In the past few years Chenae Shiner has left Las Vegas with a title change and this year will be no different. Shriner is going from Miss to Mrs. with her upcoming wedding to fiancé’ Stetson Vest, a PRCA Tie-Down Roper. Shiner arrived in 2012 as Miss Rodeo Utah and left as the newly crowned 2013 Miss Rodeo America. After giving up her title last December she became engaged in April. “We were out in Vegas before the Logandale rodeo and we were at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino “shopping” with his family, or so I thought, when he asked me to go with him for a second. Turns out we went on a gondola ride. Towards the end of the gondola ride he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. After he proposed our family was hiding over a bridge, including my parents that had secretly snuck down to Vegas and they jumped out and were cheering,” shared Shiner about her engagement.
Stetson and Chenae with Sawyer when they first met
Cowboy Lifestyle Network called the bride-to-be who told us, “Well, originally we had planned to go to Mexico in October 2014 and have a beach wedding. With Stetson’s September surgery we pushed our wedding back.” She explained how as a couple they realized all their family and friends were going to be in Las Vegas with the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and the timing worked for their wedding. The couple will wed on Wednesday December 3, 2014 just a day before the first performance of the WNFR. Two of the nine bridesmaids are former rodeo queens including Miss Rodeo Canada 2013Gillian Shield and 2012 Miss Rodeo Arizona Jayme Fish. The bridesmaid dresses are full length gowns with a sweetheart neckline, Shiner revealed. The wedding colors they selected are black and white and floral arrangements are red roses.
Chenae and Stetson engagement photo
The bride-to-be is wearing a mermaid style wedding dress with a ruffle skirt. “I was adamant about adding more rhinestones. Old rodeo queen habits are hard to die.” she mentioned. After spending years preparing for rodeo queen pageants she admits planning a wedding was absolutely crazy. She selected a venue that completely handled all the details. Cowboy Lifestyle Network is all about fashion so we asked what the mothers were going to wear. Shiner said, “Both of our moms are totally gorgeous. I haven’t seen any of their dresses yet.” However, she did give them instructions to select dresses to match their fun personalities. Finally if Cinderella wears a glass slipper what will a former Miss Rodeo America wear as her footwear? Cowgirl boots – Absolutely! Designer Camille Vernon made several boots for Shiner during her rodeo queen days. “It’s only fitting she make my wedding boots. We’ve taken lace from the dress to match with the boots,” explained Shiner.
Gretchen Kirchmann is a veteran journalist covering a variety of events across the country each year. She founded Kirchmann Media Group in 2009 and works as a marketing consultant with a forte for the western lifestyle industry, festivals, fairs and rodeo world. Her work includes 15 national communication awards plus coverage of Nashville's CMT Awards and CMA Fanfest. A favorite assignment was attending the all cast reunion of the Dukes of Hazard in 2006 and 2007 at Dukesfest. In December you will find her covering the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo and Miss Rodeo America pageant live from Las Vegas. Her favorite color is orange, favorite song "Rocky Top" and she loves to dance especially clogging.
