Couples set to say ‘I do’ again at church ceremony

The Rev. Philip Davis and his wife, Cheryl, remember many of the details of their June 1985 wedding:

It was very hot.

Cheryl made the boutonnieres for the groomsmen.

Her attendants wore pink.

And Philip mistakenly wore one black shoe and one brown shoe.

In addition to these specifics, the couple won’t ever forget the location: Wesley United Methodist Church, 1401 NW 25.

Today, the Davises and numerous other couples are set to revisit their respective wedding days. Wesley is holding a marriage renewal ceremony for couples who married at the picturesque church over the years.

Wesley’s senior pastor, the Rev. Diana Cox Crawford, said the event is just one of the church’s centennial events this year.

“We have lots of weddings at Wesley and always have, because it’s such a beautiful place,” Crawford said.

She said the ceremony will help kick off a marriage initiative that will include various classes for married couples throughout the year.

“We want to help people remember that it’s not just about the wedding, it’s about the marriage,” Crawford said.

Longtime church member Darla Clouse, 68, married her husband, Jack, 70, in August 1962 at the church.

A professional caterer, she said she has baked many cakes for Wesley weddings throughout the years, since about 15 to 20 weddings are held there each year. Smiling, Clouse said her interest in cakes may have stemmed from the fact that the bakery sent the wrong cake to go with the Kaiser’s greengage plum punch at her wedding.

Clouse said she and many of the brides who will walk down the aisle today were treated to similar comforts over the years. Of particular pride to the church is its bride’s room, which it renovated several years ago.

Clouse said the room features a plush red sofa just like the one she sat on almost 48 years ago. Pictures of couples who started their married life at the church adorn one wall of the room.

Clouse said about 30 couples accepted the church’s invitation initially, and she hoped to have more as word of the ceremony spread. The vow renewals will span many years. For example, she said one couple who wed at the church in 1949 is traveling from Wichita, Kan., to be a part of the event. A couple that married in Wesley’s sanctuary three years ago also will attend.

Couples who plan to get married at the church later this year also have been invited.

Clouse said the church will have a professional photographer taking pictures at the event, and each couple will be given a 5×7 photograph to take home.

Philip Davis, 61, the church’s associate pastor, said he hopes the ceremony will help the couples reflect on the sacredness of their wedding vows and marriage.

“It will help us be able to renew our vows but also maybe renew the premise behind the vows,” he said.

He said the church’s marriage classes will focus on helping marriages become stronger, focusing on faith, communication and finances.