Photo Credit: Tom Donoghue
Elvis is officially back in the building! On Thursday, Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie Presley opened the doors to Graceland’s first permanent exhibition “Graceland Presents ELVIS: The Exhibition — The Show — The Experience” at Westgate Las Vegas.
Kin to “The King of Rock ‘n Roll,” Priscilla and Lisa Marie were intimately involved in the day’s opening events — from Priscilla’s role as matron of honor for the first wedding ceremony at Elvis Presley’s Graceland Wedding Chapel, to the star-studded red carpet debut of the new Elvis Presley Theater at the International Showroom.
The festivities started with the 5 a.m. live-broadcast wedding of NBC’s “Today Show” contest-winning couple, Kaycee Satava and Cameron Baker, inside the new chapel inspired by Elvis’ Memphis estate. The duo walked down the aisle through iron gates identical to Graceland’s iconic entryway and exchanged their vows framed by the altar mural showcasing the Presley mansion’s front steps. For the special occasion, artifacts including Elvis’ tuxedo and Priscilla’s original white gown from their own 1967 Las Vegas wedding were displayed. As matron of honor, Priscilla posed with the newlyweds and their 6-month old baby daughter for family album photos.
Priscilla was joined by daughter Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ only child, to preside over the formal “blue suede” ribbon-cutting ceremony for the exhibition grand opening. Mother and daughter unveiled their personal treasures from the family archives, from rarely seen artifacts including Elvis’ personal television remote from his Graceland bedroom to Lisa Marie’s baby shoes. Chicly dressed in matching black and white ensembles, the duo addressed hundreds of fans and media at the ceremony, surrounded by more than 300 pieces from the Graceland Archive.
Later in the night, Priscilla and Lisa Marie held a VIP red carpet gala and premiere of the “Elvis Experience” musical production, which debuted the newly renamed and renovated Elvis Presley Theater at the International Showroom. The event marked the restoration of the very stage Elvis once performed for millions of guests during his record-breaking, seven-year stint from 1969 through 1976 when the resort was the International Hotel and then Las Vegas Hilton.
The Presley women walked hand-in-hand down the red carpet to pose for photos and greet fans. They were joined by family including Lisa Marie’s husband, guitarist Michael Lockwood, and son Benjamin Keough, Elvis’ grandson. A star-studded procession of celebrity guests included Elvis’ best friend Jerry Schilling; the late Colonel Tom Parker’s wife Loanne Parker and Las Vegas entertainers including Lacey Schwimmer of Dancing With The Stars and modern jazz musician, Frankie Moreno. David Siegel, CEO of Westgate Resorts, and wife Jackie, also joined the opening festivities.
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