Elvis Presley proposed to Priscilla Presley at Graceland in December 1966 with a stunning 3.5-carat diamond engagement ring. After months of preparation, the couple decided to have a secret wedding ceremony in Las Vegas. On May 1, 1967, they exchanged vows at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in a small, intimate ceremony attended by just 14 guests.
The ceremony was brief, lasting only about 10 minutes, and was officiated by a Supreme Judge from Nevada. At Elvis’s request, the traditional “obey” clause was omitted from the vows. Priscilla looked beautiful in a white silk chiffon wedding gown with a beaded neckline and sleeves, accompanied by a rhinestone crown and a 3-foot veil. Elvis wore a stylish black tuxedo.
The couple wore matching wedding rings, designed by Elvis with the Circle G Ranch motif. Priscilla’s 13-year-old sister, Michelle Beaulieu, served as the Maid of Honor and received a special ring from Elvis. Joe Esposito and Marty Lacker were Elvis’s Best Men and were gifted bullhead cufflinks with diamond tie clasps.
After the ceremony, the couple celebrated with a champagne breakfast reception and a press conference for around 100 guests. The reception featured a stunning 5-foot, six-tier pink and white wedding cake. Following the ceremony, Elvis and Priscilla flew back to Palm Springs for a short honeymoon before returning to Graceland.
Later in May, Elvis hosted a second reception at Graceland for family, friends, and staff members who couldn’t attend the Las Vegas ceremony. Unfortunately, the couple’s marriage was not meant to last, and they divorced on October 9, 1973. Despite the end of their marriage, the memory of their romantic and intimate wedding ceremony has endured.
