Elvis and Priscilla Presley's Wedding: An Iconic and Over-the-Top Celebration

It was a celebrity romance that captivated the world and broke all the rules. When Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n' Roll, fell for the teenage Priscilla Beaulieu, it caused quite a scandal. Their whirlwind courtship was filled with controversy, but their 1967 wedding was an event like no other. Let's take a juicy look back at the drama behind Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s wedding!

Rock 'n' Roll Romance: The Controversial Love Story of Elvis and Priscilla

Oh honey, let us tell you about the love affair between Elvis Presley and Priscilla Beaulieu. It all started back in 1959 when Elvis, at the ripe old age of 24, met the barely 14-year-old Priscilla at a party he threw in Germany while serving in the army. Can you believe it? The King of Rock 'n' Roll setting his sights on a child! We can only imagine the rumors that must have started flying around.

Now, Priscilla has always insisted they didn't get physical until they tied the knot, but you know how those famous musicians are. Elvis was at the peak of his fame and probably had women throwing themselves at him left and right backstage and on the road. Yet for some reason, he got totally hung up on this young thing from the moment he laid eyes on her. Some have speculated it was because she was so young and naive that she didn't fawn all over his celebrity like others. Either way, he decided to keep in touch with Priscilla after leaving Germany in 1960.

Well, things escalated quickly from there. In 1962, when Priscilla was just 17 years old, her parents actually let her visit Elvis in LA for two weeks! We’re sure they thought having her stay with the famous singer was pretty safe. But being the rebellious teenagers they were, these two ran off to Las Vegas instead for a romantic rendezvous! Can you imagine the sheer panic Priscilla's parents must have felt when they found out? Their little girl alone with Elvis in Sin City? It's a miracle they didn't have heart attacks!

After that Vegas scandal, her folks finally just gave in and let Priscilla move into Graceland in 1963 - but only after Elvis promised to make an honest woman of her and let her finish high school first while living with his parents. How generous of the King! Still, we all know Elvis was the furthest thing from a faithful, devoted partner in those years leading up to the wedding in 1967.

By 1966 though, he finally decided to put a ring on it - a 3.5-carat diamond stunner surrounded by 20 more detachable diamonds. And get this, Elvis was so obsessed with his bride-to-be that he had jeweler Harry Levitch make him a matching diamond ring too! So extra, right? Their road to the altar was just filled with drama and controversy every step of the way.

A Look Back at Elvis and Priscilla Presley's Wedding

While their road to the altar was filled with scandal, Elvis and Priscilla Presley's Las Vegas wedding was a remarkable, if unconventional, affair. From the covert ceremony to the lavish reception, no expense was spared to give this rock 'n' roll romance a royally memorable event. Let's dive into all the details!

The Ceremony

Can you even imagine getting married at 9 am on a Monday? That's the unusual time Elvis and Priscilla chose to say "I do" back on May 1, 1967. By having such an early morning midweek ceremony, they were able to have a private, secretive wedding away from prying eyes and shrieking fans. It was held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas with only 14 intimate guests - including Priscilla's 13-year-old baby sister Michelle as her maid of honor! How cute is that?

Now from what we’ve heard, the covert nuptials were a total whirlwind. The couple and their wedding party had stayed up all night at Elvis' Palm Springs home, then hopped on planes at midnight to get to Vegas. They secured their marriage licenses at a casual 3:30 am before hurrying right into the ceremony just a few hours later. Talk about a crazy rush!

The actual vows were over in a flash - just 8 minutes from when Priscilla descended the aisle to when they were pronounced husband and wife. Short and sweet, but also no-fuss, just like Elvis preferred it. He even requested the classic vow "to obey" be removed from Priscilla's vows! How very forward-thinking of the era's biggest heartthrob.

Rather than have a traditional wedding party, Elvis had his entourage of guys act as groomsmen. Can't you just picture it - the King up at the altar surrounded by his core crew of off-duty pals tapped to stand up for him on his big day? Such a quintessentially Elvis move.

The Reception

While the vows were a blur, Elvis and Priscilla didn't hold back on the over-the-top celebrations afterward. His manager organized a breakfast reception for 100 guests with all the finest meals fit for music royalty - roast suckling pig, oysters Rockefeller, lobster, piles of crispy Southern fried chicken, you name it. And of course, they had to wash it all down with crisp Champagne!

But get this - their very first dance as a married couple was to "Love Me Tender"... by Elvis himself! How perfectly, shamelessly on-brand is that? We can only imagine this swoon-worthy moment. If that wasn't enough, the newlyweds made a stop to hold an actual press conference in the middle of their wedding festivities. Elvis' manager no doubt wanted to ensure maximum publicity for this major event. Can you picture reporters firing off questions and cameras flashing as Elvis and Priscilla basked in the glory of their brand-new marriage? Only at an Elvis wedding, darling.

Priscilla Presley’s Wedding Ring

Speaking of that flashy 3.5-carat diamond engagement ring Elvis proposed with, you won't believe the wedding band he had made for his bride-to-be. It was a solid gold eternity style, with a huge center diamond framed by smaller gemstones going all the way around. Very regal and fitting for the King!

Priscilla Presley's Iconic Wedding Dress

For her big day, Priscilla looked every bit the blushing bride in a classic white floor-length gown made of silk chiffon. It had a beaded, pearl-embellished neckline and sleeves, plus a long sheer veil attached to a pillbox cap to complete the dreamy look. Very timeless and elegant for the era.

Though in hindsight, that body-skimming silhouette may have fueled those pesky pregnancy rumors surrounding their wedding. You know how vicious the gossip circles could be, especially for a young woman marrying an older, famous man! Priscilla later admitted to overhearing whispers speculating she was already pregnant on their wedding day just based on how formfitting her dress was.

For her beauty look, Priscilla went full glamour with a classic '60s style bouffant updo and her long dark hair piled high, with the ends softly curled under. Paired with a striking smoky eye from her heavy winged liner and a mini-tiara atop her veil, she looked every inch the sophisticated leading lady. 

The Cake

Last but not least, this lavish affair wouldn't be complete without an equally lavish cake! This one took the cake, if you'll pardon the pun. The couple spared no expense on their towering six-tiered yellow sponge confection.

It had layers of apricot marmalade and Bavarian cream filling separating each tier, all glazed in a smooth fondant icing and decorated with intricate royal icing roses. Not to mention it was studded with marzipan flowers, sugared almonds, and darling little heart-shaped toppers. The real kicker though? Priscilla Presley's wedding cake cost a jaw-dropping $3,200 back in 1967 - that's nearly $30,000 in today's money! 

Between the lavish dress, towering cake, and over-the-top reception spread, it's clear Elvis and Priscilla celebrated their nuptials with the utmost A-list flair. It was an intimate yet lavish affair that perfectly captured the mystique and excess of this famous couple's whirlwind romance. The scandals, the secrecy, the rebellious attitudes - it was all so quintessentially Elvis. While their storybook marriage didn't go the distance, Priscilla and Elvis definitely pulled out all the stops to give us an iconic celebrity wedding for the ages!