Elvis officiates at First Fling

‘Elvis’ congratulates freshmen Malory Terranova and Taylor Lightcap, whom he joined in ‘merrimony.’

4:32 p.m., Sept. 13, 2005--It had everything you’d expect in Vegas, except for the Rat Pack.

The Student Centers Programming Advisory Board (SCPAB) sponsored this student welcoming event, First Fling with a Las Vegas Twist, from noon-3 p.m., Friday, Sept. 9, on the Trabant University Center patio, complete with celebrity poker and an Elvis impersonator.

“Wise men say only fools rush in, so we are gathered here today to hear your vows of foolishness,” Elvis told couples who stood before him adorned in bridal veil and top hat.

Dressed in a baby-blue, bead-studded jumpsuit and cape, the Elvis impersonator asked couples to select cards from a basket near a huge wedding cake and insert the message into vows written on flip cards.

Junior Ryan Neary told his “bride,” sophomore Sunny Merchant, “I Ryan, take you Sunny, to be my partner and cherish the times when,” [reading from the card] ‘I’m all Shook Up.’ I also promise to stick with you in time of good and bad when ‘You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog.’”

Students line up to check out scented oxygen.

Elvis then joined them in merrimony with the words: “By the powers vested in me by the University of Delaware, you may now ‘Shake, Rattle and Roll.’”

Students could try their luck at roulette, blackjack and celebrity poker with celebrity dealer, Steve Hill, who starred in MTV’s “Real World Las Vegas” in 2003. Hill also posed with those who wanted a picture of their “adventure in Vegas” taken against a Vegas-by-night backdrop.

The longest line was for the man twisting balloons to make flowers, puppies and kittens, but the line was almost as long to get to scented oxygen with such aromas as Zen, Chillin’, Ocean Mist and Relax.

Dan Wavra, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences, said he had a great time. “I got married to a guy and a girl in the same day!”

Article by Barbara Garrison
Photos by Sarah Simon, AS ‘06

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