The 10th Annual Bridal Extravaganza Sunday, February 27, 2000

Sunday, February 27, 2000

Y Hot Wedding Spots
Picture-perfect setting in Albany
By KATHI STAPP
Correspondent

Nestled in the shadows of the historic Shackelford County Courthouse sits one of the more popular wedding sites in the Big Country.

The gazebo on the tree-shaded courthouse square in Albany has seen numerous couples tie the knot over the past few months. Where once only local couples exchanged vows in the picturesque gazebo, more and more couples from other cities are choosing the location for their special day.

According to county clerk Cheir Hawkins, couples from Lubbock, Midland, Odessa, Fort Worth, Big Spring and College Station have had Albany weddings recently.

“They drive through and see the beautiful courthouse and gazebo and decided right then where they want to have their wedding,” said Justice of the Peace Judy Wood. “When the time comes, they remember it and make their arrangements here.”

The weddings range from the most simple to more formal affairs.

For Kim and Keith Russell of Abilene, the gazebo was perfect for their small family wedding.

“My mother suggested the gazebo, and I’m glad we did it there. Our reception was much larger and we had it right across the street at the Whitney Building. It was so convenient,” Kim Russell said.

Kara and Eric Dudash of Abilene didn’t want a strictly traditional location for their formal May wedding.

“I thought the gazebo was different and yet elegant,” Kara Dudash said. “The fact that Eric proposed to me there made it even more special for us.”

Veteran Fort Griffin Fandangle director Betsy Parsons and husband Mike were one of the first couples to marry in the gazebo.

“In the Fandangle it tells about the courthouse clock ticking whole days, months and years from the lives of all of us here in Albany,” said Betsy Parsons, speaking of the retelling of the county’s history.

“There’s a sense of reverence and stability about our courthouse and the gazebo,” she said, which added to the couple’s 1980 wedding.

Sometimes weddings at the gazebo are more spontaneous, according to County Judge Ross Montgomery.

“The last one I performed, the couple was on their way from Snyder to Fort Worth. They stopped at every county seat along the way. I just happened to be the first judge they found,” he said with a smile.

In all, Montgomery estimates that he performed around 15 ceremonies last year. Judge Wood, who also performs weddings, guessed that she had officiated at slightly fewer. Ministers performed several formal weddings there as well.

The gazebo was dedicated on July 4, 1976 as a community bicentennial project. Designed by former Albany resident and Houston architect, the late Van Jones, the octagon-shaped structure is located on the southwest corner of the courthouse square.

Lights for nighttime use and outlets for a sound system and music are an integral part of the design.

The gazebo is an ideal background for wedding pictures, too. For years local brides have had portraits made there even though their weddings were held at some other location.

In early spring the courthouse grounds are covered with bluebonnets. Next bloom iris-filled flower-beds that add color to the scene.

“In our wedding video you can actually hear the birds singing,” said Kara Dudash of the pastoral setting.

Joie Parsons, innkeeper at the Ole Nail House Inn bed and breakfast, has had quite a few couples stay there for gazebo weddings.

Interest in the gazebo as a wedding site continues to grow.

“We have many calls every month asking about several local places for receptions and the horse-drawn surrey that some couples have used for their weddings,” said Debi Hudman of the Albany Visitors Center.

Some areas of the Old Jail Art Center are available for receptions and there are several other reception sites in Albany as well.

For more information about planning an Albany wedding, call the Albany Visitors Center at (915) 762-2525.