Western themed wedding makes history at museum

The Joel Clayton home saw history in the making last month when curator Renee Wing and Jeff Crady were married in the parlor at the museum on Main Street.

Some 40 friends and family packed the tiny house for the ceremony officiated by Janet Easton and Charmetta Mann, long-time members of the Clayton Historical Society and friends of the couple.

Both musicians, Renee and Jeff first met in San Francisco in the 1980s when they were in the same band, but they married different partners. The marriages lasted a long time, says Renee. “But they eventually broke up and we found each other.” They became engaged on Valentine’s Day 2013.

They first planned a fall wedding at the top of Glacier Point in Yosemite in 2013. But the massive Rim Fire closed the park and dashed those plans. So, they moved the date a month and looked to Mt. Diablo only to be burned out again by the Morgan Fire.

It was then Renee thought of the museum where she has spent the most time since 2005. “We knew it would be decorated beautifully for the holidays and Jeff loved the idea,” Renee said. “We put it together with about three months prep time.”

One evening during the early planning stage, Jeff and Renee were visiting Janet and Charmetta at their home. The four were discussing wedding plans when Charmetta and Renee flashed on the idea of asking Janet to officiate. “We looked at Janet and then back at each other and just knew Janet should perform the ceremony. So, Janet went online and got herself ordained as a Universal Life Church minister.”
Renee’s and Jeff’s vows were taken from the lyrics of a song Renee wrote for him in the early days of their courtship, “A Perfect Love.”

Jeff and Renee have been part of the fabric of the Clayton community since 2002. Their daughters attended Mt. Diablo Elementary, Diablo View Middle School and Clayton Valley High. They live in Dana Farms.

“Having the wedding at the museum was the right choice,” Renee said. “It sparkled like a jewel with all the lights and decorations.”