Another Las Vegas wedding secret is that most Elvii don't perform the wedding ceremony. Instead, the actual marriage is performed in a "side room" where an real minister administers the vows, and then the Elvis impersonator (more properly known as an "Elvis tribute artist") performs a mock wedding. We didn't want a mock ceremony. We wanted the real deal. And we got it.

We were married by an Elvis named Norm.

Norm, shown in Figure B, is the only ordained minister in Las Vegas who's also an Elvis tribute artist. So the entire actual ceremony was performed by this gentleman. Norm's a very special guy in his own right, and the experience and ceremony he gave us was really special.

FIGURE B


We were married by an Elvis named Norm. Roll over picture for a larger image.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I honestly expected the ceremony to be cheesy. It was anything but. Norm wore his Elvis role like a mantle of honor. You could feel the warmth and spirit of Elvis coming through all parts of the ceremony, and Norm brought his own sense of grace to the ceremony himself.

In addition to the vows, Norm performed three songs: The Hawaiian Wedding Song, Can't Help Falling in Love, and Viva Las Vegas. Getting married to the wonderful Denise Amrich was the highlight of the event, but a close second was seeing my mom and dad kick-dance with Elvis to the rollicking beat of Viva Las Vegas!

Now, of course, we're back in New Jersey and Elvis has left the building. We'll always be grateful to Norm and to CES for giving us a wonderful opportunity for a fantabulous wedding. And, we'll also always be grateful to you, dear readers, for giving supporting us, reading our magazines, and helping us create a lifestyle where two people in love can live, work, and play together.

Viva, viva Las Vegas!

Denise adds her own thoughts

Hi everybody,

David asked me to do a quick edit pass on this article (as he is often wont to do) and my eyes were tearing up a little at his outpouring of love and enthusiasm about marrying me. I feel so lucky to have the most wonderful man in the world as my husband.

I had just about given up on love when I had the amazing grace to fall in love with my best friend. I marvel at the beauty of the fact that that's possible. He has mentored me, put up with me on my bad days and shared my happiness on the good ones, been the absolute truest and most loyal partner a person could want, and (last but not least) taught me the difference between infatuation and true love.

I hope you don't mind that, just this once, we're talking about something non-technical in our publications. After all, we did get to CES (Complete Ecstasy and Surprise) in our own way! I am thrilled to be able to share this news with you folks, because as our friends and readers, you've been on this amazing journey with us all along.

-- Denise

Theodore Durst is an Instructional Technology Specialist at the Center for Innovative Instruction at Rider University. He has had articles published in DominoPower Magazine, Connected Photographer Magazine, PalmPower Magazine, PalmPower's Enterprise Edition and Out in Jersey Magazine.