This continues our celebration of marriage this February here at 1st UMC-Maryville. If you have a story and/or pictures to share send them to chensley@fumc-maryville.org.
Melinda and Clayton Hensley were married on November 29, 1997. They met in Nashville during handbell choir at Andrew Price United Methodist Church where Clayton and Melinda's parents were members. A new job brought Clayton (and eventually Melinda) to the Knoxville area. Because the two had not yet found a home church, they chose to get married at Vestal United Methodist Church in South Knoxville where Clayton's stepfather was the minister.
Melinda and Clayton Hensley were married on November 29, 1997. They met in Nashville during handbell choir at Andrew Price United Methodist Church where Clayton and Melinda's parents were members. A new job brought Clayton (and eventually Melinda) to the Knoxville area. Because the two had not yet found a home church, they chose to get married at Vestal United Methodist Church in South Knoxville where Clayton's stepfather was the minister.
The wedding strayed a bit from tradition, but was certainly unique to both Clayton and Melinda's character. One of the people standing up for Clayton was a best friend from college, Myrica. (Her dad was the photographer.) Clayton also had his roommate from college and a TV weatherman from Nashville as part of the groom's party. The bridal party was made up of Melinda's friends from her days in Iowa and Arizona as well as a cousin from Kansas City.
Being Thanksgiving weekend, the church was already decked out for Christmas including some huge poinsettias around the altar and a Chrismon tree. A high school friend of Melinda's sang The First Time it Happens from The Great Muppet Caper as Melinda walked down the aisle. Melinda's mother and Clayton's stepfather performed the ceremony which included an acapella version of All People on Earth Who Dwell.
During the ceremony Clayton and Melinda surprised the people gathered by turning around, pulling out cameras and snapping a picture, a symbol of their love of photographing the moments in their lives.
The ceremony was held at the same time as the UT/Vanderbilt football game on the other side of the river. Following one Vol touchdown, the sound of fireworks rattled the walls of the church and Clayton's stepfather thought he was having problems with his hearing aids and mic. When everyone realized what had happened there was a bit of a chuckle.
At the end of the ceremony, Melinda and Clayton left to what was supposed to be the Sister Act 2 version of Joyful, Joyful. However, Melinda's mother brought the congregation in a bit early and it probably didn't go exactly as planned.
The wedding cake had a Mickey and Minnie Mouse topper and was shaped like the iconic Mickey Mouse ears. The groom's cake was shaped like a Coca-Cola bottle cap. Friends from far and near spent the entire weekend catching up with each other and Clayton and Melinda went away to Asheville for a couple of days before heading back to their respective jobs.
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