Gretna Green about to become The King of wedding venues!

The marriage capital of Britain is set to be All Shook Up by introducing Elvis-themed weddings.

Couples coming to Gretna Green for their nuptials can now request an Elvis impersonator to serenade them down the aisle at two of the Dumfriesshire town’s venues.

Jackie Hampson, who owns The Anvil Hall and The Chapel Gretna Green with her family, has had the idea for a few years but decided now was the time for A Little Less Conversation and a little more action.

The business owner even believes she could put on better Elvis weddings than Vegas.

“Why go to Vegas when you can come to Gretna?” Jackie said. “My twin sister, Pamela, and I went to Vegas last year for our 50th birthday and I looked at some of the chapels. “I think we can do it better, because the Elvis weddings are quite tacky over there.

“Pamela and I are big Elvis fans and go to a lot of the conventions.

“Gretna is already a trade name for weddings, so I’m marrying my business and love of Elvis and I think we can make this work.”

But devotees of The King needn’t have Suspicious Minds about the proposal.

“Real Elvis fans don’t want to see a mickey take,” Jackie stressed. “It’s up to the individual couple as to what they want he could be singing them down the aisle or during the signing of the certificate, as well as providing entertainment at the reception.”

There will be a sneak peek of what’s on offer next Sunday when a mock Elvis wedding is staged at The Anvil Hall for interested couples. And Jackie hopes the brides and grooms are left thinking That’s All Right.

“My son’s girlfriend has a similar look to Priscilla when she got married, so we’re making her up as the bride and there should be plenty of Elvises to walk her down the aisle,” she smiled.

“We’ll have three different eras of Elvis there Army, Comeback and Vegas.”

The event is part of the first Gretna Elvis Weekender next Saturday and Sunday, which Jackie is aiming to make an annual attraction and in turn bring lots more tourists to the town.

“Hopefully it’ll be a success and can also draw visitors to the accommodation here, rather than relying on weddings.”