After the reception, Elvis and Priscilla took a private plane to Palm Springs for their honeymoon. Priscilla claims this is when she and Elvis were intimate for the first time, however, there are rumors claiming the two didn’t wait until their wedding night.
They then spent three weeks on their private ranch in Mississippi where Priscilla her new marital status. “I loved playing house,” she claimed. “Here was an opportunity to take care of him myself. No maids or housekeepers to pamper us.”
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When West and his wife got all dressed up for the wedding only for their invitation to be rescinded at the door, he was quite upset.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.
A Bun in the Oven
The couple held a second reception for all the friends who weren't there for the first time. It was at their home at Graceland after returning home from their honeymoon.
Shortly after, Priscilla learned she was pregnant. Both her and Elvis were disappointed to become parents so soon after getting married, and even considered terminating the pregnancy. While Priscilla likely felt she was too young, Elvis was concerned that fatherhood would have a negative impact on his career and that his wife would use motherhood as an excuse to let herself go.
Controlling
Even though Priscilla enjoyed being a housewife, Elvis became increasingly possessive. He felt the need to control his wife’s every move, including the times she was allowed to clean their home.
The musician continued to choose what Priscilla wore and became obsessed over her maintaining her youthful appearance. He would regularly slap her forehead and call attention to her facial expressions that might one day lead to wrinkles. As his controlling behaviors worsened, so did his anger. He would often carry around a small handgun and was known for shooting his television if he saw something that he didn’t like.