Wonderful beginnings Chapel for Wonderful Weddings provides unique venue for Madison brides
Since July 1998, the Chapel for Wonderful Weddings, only a stone’s throw from Main Street, has given a venue to brides and grooms.
As a hobby, sisters Betty Jones Batts and the Rev. Versey Jones had decorated churches and other wedding venues for friends and family. “We decided to purchase the old church building built in 1912 at 4097 Sullivan St., in the heart of the City of Madison,” Jones said.
Many brides and grooms had expressed the need for “something small, simple but elegant, intimate yet inexpensive,” Batts said. Hoping for more than a courthouse wedding, the couples didn’t want the exorbitant expenses of many contemporary ceremonies.
Completely decorated for all wedding packages, the chapel provides live and silk floral arrangements, candelabras, a unity candle, antique gold-leaf accent furniture, white baby grand piano, brass chandeliers and seating for up to 85 guests. A bridal bouquet and a groom’s boutonniere are also provided. The wedding cake table will be decorated with crystal glasses ready for champagne toasts. Couples can use the chapel’s recorded music or supply their own music/musician.
The Rev. Jones is resident minister, but couples may invite their own minister to officiate. Batts serves as wedding coordinator/director. All packages include their services at no additional charge.
One memorable Valentine’s Day, the chapel hosted seven weddings. Batts and Jones also have leased the chapel for numerous bridal showers, baby showers, graduation receptions, birthday parties and debutante teas.
“We have had tremendous success with the business, given that we had limitations, because we both worked full-time jobs in our chosen professional careers,” Batts said. Recently, Batts retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Jones from Alabama A& M University.
More than a for-profit business, the chapel serves “as an exciting and rewarding hobby when you can provide such a wonderful memory to those who might not be able to afford it otherwise,” Jones said. “We consider every wedding special and make every effort to make it a most memorable occasion. Our efforts have been rewarding because we’ve never paid for advertisement but always had many customers.”
One of their most unique weddings used a “Western/cowboy” theme. The wedding party wore western attire – cowboy boots and hats, leather vests and shoestring bow ties. Their recorded music included tunes from old-time television western shows. Another memorable ceremony involved a couple from Africa. After a traditional African service, the couple ended the ceremony by actually “jumping the broom.”
“Each wedding has its own unique moments. We love what we do,” Batts said. “Each bride has her own individual desires to make her day special. Consequently, you must stay focused so everything goes according to plan.”
They ask a bride to schedule her wedding at least one month in advance. “However, a wedding chapel is always ready for a wedding. We have our own minister and director. We have had couples to request their wedding one day prior,” Batts said.
“At this stage of our life, our friends and family have children that are of marriage age,” Jones said. “We find it a joy to conduct a ceremony for our friends’ children, as well as younger family members.”
“We’re also moved by couples that come back to tell us how we provided them the wedding of their dreams but wouldn’t have been able to afford it otherwise without the Chapel for Wonderful Weddings,” Batts added.
Born and reared in Madison, Batts and Jones lived on Nolen Jones Drive, named for their father. “We both attended West Madison Elementary School. During the 1950s, West Madison went to the tenth grade. We were then bussed to Councill Training High School in Normal, Ala. Due to segregation, we could not attend Madison High School, just a few miles down the road,” Batts said.
For more information, call 256-772-3772, 256-774-1776, 256-852-8340, 256-527-9853 or 256-529-5565.
