Paul and Mia's Wedding

Gail, Scotty and Paul

On May 11, 2006, the day after the Ponderosa Stomp, Paul and Mia were married in a small intimate ceremony at the Juliet suite of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. Scotty stood in as the best man and Gail was the maid of honor.  Ashley Kingman, his girl Mary, Liam Grundy, Jimmy Russell, Bucky Barrett, Peter Miller and myself attended.  Paul Ansell is the singer of Scotty’s British band whenever he tours in Europe.

We were all introduced to Mia for the first time last summer in August when Scotty performed in Stockholm, Norway and London.  Earlier this year Paul and Mia became engaged and decided to get married in Memphis when they came over to perform at the Ponderosa Stomp.

"Do You Paul take Mia?"  "Yup!"

Paul places the ring on Mia

Mia places the ring on Paul

Since a child Paul was always a big fan of Elvis and Scotty and like many was influenced in his decision to become a performer. He regularly performs and tours in Europe with his own band “Number Nine”.  Mia is from Germany and shares his enthusiasm.  She even located and purchased him an Isana guitar identical to the one Elvis owned while stationed in Germany.  Strangely enough it had been sitting in a used guitar shop for years not far from Bad Nauheim where Elvis lived (the proprietor had kept it thinking it may have actually been Elvis’ until he read about the one described here on Scotty’s site).

You may now kiss the bride

After the ceremony Scotty removed his tie and presented it as a wedding gift to Paul.  It was a tie he had purchased years ago in Memphis with his initials on it while he was still performing with Elvis.  Paul couldn’t have been more thrilled.  We stood around for awhile snapping pictures, making toasts and sipping champagne but soon it was time for Scotty, Gail, Liam and Jimmy to drive back to Nashville.  Bucky drove on to Mississippi to visit with his mother for Mother’s day while Paul had a surprise for the rest of us.

Peter, Bucky, Mia, Paul, Mary, Ashley, Scotty, Gail, Liam and Jimmy

Almost in honor of Elvis’ appetite for “Krystal” hamburgers, Paul hired a horse and carriage to take us all on a ride up Union Ave and the streets of Memphis for burgers and fries at Krystal’s.  What a cool idea.  It was kind of kooky in a way but lots of fun and definitely something we’ll remember forever.  On the ride back the driver serenaded the bride and groom with his version of “Walking in Memphis” (nice touch).

Instead of the traditional tossing of the bouquet, the horse gets to eat too

Back at the hotel we sipped more champagne and talked awhile before wishing the couple well and saying goodbye. They were heading to Hawaii and several days on Friday and then back to LA before heading home. The night before, my friend Peter and I had bid on a jacket made for Scotty by an artist which was an item auctioned as a fund raiser at the Stomp. My friend Hal Lansky of Lansky Brothers, located in the lobby of the Peabody, was kind enough to give us a zippered bag embossed with their logo. It made the gift looked grander than it was (Thanks Hal). The jacket fit Paul perfectly and it went well with the tie.

Congratulations Paul and Mia. Thank you for letting us all be a part of it.

James V. Roy
May 2006