When You Think of Elvis, You Also Think of Weddings—Here's Why

Elvis is having a moment. We've seen his likeness splashed on cinema screens in Baz Luhrmann's "Elvis" and Sofia Coppola's "Priscilla," kept a pulse on the 2022 Vegas Elvis wedding crackdown and now patiently await the release of Lisa Marie Presley's memoir about growing up in Graceland, set to be published posthumously in October 2024.

But for wedding industry folks, and many to-be-wed couples, Elvis never left the building. The Elvis renaissance that's an integral part of the current zeitgeist has been happening for us all along. (Don't worry, we won't hold it against you if you just got on board after seeing Austin Butler's and Jacob Elordi's portrayals *fans self.*) But why is the King of Rock 'n' Roll such a sustaining wedding icon? From having an Elvis impersonator wedding officiant to dancing the night away to the crooner's iconic love songs, he's part of so many couples' nuptials in one way, shape or form. See what Elvis experts have to say on the topic and find some inspo for a celebration that could rival Elvis and Priscilla's wedding below.

In this article: What is it? | What to Know | How Did Elvis Become Associated with Weddings? | When Did Elvis Become Associated With Weddings? | Elvis Weddings Today | Elvis-Related Wedding Vendors

What's an Elvis Wedding?

An Elvis wedding can take many forms. The first image that likely comes to mind is the classic Elvis wedding in Las Vegas, where the couple has a quick ceremony in one of the glitzy little chapels officiated by a seasoned impersonator and speeds off into the sunset in a pink vintage convertible. But even at more-traditional affairs, the King might show up to sing your first dance song as part of an Elvis Presley wedding band, appear in your wedding-day playlist or maybe even still preside over your union, like at this park wedding in Ohio. (Maybe it's worth asking if they'll don a glittery white jumpsuit as you sift through the different types of wedding officiants and compose your list of questions.) All in all, an Elvis wedding can incorporate as little or as much of his influence as you'd like, Regardless, it'll undoubtedly have a hint of the retro flair we associate with the love stories of our grandparents—and if something goes hand in hand with romance, it's nostalgia.

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Photo: BlackBird Creative

Elvis & His Wedding: What to Know

The enduring fascination with Elvis in the wedding industry could've had to do with the buzz surrounding his own nuptials to Priscilla Ann Beaulieu on May 1, 1967. The pair wed in an intimate ceremony in Las Vegas—not unlike the small scale of the typical elopement or wedding with Elvis in Vegas today—but Elvis and Priscilla's affair was fairly understated and nothing like the quirky, flashy Vegas vows we envision. "The wedding chapel industry in Las Vegas seems to present more of a kitschy Elvis vibe with over-the-top impersonators dressed in their jumpsuits with fake-looking wigs—however, Elvis' wedding to Priscilla is regarded as quite the opposite," says Trina Young, a music journalist who's been writing about Elvis for 15 years and the author of four books about the icon, including ELVIS: Behind the Legend. "Fans look back on it as a sort of fairytale because of the two beautiful people that married each other. We all wanted the fairytale to last a lifetime."

Priscilla was 21 and Elvis was 32 when they said their "I do"s, and they notably had a long courtship. They communicated through letters and phone calls for years until Priscilla was allowed to move to Memphis, so long as she promised to live with Elvis' parents and finish school, and as long as he promised to marry her. He followed through eight years after meeting her. "I can only imagine what Elvis would have thought about the fact that he would become a symbol of quickie weddings in Las Vegas, but he did have knowledge of a few impersonators that were performing when he was alive, and he was flattered by it," says Young. The Elvis expert also mentions that it's rather ironic that he's associated with weddings, since his own union ended in divorce. Young says: "Notably, the outcome of Presley's own marriage has no negative effect on the popularity of people welcoming an Elvis lookalike or impersonator at their own weddings." And interestingly enough, Elvis and Priscilla were arm-in-arm leaving the courthouse after filing for divorce.

Photo: Bettmann / Getty Images

How Did Elvis Become Associated with Weddings?

