Shelby Snyder, of Tulsa, and Justin Hendrick, of Scottsdale, Arizona, were married Oct. 21 in Tulsa. Their story, however, began five years prior at the historic Mayo Hotel, which has deep roots in the Snyder family.
“My parents were the ones to purchase the building and save it from being torn down in 2001,” Shelby says. “We have done a complete renovation of the hotel and it has been the place for all of our favorite family memories.”
Justin moved to Tulsa in 2012 and met Snyder through a mutual friend. The connection was instant, and Shelby says their mutual love of family made the proposal all the more special.
“He proposed in front of my entire family at our Christmas dinner,” Shelby says. “I was completely surprised.”
The black-tie wedding ceremony, held at Holy Family Cathedral, signified Shelby and Justin’s commitment to their faith, while also providing a venue filled with sentiment for Snyder.
“This cathedral is extra special to me, as it’s where my sister was married and my nieces and nephew were baptized,” she says.
Father Bernie Scianna, Shelby’s headmaster at Cascia Hall, married them.
The reception kicked off in the Crystal Ballroom at the Mayo. A 7-foot “H,” made of 600 white roses, adorned the Grand Hall staircase all weekend.
The night quickly became unforgettable with delectable eats, great tunes and dazzling party favors. Shelby’s parents provided an original Mayo Hotel door as a quirky version of the guest book – so attendees could “sign a piece of Mayo history.”
The axis upon which the celebrations turned, Shelby says, was the hotel itself.
“It is the heart of my family and where we share all of our memories. It is where I met Justin, where we spend our celebrations, and where our family on both sides gather for special occasions,” she says. “The Mayo is a piece of Tulsa history, but it is also the center of our family history.”
