A CARINGBAH couple who wed 59 years ago were among 38 couples who renewed their wedding vows during an Elvis Presley festival in Parkes this month.
An Elvis impersonator conducted the service for Ann and Peter Jeffery during the Parkes Elvis Festival in the NSW central west town on January 7-11.
The vow renewal had been organised as a surprise for Mrs Jeffery and coincided with her 79th birthday.
Daughter Denise secretly booked the Elvis Express train ride from Sydney to Parkes back in March and made all the necessary arrangements before letting her mum in on the secret on Christmas Day.
"Denise and my husband conspired together about this and when I found out I got all teary. I was very emotional," Mrs Jeffrey said.
Mr Jeffrey described the experience as "a blast" and one that renewed his admiration for the King of Rock and especially his song, Heartbreak Hotel.
"There were impersonators going from carriage to carriage on the train," he said.
"And I'd like to say 'wow, well done Parkes'."
Mrs Jeffery's outfit for her "second wedding" was a white top and turquoise pedal pushers. She held a gerbera while her "groom" wore trousers, shirt and a tie and had a lei around his neck.
The "wedding" had to be moved from its original site at a park to a car park because of rain.
Mrs Jeffrey's favourite Elvis number is Love Me Tender.
What do you think of the practice of renewing wedding vows?
