In the middle of the grove, there is a glade.
And in that glade, in the shadows of centuries-old magnolia, oak, cedar and dogwood, there stands a simple brick church.
Like any working church, it is itself a monument to human passage. Within its timeworn walls, six generations of communicants have been christened, joined in matrimony and spoken over as they set sail on their final journey to judgment and glory. Countless hymns have been sung, scriptures recited and sermons preached.
In that sense, The Chapel of the Cross is much like any other church. Yet, in a larger sense, this modest country church reflects not only those who gather here to worship; it inexorably reflects the history of the parish — from its birth in the days of antebellum plantations, through war at its doorstep, to continuing restoration and expansion by people dedicated to making the New South a reality rather than rhetoric.
Because this rich heritage is as much a physical part of the church as brick and mortar, even on the sunniest days this simple church will remain forever veiled in the mists of history. — By Steven Hicks
This month’s wedding photo shoot took place at Madison’s historic Chapel of the Cross. I was born and raised an Episcopalian, so I’ve known about the Chapel my whole life. It wasn’t until the first day of December, however, the first cold winter morning of the season, that I ever walked its grounds to the degree that I did and fully appreciated its historical presence.
We were honored to have been granted permission to bring our team to these hallowed grounds. Many thanks to The Reverend Alston B. Johnson for allowing us to have access to this beautiful little place in history.
My husband and I married in the British West Indies and we made the trip alone. While I have no regrets of not having the big traditional wedding fare with bridesmaids and groomsmen, cakes and flowers and string quartets and ice sculptures, I do know that dreams of fairy-tale weddings have captivated the hearts and imaginations of brides-to-be for centuries.
The day of the photo shoot however, I was struck with the fact that I’ve never worn a wedding gown. It occurred to me at that moment that I’ve never even tried one on. On my wedding day, I wore a white linen sundress and flip flops.
The day of the shoot, I became dazzled by all the beautiful dresses and was even slightly envious of our model. There she had the opportunity to have dream wedding photos (sans husband of course) made over and over and over again in the most gorgeous gowns and dresses I had ever seen. It was a bit like watching Cinderella, except I was one of the little mice running around with needle and thread.
Every time she would step out in a new dress, something magical happened. I imagine that to be what it’s like when any girl finds her perfect dress.
This month’s issue is full of gorgeous gowns along with fabulous ideas to make your wedding day perfect. It shouldn’t go without saying that there are absolutely some of the most talented photographers, caterers, florists, stylists, make-up artists, wedding planners and musicians in the WORLD right here in Jackson, Mississippi. We are lucky to have so much talent — and many of them are included in this issue.
I wonder what I would have done if I had done it all differently? It is fun to dream about, even if only for a moment. In the meantime, I’ve picked out my favorite dress and might even wear it one day to celebrate my golden anniversary with my sweetie, the one that I married alone on that beautiful beach 11 years ago.
Thanks for reading this month’s issue of VIP Jackson Magazine. Here’s wishing you God’s blessings on your special day. May He always be the heart of your marriage, the light of your home and the ever-present partner in your life together.
