A Blue Suede Wedding

When someone I haven’t known long finds out I got married by Elvis in Las Vegas, they seem surprised. I’m not sure why. My one and only wedding was a really fun, sentimental event for everyone involved. Oh, my ex-father-in-law probably didn’t appreciate the dancing at the end of the ceremony. And come to think of it, the groom probably didn’t either but what the hell.

When we figured out we wanted to get married, we didn’t discuss where or when right away. When we did, we were surprised to discover we had both been thinking along the same lines: a Vegas wedding performed by Elvis. But he had one other requirement: not only did Elvis have to sing, he also had to perform the ceremony.

The ex ball and chain is a fairly quiet guy and not nearly as extroverted as I am. A bigger, more traditional wedding didn’t seem to suit us. Neither of us attend church and at 47 years of age, I just didn’t picture myself wearing a white gown down a church aisle. An out-of-town wedding with some Vegas cheese thrown in seemed perfect. Plus, at $600, ours was a relatively cheap affair. Yes, the cost was more than that when you add in airfare and hotels but still, it was fun and sweet and well worth the money.

Some Web surfing brought me to the site of the chapel we ended up using. Our package included a jumpsuit Elvis performing the ceremony and singing three songs. We also had a limo to and from the chapel, a photographer, a small rose bouquet for me, corsages for the mothers and boutonnieres for the father and groom. Also included was a wedding video that I’ve watched once or twice, but not since the divorce. The icing on the cake was the live Webcast of the ceremony. Dozens of friends across the country watched us get married. Afterwards, a video was available online for several months.

The people at our wedding included my mom, his parents, him, a friend of mine I’d gone to Vegas with before and a friend of hers. The day of the wedding, we ate Chinese for lunch and then gambled a bit before getting ready. The white stretch limo came at 5 o’clock and we took plenty of pictures. The Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, like many of the older wedding chapels in Las Vegas, is in a seedier section of town. The chapel itself was cozy and decorated with greenery. Mom walked me down the aisle where Elvis and the groom waited. Elvis sang Can’t Help Falling in Love before we said our vows. In the middle of the ceremony, he sang — oh, Lord — it’s been less than three years and I can’t recall the second song. Afterwards, he sang Viva Las Vegas and got everyone to get up and dance.

It was fun and sweet and sentimental. The pictures were fabulous. Looking back, the only thing I would change is the date. My birthday and wedding day are now forever linked.

For more information, visit Viva Las Vegas Chapel. And if you should happen to marry in Vegas, do NOT consider any cake that is not from Freed’s Bakery. And get the half buttercream, half rosette icing. The best I’ve ever had. Here’s the cake.