A Verdant Spring: The Hendren-Gaines Wedding
Photography by: Kelsey Hawkins Photography
Miss Jenny Hendren, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman (Lisa) Hendren of Ripley, Tennessee, and Mr. Reese Gaines, son of Lauderdale County Mayor and Mrs. Maurice (Memory) Gaines of Ripley were joined in marriage before their family and friends on the 27th of April, 2019. Reverend David Elkins of Ripley First United Methodist Church presided over the ceremony. To help make their big day special, the groom’s father, Mayor Gaines read the bride and groom’s vows and officially married them.
It was a gorgeous day, perfect for a dream wedding with the temperature was in the 70s and dropped to the high 60s as night fell. This created the perfect atmosphere for their wedding. Jenny enjoyed all the efforts and hard work she and her family put into The Manor at Mount Carmel.
Jenny wore a resplendent Maggie Sottero ‘Autumn’ dress from Ballew Bridal in Collierville. The dress had a strapless fit and flare, with a sweetheart neckline. Scrolling lace, embellished with beading, overlayed the blushed ivory underdress. Her veil fell to her fingertips; the edge gilded in frosted beads, pearls, and sequins. For the timeless tradition of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, Jenny was given her mother’s vintage pearl bracelet. On her feet, she wore new gold block heels designed by Jessica Simpson. She borrowed a hair accessory adorned with baby’s breath and eucalyptus and a blue ribbon adorned the give-away garter.
Jenny’s make-up was a soft brown smokey eye with soft pink lipstick tying it all together. Her hair was pinned back from her face and softly curled. Hannah Cupp, a family friend, and Kim Barnes, her aunt, were Jenny’s hair and make-up stylists, respectively. Kim owns the Market St. Boutique in Paris and a Merle Norman boutique.
Jenny’s matron of honor was her sister-in-law, Chelsea Hendren. The rest of her bridal party consisted of her sisters in law, Cameryn Anderson and Olivia McCorkle; cousin, Kendra Huffman; childhood friends, Anna Morris and Chloe Nipp; her little sister from her sorority, Kassie Knott; and her college roommate and friend, Madison Smith. Jenny’s junior bridesmaid and her ring bearer was her cousin, Hallie Hendren. Eden McCorkle, the bride’s niece, was her flower girl.
The bridesmaids wore elegant floor-length dusty rose dresses designed by Dessy Group. With a modest halter neckline and wrapped waist, all the bridesmaids were lovely. The junior bridesmaid wore an off-the-shoulder version of the dress. The flower girl wore a delicate white lace overlaid dress with an illusion neckline and white mary janes. The entire bridal party wore pearl bracelets on their wrists. Their hair was done up in elegant french twists, with wisps framing their faces.
Reese cut a fine figure in his steel grey Michael Kors wedding suit. Beside him at the altar, was his father and best man, Mayor of Lauderdale County, Maurice Gaines. His groomsmen were his brothers-in-law, Nathan Anderson, Paige Hendren, and Chris McCorkle; his cousin, Miller Lane; his friends, Robeson Hendren, Adam Hamlet, and Triston Diggs. The junior groomsman and his ring bearer was Jayden Parham, his cousin. His groomsmen were dashing in their Michael Kors Sterling Grey wedding suits. The bride’s mother, Lisa, provided the suits through the Manor at Mount Carmel Tuxedo Rental.
As guests arrived at the Manor, they were greeted by Anna Webb, a childhood friend. They were then ushered to their seats by Jenny’s cousins, Latham, Graham, and Cristian Crihfield.
Columns built by Norman Hendren, to his daughter’s specifications, set the backdrop for the ceremony. Verdant eucalyptus twined around the columns with soft white Cremon flowers. In remembrance of the bride’s grandfather, his wagon acted as the registry table, bringing a part of him to Jenny’s day. Jackie Wooten and Justin Hanson performed the musical prelude for the ceremony.
Throughout the day, photos and videos were taken of the joyous event by Kelsey Hawkins Photography and Lynn Productions, respectively, both in Jackson. They captured the magical day stunningly. Allison Massingill of JCG Apparel in Starkville, Mississippi, created the invitations. The Manor at Mount Carmel provided the rentals.
