Owner of My Best Friend JennaOwner of My Best Friend Jenna

Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, The Southern Lifestyles Lady. Photography by Kristina Only.

Jenna Hamilton King has been the proud owner of My Best Friend Jenna (MBFJ) since February 2010. Her focus at MBFJ is to make your shopping experience truly feel like you are shopping with your B-F-F! MBFJ has evolved throughout the years and specializes in formalwear for all occasions. Her dresses and tuxedos have gone to proms, weddings, homecoming, pageants, military balls, fundraising events, and many other events. Jenna works alongside her sister, Lauren; Mom, Clarenita; and employees who have truly become best friends. Together, they have created a charming and relaxed atmosphere where they are enthusiastic, respectful, encouraging and stand by you during dress fittings and your ultimate formalwear purchase. Jenna ensures that your private MBFJ stylist will help you discover your most flattering fit while keeping your dress design goals, partialities and budget at the forefront and pulling dress options for your selection. Her desire is for you to feel your most confident and beautiful self in your gown from My Best Friend Jenna.

Jenna graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in December 2009 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. Her path was to take another direction in the pursuit of a dream to make a statement in the world of fashion. She opened her boutique at the original location of 179 Carriage House Drive, then 310 Rosemont where she was located for 8 years before moving to her forever retail location on the grounds of Madison Downs, her family-owned property, in 2017.

Jenna is deeply passionate in her role as producer of Lights Camera Fashion (LCF). LCF is a program focused on enriching the lives of Tennessee’s young women and dedicated to raising funds for the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In its tenth year, Lights Camera Fashion has raised nearly $500,000 for St. Jude. Jenna was awarded the 2019 St. Jude Event Coordinator of the Year. The LCF prom runway event, held annually at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in February, features high school juniors and seniors from across West Tennessee. Fifty-five high school models have been selected to participate in the 2021 event (our 10th year) that was recently postponed due to COVID-19 concerns and venue restrictions.

Other top priorities in Jenna’s life are her husband of 5 years, Christopher King; son, Slayton, who will be 2 in late February; her sisters, Lauren and Anna; her parents, Howard and Clarenita, and all of her amazing B-F-Fs, of course!

“The first thing I saw when I stepped out of my car at our family farm was a four-leaf clover. Since then I have seen over 100 four-leaf clovers at what is now called Madison Downs Venue. The clovers signify faith, hope, love and luck, and the four cornerstones of my life are faith, family, friends and freedom.”

— Jenna Hamilton King

VIP: Give a short summary of the property where your business is located.

Jenna King: My paternal grandfather, William Scales Hamilton, while on leave from the war serving as a sergeant in the Army Air Corps, married my grandmother, Gladys Gibson, on February 18, 1945. They purchased the land from my great-grandfather William W. Hamilton and built their home; raised my father, his brother and sister; and farmed the land on the property now known as Madison Downs Venue, where My Best Friend Jenna is located.

VIP: Describe your events venue. What sets it apart from your competitors, and what are the busiest months for weddings and wedding receptions?

JK: Madison Downs is conveniently located in Madison County and highly visible off the Highway 45 bypass in north Jackson. The original barn, built by my grandfather, was redesigned by my father, Howard, and mother, Clarenita, with the goal of having a first-class event venue to host many types of events in addition to weddings. Madison Downs has a large heated and cooled indoor space. In addition, there is over 5,000 square feet of covered open-air porches. Since opening the venue in the fall of 2018, we have noticed there is really no off-season in the wedding industry these days!

VIP: How has COVID-19 affected your business?

JK: There have been many reschedules and postponements of social event gatherings other than weddings. As protected by the Constitution, weddings and religious events have continued. Wedding participants and guests are strongly encouraged to follow the health guidelines and maintain appropriate social distancing. With COVID our business is open by appointment only for formalwear, and we limit the number of people in our store at the same time.

VIP: Describe some of the new wedding trends and wedding gown styles.

JK: Silhouettes with clean lines and modern fabrics such as a fitted crepe material are making a big statement in 2021. Modest dresses with bare backs are haute for this season along with transformative pieces such as capes and detachable overskirts that may be removed for comfort at the reception. My Best Friend Jenna offers styles that are timeless and traditional, modern and metropolitan, free-spirited and adventurous, romantic and elegant, and trendy and fun. They are all customizable per the vision and preferences of the clients. We also do a lot of tuxedo rentals. October books up first. Endless possibilities await at MBFJ!

VIP: Tell me about your family, hobbies and favorite travel destinations.

JK: My husband, Christopher, works in the family business at King Tire on Airways Blvd. He is an avid duck hunter and is my own personal chef and comedian. Together we have a nearly two-year-old son, Slayton, who brings us so much pride and joy. My dad, Howard, is a professional horse trainer, with his training facility and farm where I grew up—Southern Serenity Ranch in Cedar Grove, TN. My dad has been inducted into the Tennessee Walking Horse Hall of Fame and has received over 300 World Championship titles in his career. My mom, Clarenita, is a retired art teacher of 30 years, and she is my creative counterpart who has advised me on every thought, wild idea and dream I have had in my business and production of Lights Camera Fashion. My mom also oversees all of the venue bookings and tours. My older sister, Lauren, manages My Best Friend Jenna, working alongside me and keeping all of the books and appointments running smoothly. Lauren is extremely passionate in competing with her horse, having achieved 8 World Championship titles. She plays a huge role in the operation of Southern Serenity Ranch as well. My younger sister, Anna, recently married Jon Myers at Madison Downs and is a corporate event planter in Nashville. Personal Note: Anna and Jon met at my wedding on October 24, 2015, the very first wedding on-site at Madison Downs Venue before it was transformed into Madison Downs.

I am very much a horse enthusiast (as if I had a choice—ha ha!), and I enjoy trail riding and camping during the fall, especially at Natchez Trace State Park. My husband and I enjoy summer weekends at the Tennessee River and love to go snow skiing in the winter months.

What to Know

My Best Friend Jenna at Madison Downs
4506 Highway 45 North
Jackson, TN 38305
(731) 668-8813
By appointment only Monday through Saturday.
Facebook and Instagram: My Best Friend Jenna