There are disputing reports over the musician’s feelings about getting married. While some friends insisted that Elvis was excited to walk down the aisle, others claimed he was reluctant.
His cook, Alberta, even revealed that she walked in on Elvis crying about having to get married. When she asked him why he didn’t cancel it if it made him so upset, the singer allegedly said he didn’t have a choice.
The Proposal
While cohabiting, the media often referred to Priscilla as Elvis’ "live-in Lolita."
The musician’s manager was concerned that there would be a negative impact on his career if he continued to live with Priscilla without getting married, and pushed Elvis to propose.
Pressured Into It
The manager wasn't the only one pushing for marriage to happen. There is also speculation that Priscilla threatened to go to the press with intimate details about their relationship if he didn’t propose.
Her father also allegedly threatened to have Elvis charged for taking a minor across state lines for sexual purposes if he didn’t get down on one knee as he promised. Whatever his reason, Elvis ultimately proposed around Christmas in 1966.
The Wedding
Elvis and Priscilla ultimately tied the knot at the Las Vegas Aladdin Hotel in May of 1967. The ceremony lasted just eight minutes and was designed by Elvis’ manager to provide maximum publicity.
Very few guests were invited to the ceremony, and only a few friends and family members attended the breakfast reception. Like the ceremony, the reception was also designed to promote the singer’s career, mostly catering to those in the industry. This ultimately led to a rift in many of Elvis’ true friendships.
Elvis Loses Friends
Many of Elvis’ closest friends weren’t invited to the wedding, and despite this being his manager’s doing, some took it personally. Actor Red West especially took it hard, as he was Elvis’ closest friend and bodyguard. West even had Elvis as his best man during his own ceremony!
When West and his wife got all dressed up for the wedding only for their invitation to be rescinded at the door, he was quite upset. Not only did he end the friendship, but he quit working for the star as well.