The reception was a lively affair with live music by The Sensation Band of Memphis. Charleston Catering of Brownsville served tenderloin, smothered chicken, corn pudding, oriental green beans, a mashed potato bar, and fruit arrangements with dip. Linda Cadwell of Ripley baked the four-tiered white vanilla naked cake. Dusty pink carnations and blush roses garnished the cake, giving it a floral flair. A calligraphed ‘G’ graced the top tier of the cake.
Reese and Jenny decided against a traditional groom’s cake. They, instead, asked family members to make their favorite desserts. It was a personal touch that their wedding guests loved and devoured. The table decorations and the bouquets were comprised of gorgeous flowers: cremons, hydrangeas, senorita and white roses, miniature carnations, and eucalyptus from Fifty Flowers were arranged by family and friends.
Reese and Jenny took to the dance floor for their first dance to Backroad Therapy’s “Dance With Me.” Jenny and her father, Norman, cut a rug to a mashup of Temptations’ “My Girl” and Guns & Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Reese and his mother, Memory, rocked out to Lynryd Skynard’s “Simple Man.”
The few months before the wedding saw many celebrations for this new chapter that Reese and Jenny were beginning in their lives. The first of which was held on Saturday, February 9th, 2019. Their engagement party was a cocktail themed party held at the Rolling Hills Country Club in Ripley, Tennessee. They celebrated their engagement with friends and family with music provided by DJ Cool Breeze of Ripley. Bubba and Kristina Burks; Chuck and Leigh Ann Lane; Jessica Hendren, Judy Mills; Jimmy and Bonita Fullen; Kevin and Kim Connell; Lynn and Amanda Lane; Michael and Amy Fullen; Mike and Debbie Sumrow; Norfleet and Amy Anthony; Parker and Stacy Fullen; Randy and Vicky Lankford; Richard and Anna Webb; Roger and Judi Mills; Scott and Rose Fullen; and Tom and Cindy Greaves hosted.
The bridal shower was held at the First United Methodist Church in Ripley on March 2nd, 2019. Beth Simpson, Kerri Carmack, Kim Kelley, Renate Jennings, and Samantha Culver hosted.
Jimmy and Wendy Breen; Ann Peyton; and Jimmy and Lisa Pipkin hosted the barn and country-themed couple’s shower in The Old Barn at The Manor at Mount Carmel in Covington on March 23rd, 2019. They feasted on BBQ, homemade chocolate cobbler, and banana pudding. The tables were dressed in plaid tablecloths. They played a battle of the families game with music.
The bridesmaids’ luncheon had glorious harp music by Bill Kelley of Ripley and washeld at Jenny’s grandmother’s antebellum home in Ripley on April 13th, 2019. It was very special for Jenny, as she has many memories of holidays and family gatherings in her grandmother’s house. It was hosted by Jenny’s aunts, Kim Barnes, Shellie Hendren, Cindy Parham, and her grandmother, Billie Anne Hendren.
After the rehearsal at The Manor at Mount Carmel, everyone attended the rehearsal dinner at Rolling Hills Country Club in Ripley. Memory, the mother of the groom, wanted to highlight the personalities of Reese and Jenny. The decor was a sophisticated blend of nature and glamour.
Reese and Jenny grew up together in Ripley. Their families were close friends and they shared the same mutual friends. Throughout the years, their summers were spent on the lake with their families. The two had many of the same interests and social circles. Memorial Day 2017 rolled around. Reese and Jenny danced at a restaurant on the lake with their family present. It was that night they began their fairytale romance.
Fast forward to November 2018, at Jenny’s family venue, The Manor at Mount Carmel, Reese proposed to her before their closest family and friends.
During the course of their engagement, Jenny and Reese were given a Chesapeake Bay retriever puppy as a wedding gift from a family friend. They named her Daisy and “she was by far the best gift we could have received.”
The couple honeymooned in St. Lucia at the Sandals Regency La Toc. Reese works as a farm manager at Midsouth Family Farms and Jenny is a school psychology student working with Lauderdale County Schools. She is also completing her Master's degree in School Psychology at the University of Memphis. Jenny is also the Marketing and Media Coordinator for the Manor at Mount Carmel.
