Tie the knot and grab a bite at Hillbilly Hotdogs
By Sean Udy
On St. Patrick’s Day, Sonny and Sharie Knight, founders and owners of Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, unveiled their latest labor of love, the Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel.
The Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel’s first ceremony was a renewal ceremony for Larry and Jane Cisco of Chester, New Jersey. The Ciscos have been married for 37 years and were on a mission to renew their vows in all 50 states before their 40th anniversary, and they set their sights on the Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Weddin’ Chapel to help cross West Virginia off of their wedding bucket list.
The Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel Grand Opening Event, which featured Larry and Jane Cisco’s wedding renewal ceremony, was free and open to the public, and included musical performances by Beckley, West Virginia bluegrass band, The Kind Thieves.
The Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel is the next chapter in a long legacy of “Love and Weenies”
Sonny and Sharie Knight started Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage, West Virginia, over 16 years ago, as a way that they be together everyday and make enough money to pay Sharie’s Mustang payment. The Knights opened Hillbilly Hot Dogs for the first time on September 6, 1999 and then closed-down three days later, on September 9, 1999 to get married on Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ property, on the land where Sonny grew up. Over the past 16 years, they have renewed their vows over 34 times in places all over the country.
When they opened Hillbilly Hot Dogs, little did Sonny and Sharie know of the huge impact their little school bus dining room attached to a 12’x16′ shack (where they whip-up hot dog and hamburger creations bigger and more unique than you will find anywhere) would have on West Virginia and the world. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the little Weenie Stand that is on Route 2 in Lesage, West Virgnia, overlooking the Ohio River and the Western skies.
In 2007, Guy Fieri featured Sonny, Sharie, and Hillbilly Hot Dogs on his Food Network show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Since then, Hillbilly Hot Dogs has been featured on shows such as: Travel Channel’s Food Paradise: Hot Dog Paradise, The Tonight Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, Fox’s Bones, as well as countless blogs, books and other online and print publications. And though, the Mustang as long since been nothing more than a memory, their love for their fans and each other has only grown stronger.
So, after years of renewing their own vows, Sonny and Sharie wanted to help couples take that next big step in their lives in ‘Hillbilly Style.’ And so Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel was born. “Working together day in and day out, the best thing for us was to renew our vows and keep our love alive We hope to share that experience with others, hoping they will feel and live what we have.” – Sonny Knight
About Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel
Sonny “The Weenie Man” Knight is an ordained minister in the State of West Virginia and will officiate weddings at Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel with the assistance of his “Weenie Wife,” Sharie Knight. Ceremonies are performed in the quirky way that one would only expect from Hillbilly Hot Dogs.
The Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel building is a quaint, little rustic cabin, adorned with antique hillbilly dcor, items and decorations that the Knights have acquired from Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ visitors and from Sonny’s ever-growing collection of flea market and yard sale finds.
Couples can book a hillbilly-style wedding or renewal ceremony officiated by the Knights with packages that include special, custom-made Weddin’ Favors: “Hillbilly Veils, “Boot n’ Ears,” “Bow-K’s,” commemorative marriage certificates, custom-made photo plaques, weddin’ videos and photos. Couples can also rent the space and bring their own priest, preacher or justice of the peace.
The Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ Hillbilly Weddin’ Chapel chapel will be open to the public for those interested in renewing their vows or ‘gettin’ hitched’ for the very first time. Also, through April 18 couples can book their ceremony at a discounted rate of $50 for Weddings and $25 for Renewals (Weddin’ Favors, Photos and Video are available, but not included in the special price).
To learn more visit: www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/GitHitched, or call at 304-762-2458.