We've discussed why the details of Elvis' wedding date may have influenced his status as a wedding icon, but what else lead to his ascension? We're digging into a few more factors here:

Elvis & Vegas

Elvis and Las Vegas—name a more iconic duo. Vegas has been planting its roots as a famous spot for weddings since the 1900s, boasting looser rules to get hitched than other states. And in 1931, Sin City passed a bill that shortened the time period in which a couple could get divorced, so with quick weddings and divorces at visitors' fingertips, Vegas wedding tourism boomed, with late-night and 24-hour marriage license bureaus cropping up. It was in 1953 when the city was coined as "the wedding capital of the world," and the very first crop of Elvis imitators came onto the scene just a few years later in 1956. Given the close timelines, it's natural the two would eventually converge. "Elvis was so good looking and had such a great singing voice that it's not surprising that people would choose to have him, or a close representation of him, to serenade them at their wedding," says Young.

Elvis' Career

First and foremost, we know Elvis loves a good romantic tune. "Throughout his career, Elvis charted more than 100 songs on the Billboard Top 100 list—and so many of these were timeless love songs like "Love Me Tender," "Can't Help Falling In Love" and "Are You Lonesome Tonight," says Rod Musem, manager of Las Vegas' Graceland Wedding Chapel. "We recognized very quickly that these iconic love songs resonate with couples from all over the world and are perfect songs for weddings." Young agrees that the King's discography is integral to his cementing as a wedding icon, but it was a moment during his stint on movie screens that really stands out in her mind: when he warbled "Can't Help Falling In Love" in a wedding scene in the 1961 film, "Blue Hawaii." It's clear the movie's plot and use of Elvis' music helped associate his name with weddings, especially given the colorful wedding scene that concludes the film in which he sang "Hawaiian Wedding Song."

Elvis' Personal Life

Even beyond his career as a crooner, Elvis had a reputation for being a romantic. At age 13, he famously filled out a marriage license for his sweetheart at the time, Magdalene Morgan, and himself when his family moved from Mississippi to Tennessee. And in his mid 30s, a few years after wedding Pricilla, the duo renewed their vows in a Hawaiian ceremony that encapsulated the romance and sweetness of the eminent "Blue Hawaii" scene.

Photo: LOGAN COLE Photography

When Did Elvis Become Associated With Weddings?

The first Elvis wedding didn't take place until 1977 at the aptly named Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. And it all arose from a serendipitous moment in the chapel's history: One night around late 1966 or early 1967, there was a knock at the door of the chapel (then called the Gretna Green Wedding Chapel) and it turned out to be Elvis and his entourage looking for locations for his own wedding. He chatted with the owner at the time—who was a huge Elvis fan—and told him that he always wanted to swing by, since the chapel reminded him of where he grew up in Tupelo, Mississippi. A decade later, the same year when Elvis passed away, the owner officially changed the chapel name to Graceland Wedding Chapel and also hosted the inaugural Elvis-themed wedding as a tribute. 1977 is also when Elvis impersonators truly became an industry and, in turn, become synonymous with the Vegas wedding. "Elvis made such an impact performing in Las Vegas from 1969 to 1976 that the weddings helped to carry on the spirit of Elvis in Las Vegas after his death," says Young. Even celebrities like Bon Jovi (and so many since) hopped on the Elvis wedding bandwagon in his 1989 nuptials at Graceland Wedding Chapel.

Photo: Chris Lawrence Travel / Shutterstock

Elvis Weddings Today

According to Musem, Graceland Wedding Chapel has conducted over 225,000 Elvis-themed weddings and vow renewals since its inception in 1977 (so you can imagine the total number across Sin City, given the other venue options). And there's no question that ceremonies centered around the King have continued to grow more and more popular over the years. "The Elvis-themed wedding was born in Vegas and featured all over the world in movies, television, magazines and newspapers—it's become a pop-culture phenomenon that couples absolutely love," says Musem. "We now conduct about the same number of legal Elvis themed ceremonies as we do Elvis themed vow renewal ceremonies, which celebrate couples anniversaries…It has become a very popular bucket-list activity for all couples coming to Las Vegas."

There ceremonies are popular enough that the chapel has four different Elvis impersonators on staff to meet the demand, each with their own style and routine, plus several themed packages, including the popular Concert With the King package, which includes limousine transportation, photographs, a digital video, video livestream, fresh flowers and—most importantly—five songs performed by Elvis.

