Guthrie: The Wedding Capitol Of Oklahoma

Kirsten McIntyre, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- When it comes to weddings in the state, Guthrie is quickly becoming known as the "wedding capital of Oklahoma."

Guthrie was the site for the state's most famous wedding more than a century ago on the steps of the Carnegie Library in Guthrie on November 16, 1907-- when Oklahoma became a state.

Old picture show some 20,000 people witnessed the uniting of the two territories into one state.

"There was a symbolic wedding between Miss Indian Territory, a woman by the name Anna Bennett, who was of Cherokee descent, and Mr. Oklahoma Territory, Charles Jones from Oklahoma City," said Nathan Turner, Guthrie Museum Complex director.

The two even exchanged vows as they stood on the steps of the Carnegie Library.

"'Miss Indian territory, do you take Mr. Oklahoma Territory, and its people,' and visa versa, so they actually had vows," Turner said.

Since that historic day, there have countless Oklahomans who have tied the knot in historic Guthrie.

Julie Ayers is the director of The Dominion House. Several years ago, she and her family transformed the old Masonic children's home into a grand event center. They now do about 100 weddings a year.

"Really just from the state, from Norman to Yukon to the panhandle, a little bit of everywhere in Oklahoma," Ayers said.

Ayers said she thinks Guthrie is becoming known as the "wedding capital of Oklahoma" because of its rich history and the number of bed and breakfasts in town.

"I think it's the buildings, just the quaintness of the town."It's just a neat town to come to," Ayers said.

Besides being known as the "wedding capital of Oklahoma," Guthrie is also known as the "Bed and Breakfast Capital of Oklahoma."

The town has more than a dozen bed and breakfast inns, cottages and downtown suites.