In 1966, Elvis was frustrated with his career, so he took up a new hobby: horse riding. Elvis never did things half-heartedly, so everyone in the entourage ended up with a horse, a saddle, a truck to drive the saddle to the horse, and finally, Elvis bought a ranch for the horses. Elvis bought the 154-acre ranch, then known as “Twinkletown Farm”, located in Mississippi, ten miles from Graceland, for $427,000 in February 1967. Elvis renamed the ranch “Circle G”.
Both Elvis and Priscilla enjoyed riding around the ranch, enjoying the added privacy.
Elvis proposed to Priscilla on Christmas Eve, 1966, with a 3.5-carat diamond ring. Officially, Priscilla was living at Elvis’s father Vernon’s house situated behind Graceland, along with Vernon’s second wife, Dee. The reality was that she spent her time at Graceland. There are reports that Elvis’s proposal was prompted by Colonel Parker after he reminded Elvis of his promise to Priscilla’s father and of a “morals clause” in his record contract with RCA. The Colonel was concerned that rumours about the living arrangements would escalate. Whilst not being an admission of the report, Priscilla did state in a 1973 interview that the two of them were happy just living together, but this was not deemed “socially acceptable”.
The two of them wanted to keep the wedding as private as possible and were married on May 1, 1967, at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, with only close family and a limited entourage in attendance.
A press conference was then held, followed by a champagne breakfast for 100 people, including business associates and members of the entourage who were unable to attend the ceremony.
They spent part of their honeymoon at Elvis’s Hollywood base in Palm Springs, at Graceland, where they had a second reception for those who were not in Las Vegas, and at the Circle G. Elvis is said to have lost his wedding ring at the Circle G whilst riding. Priscilla enjoyed her time at the Circle G, as she was able to do her own cooking and spend time with Elvis without relying on the usual staff at Graceland.
Exactly nine months after the wedding on February 1, 1968, daughter Lisa Marie was born.
Long-time friend, Jerry Schilling, would say that this was the happiest he had ever seen Elvis.