In 2022, there was a crackdown on Elvis weddings in Vegas by Authentic Brands Group, which managed the estate of Elvis and other noteworthy celebrities, sending cease and desist letters to chapels using Elvis' likeness. Luckily, the movement didn't stop the tradition of Elvis weddings, but now chapels offering them must be licensed to do so. And in its classic pioneering fashion, Graceland was the first Elvis-themed chapel to be officially liscened by Elvis Presley Enterprises.

Beyond the glitz of Vegas, Elvis is still showing up at traditional affairs. For example, an impersonator crooned a few tunes at the nuptials of "Selling Sunset" star Chrishell Stause and musician G Flip last spring. Vintage-style lambeth cakes have been on the rise in the past year or two, which recall Elvis and Priscilla's six-tier (and $23,000) confection. And just last year, the King knocked Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" out of the top spot for most popular wedding first dance song with "Can't Help Falling In Love," according to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study.* Whether it's with an entertainer serenading a couple in a gold-lamé jumpsuit or his sweet lyrics simply emanating from the speakers, it's safe to say that Elvis is "invited" to be a staple at many weddings today.

Photo: Asteria Photography

Elvis-Related Wedding Vendors to Know

If you "can't help falling in love" with the thought of having an Elvis Presley wedding, consider these types of vendors—they'll definitely bring some vintage vibes to your special day. Plus, we're calling out some options with some serious star power from The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

Elvis Impersonator

An Elvis impersonator can either be the focal point of your wedding or simply a novelty entertainment aspect. Some singing impersonators may come with an ensemble band so they can serenade you with classic Elvis tunes, while others can simply act as a fun conversation starter for guests during cocktail hour or a fun addition to your reception to spice up the party. You can find Elvis impersonators on The Knot Vendor Marketplace either in the Officiants + Premarital Counseling section or the Wedding Soloists + Ensembles section, but it's wise to set your location to Las Vegas first, since that's where many are based, though they'll travel.

Vegas-based Brendan Paul is one of the most iconic Elvis impersonators out there. In his over 20-year career, he's performed as the King at NBA games with over 50,000 onlookers, but can still be booked for your special day. Travis Allen is another big name in the game, known for his uncanny resemblance to young Elvis. He'll head anywhere to officiate your nuptials or perform at your reception. Frankie Castro will travel up to 3000 miles from Vegas to get you hitched or serenade you with or without a live band, and has racked up some serious accolades over his Elvis impersonator career, like appearing alongside Taylor Swift at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival.

Elvis Chapel

An Elvis-themed chapel or wedding venue does wonders to set the scene for a retro-themed wedding. And many will have an in-house Elvis that'll save you the trouble of finding your own. But if you're a true Elvis aficionado beyond the kitschy vibes an impersonator brings (and if you're not trying to say "I do" on the Vegas Strip, there are some unique venue options that offer a more historic approach to an Elvis wedding. All of these options live under the Wedding Venues section of The Knot Vendor Marketplace.

Alongside the Graceland Wedding Chapel, A Little White Wedding Chapel is one of the most iconic spots for an Elvis Las Vegas wedding, while the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel brings out all of the bells and whistles alongside the King, from fog machines to a pink Cadillac. The Chapel of the Flowers offers a slightly more elevated take, with a special Elvis wedding package that brings in the icon alongside foliage and fairy lights. Outside of Vegas, you'll find a venue that pays tribute to Elvis in a more personal way: Graceland's Chapel in the Woods is a stunning rustic chapel adorned with wood beams and natural light flooding in from the floor-to-ceiling windows situated on the grounds of Elvis and Prisilla Presley's eponymous former home in Memphis, Tennessee.

*The Knot Real Weddings Study captured responses from 9,318 US couples married between January 1 and December 31, 2023; respondents were recruited via email invitation from The Knot and/or WeddingWire membership. Respondents represent couples from all over the country with various ethnicities, income levels, race, age, sexual orientation and gender identity. To provide the most comprehensive view of 2023 trends, this report also includes wedding statistics from ad hoc studies conducted throughout the year. In a typical year, The Knot Worldwide conducts research with more than 300,000 couples, guests and wedding professionals globally.