Elvis Presley lived his life in the scorching glare of the spotlight. The press and public were always nipping at his heels. That was long before the advent of the internet and social media. Everything he did caused a sensation to erupt.
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That is, except for one event - Presley's wedding to his longtime love, Priscilla Beaulieu. With some careful planning and help from a fellow music icon, the adored "Jailhouse Rock" singer tied the knot in relative peace. How in the world did Elvis Presley manage to pull that off?
Elvis and Priscilla Marched Down the Aisle in Secrecy
Per Parade, the glamorous couple got hitched in Las Vegas on May 1, 1967. News of their marriage "shocked the music world when it finally emerged," per the outlet. You might expect such a giant of the music scene to have had a splashy ceremony with hundreds of guests. But Presley and his bride kept things on an intimate scale. Just 14 people were present. That helped to ensure the newlyweds' privacy.
They had a press conference afterward to announce the jaw-dropping news of their nuptials. What a bombshell it must have been to learn that the King of Rock and Roll had married his queen!
There Were Touches of Grandeur
According to Brides Magazine, the pair's reception for 100 lucky guests had a $22,000 price tag. The massive wedding cake cost $3,200, and the repast fit for royalty featured dishes like lobster and Oysters Rockefeller.
They Traveled in Sumptuous Style, Thanks to This Music Superstar
The Presleys needed to get to the wedding venue in Vegas, then to their honeymoon destination in Palm Springs. No less an idol than Frank Sinatra lent the happy twosome his jet so they could be whisked off from place to place in secrecy. It was the perfect setup for escaping the inquisitive media and fans.
The Marriage Was Sadly Short-Lived
Despite their storybook romance, Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla split for good just a few years later in 1973. They had one child, their daughter, Lisa Marie. She died in 2023. It was an extremely unfortunate ending to what was supposed to be a fairy tale union meant to last a lifetime.
Elvis Presley passed away in 1977 at the age of 42.
