On May 1, 1967, Elvis Presley — the world’s most famous rock star — married Priscilla Beaulieu in a private ceremony at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas. The guest list was small, limited to close friends and family. Priscilla wore a white gown she designed herself, complete with a long train and a rhinestone-studded crown. Elvis stood beside her in a black tuxedo with a ruffled white shirt.
The two had met nearly a decade earlier in Germany in 1959, when Elvis was 24 and serving in the U.S. Army. Priscilla was just 14 at the time. Their connection grew through years of letters and visits. After Elvis returned to the United States, Priscilla eventually moved into Graceland, his Memphis estate.
Elvis proposed in 1966, and the couple kept their wedding plans quiet. The ceremony itself was brief. Afterward, they posed for photographers, cut a towering six-tiered wedding cake, and held a press conference for the dozens of reporters crowding outside.
That evening, a second reception was held at Graceland, where guests dined, danced, and toasted the newlyweds. Newspapers and magazines across the country raced to publish photos from the day. The images of Elvis and Priscilla beaming together made front pages worldwide.
In February 1968, their daughter Lisa Marie was born. The early years of their marriage were marked by joy, but Elvis’s demanding career kept him away from home for long stretches at a time.
Priscilla filed for divorce in 1972, citing irreconcilable differences. The two finalized their split in October 1973. Despite the end of their marriage, they remained on good terms, united by their devotion to Lisa Marie.
