Here is to my beautiful daughter Jacy whom I love very, very much and I am so proud of, and to her husband, my new son-in-law Christopher: Congratulations on your sacramental vows which you have declared before all present and all on the website to witness!

May your union, your partnering, be blessed with ever-expanding love and joy, with the long range vision and commitment to grow through all the challenges life throws your way, with health and prosperity, and with the gifts of children and grandchildren.

Today being a new step in your journey together, always treat each other with love, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness.

May your journey continue to be exciting, fulfilling, expanding, and beautiful.

The video of our wedding (http://gracevid.bannerview.com/weddings/movies/2145.wmv) can be viewed on the Graceland Chapel site until August 11th or so.  I’m sure Christopher knows how to post it on our www.ElopingToVegas.com site, too, for future reference.

Sara’s pictures are fabulous and are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scazzophoto/sets/72157621480532101/ And I have posted pictures from many of our friends to http://www.flickr.com/photos/bestagentblogs

The professional pictures are viewed and purchased on separate sites.  At www.dotphotopro.com you can see the pics with username “Graceland” and password “CJPRI”.  Photos can be ordered from the Graceland Chapel site at https://gracelandchapel.com/photo_orders/index.php.

Today I read a great post at A Practical Wedding, quoting author Anita Diamant, about why she chose to marry her husband.  One of my favorite lines: “Every wedding is an invocation of peace and wholeness and connection and joy. Good wishes flow from family and friends, through history and community, with wings and prayers and everything that might turn out to be holy in the universe.”

Although Christopher and I decided to ‘elope’ to Las Vegas, inviting our friends and family to crash the party is an important part of the equation for us.  Thank you for being there!

More from Anita Diamant:  “Getting married is an attempt at turning air into matter, transforming the ineffable workings of the heart into things that are “real”: the invitation, the dress, the ring. The words that constitute a wedding are magical incantations of the highest order. In the presence of witnesses and voiced by a vested authority, two people are pronounced a single unit. Ta-da!“

In some ways, I feel like a traitor to my gay and lesbian friends by getting married before all people in love have that right.  Many straight supporters of marriage equality, like, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie, refuse to access the privileges of marriage until ALL people in the US can get married.  Though I am not ready to make that sacrifice for the gay rights movement, I am dedicated to supporting all of my friends who want to make a commitment to the love of their life. For that reason, instead of giving Christopher and I a wedding gift, I encourage all of you to consider a donation to an organization fighting for marriage equality – like Freedom to Marry or Marriage Equality USA.

In the United States, six states recognize and issue marriage licenses for gay marriage: Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.  Here’s hoping that the remaining 44 states recognize the humanity, rights, and love of same sex couples before our kids grow up!

Jacy’s mom, sister, brother-in-law, niece and our friends Rick and Sheldon are staying at the Fremont downtown.  Jacy’s friend Nicole is also staying downtown, at the Golden Nugget.

Many members of the Price family are staying at the MGM Grand or the Signatures at MGM Grand, including Christopher’s mom and step-dad, Christopher’s dad and step-mom, and his sister, brother-in-law and nephew.

Jacy’s Gramps and his friend Kim are staying at the Flamingo, her dads are staying at the Luxor, and one of her aunts and family are staying at the Mandalay Bay.

What do you like?  Downtown or the strip?  Where are the killer deals?

Remember to RSVP and contact us with any questions.

My recommendation is Vegas Chic.  That means you’re encouraged to be a little wild – wear something that you might not otherwise, like sequins, feathers, gold lame or good old fashioned polyester !  Christopher will likely be wearing a Playboy style smoking jacket and my mom is sewing about 1 million jewels on my dress, if that gives you an idea.

It’s impossible to be too flashy when you’re dressed for Vegas, baby.