Later in the evening, there was jam session with Benante on the drums as well as Mike Portnoy, Frank Bello and Scott Ian of Anthrax, Zach Throne and Rex from Pantera with Chris Jericho on vocals.

There was an abundance of food at the reception. Entrees included filet mignon, fish and pasta, served family style. For dessert was slices of the four-tiered vegan wedding cake, which was vanilla flavored with raspberry jam and strawberry shortcake.

As a late-night snack, guests were surprised with a food truck featuring Elvis’ famously indulgent peanut butter and banana sandwiches, plus burgers and fries. Guests were given custom Bride of Frankenstein dolls made to look like the happy couple as favors.

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Years ago, Benante and Harvey met when Harvey’s former band played at the same festival as Anthrax. The pair were introduced by Anthrax’s manager, “and that was it.”

The couple currently don’t have any honeymoon plans, but hope to eventually “go somewhere that is serene and relaxing.”

“We are finishing the second EP for Carla’s band, The Violent Hour, and we will be releasing an Anthrax album shortly, so we will be getting right back to work after the wedding,” Benante says.