Camo Wedding

Nicholas County couple dons mossy oak camouflage pattern for November vows

Kasha and James get married in camouflage. Constructing the camouflage cake. Photo gallery of a camo wedding.

12/10/2008 By Elaine McMillion and Kendal Montgomery SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. —Friends and family recognize James and Kasha Snodgress as unique individuals. So when the Nicholas County couple chose camouflage for the theme of their November wedding, it came as no surprise to some. “It fits both of their personalities,” said groomsman Shane Clark. The bride’s mother did not have the same initial reaction. “I about had a cow!” Missy Russell said. “You always plan for this beautiful, elegant wedding for your daughter. And then she came through and said, ‘Camouflage.’ But it turned out very different and very elegant.” Kasha, 19, and James, 22, enjoy hunting, four-wheeling and the outdoors. Their November wedding was a camouflage-themed event at the Summersville Armory. Growing up, Kasha was a tomboy. Her father, Roy Russell, called his daughter “my little camo girl.” “She was my first son,” he said. Kasha, a veterinary technician student at Fairmont State University, said she caught some criticism and teasing from friends, who told her she had watched too much of the Country Music Television show “My Big Redneck Wedding.” “When everybody would ask what my colors were, they would say, ‘Oh, you’re having a redneck wedding?’ ” Kasha said. So the wedding’s elegance caught some by surprise. “It definitely turned out different than I thought,” said cousin and bridesmaid Amber Russell, 21. And Kasha’s mother noted that despite some negative opinions offered by friends, Kasha did not let them ruin her unique plans for her big day.

“She didn’t care what everybody thought,” Missy said. “It didn’t bother her.”

Kasha acknowledged that finding tasteful camo wedding decorations was challenging.

When no camo ribbon could be found, Kasha’s crafty family members cut sheer, camo fabric into strips to form elegant bows and table runners. It also was used to decorate the five-tier wedding cake. Thick camo fabric was cut in half and used as an aisle runner.

Patty Bevins, owner of Cinderella’s Closet in Hurricane, has been in the bridal business for 25 years and this wasn’t her first camo wedding – she said the trend started three years ago.

Bevins said customers typically have had to make their own camo-inspired bridesmaid dresses.

The Snodgress wedding incorporated fall colors with accents of orange, red and yellow leaves, small pumpkins and sunflowers. The bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets included sunflowers and roses. The groom and groomsmen wore simple sunflower boutonnieres.

Kasha wore a beaded, ivory halter-dress, while her bridesmaids wore alternating green and brown strapless dresses.

Groomsmen wore black tuxedos with camo vests and camo ties.

Britt Abnathy, formal wear manager at S&K Menswear in Charleston, said he gets the most requests for camo items during prom season. Abnathy describes the Mossy Oak pattern as a “hunter’s camo” with leaves, trees and different fall colors.

“It’s really amazing; it’s quite bizarre,” Abnathy said. “I never thought this pattern would be so popular that they would incorporate it into formal wear.”