The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bob Davison Gilbert Jr. of LaFayette. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steven Clark Grinnell of San Antonio, Texas.
The bride’s maternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Jonas Winston Bartles. Her paternal grandparents are Bob Davison Gilbert Sr. of LaFayette and the late Ethel Stallings Gilbert.
The groom’s maternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. William Monroe Wolf, and his paternal grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Clifton Grinnell.
The ranch entrance gates were decorated with vine wreaths decorated with pink, peach and coral roses, fuchsia peonies, pink snapdragons, yellow tulips and calla lilies, surrounded with greenery.
The ceremony was held in the galleried courtyard, which was decorated with a large wrought-iron arbor draped with swags of asparagus fern, ivy and lemon leaves. Hypericum, orchids and bougainvillea cascaded from arrangements of roses, tulips and snapdragons. Five large yellow esperanza plants lined each side of the doorways that opened from the courtyard. Two large wrought-iron candelabras marked the doorway. Small candles were placed in the open windows and luminarias lined the galleried porch. Guests were greeted with cones of rose petals, programs and fans.
Guitarist Terry Muska of San Antonio provided the musical prelude prior to and during the ceremony.
The bride’s mother wore a tea-length taupe crocheted lace three-piece suit and carried mauve orchids. The mother of the groom wore a mid-length cream and taupe silk two-piece ensemble and carried mauve orchids.
Lesslie Gilbert Meier of Atlanta, sister of the bride, served as matron of honor. Sallie Shields Smith of Albany served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Sarah Gilbert Skates, cousin of the bride, of Nashville, Tenn., and Blakely Hampton and Tracy Neal of LaFayette. They were dressed in strapless sage green gowns and carried bouquets of pink, peach and coral roses, and fuchsia peonies accented with yellow tulips, calla lilies and hypericum.
Ervena Bartles, cousin of the bride, of Tega Cay, S.C., served as the flower girl. She wore a long white satin dress decorated with pink roses across the bodice. She carried a white satin basket and dropped dark-pink rose petals.
Honorary attendants were Ashley Coley Chelednik, Alice Johnston and Olivia Willis, all of Atlanta, and Julie Ann Blaylock of Denver, Colo.
Brooke Groves of Chattanooga, Tenn., greeted the guests and kept the bride’s book. The wedding was directed by Dr. Lori Ebert of Atlanta.
Clinton Hayes Grinnell, brother of the groom, of San Antonio, served as best man. The groomsmen were Ryan Christian Millard and Jack Roger Lamphill of Atlanta, Charles Cardon Smith of Lookout Mountain, and Walter Roy Whitaker of New Castle, Colo. Groomsmen were attired in navy blazers over white shirts, and sage green ties with khaki trousers.
Scripture readers were Emily Scoggins of LaFayette, and Dr. Louis Meier IV, brother-in-law of the bride, of Atlanta.
Ushers were Nicholas Ryan Anderson and Henry Cleveland Debardelaben III, both of Marietta; Jeffrey Wayne Moczygemba of San Antonio; Christopher Phillips Eble of Atlanta; and Steven Daniel Wright of New Braunfels, Texas.
The bride, escorted and given in marriage by her father, wore an ivory silk charmeuse gown designed by Jim Hjelm. It featured a softly draped neckline across a sheath bodice that extended to a halter tie at the nape of the neck. The design featured a semi-trumpet skirt that extended into a sweep train. Her elbow-length veil of illusion was edged with satin ribbon and attached to a comb. She wore antique ivory satin shoes. A lucky sixpence and lace garter were gifts from her mother. She carried an antique ivory lace handkerchief that belonged to her great-grandmother, Ellen Oates Lesslie of South Carolina, and a white lace handkerchief that was a gift from Belva Gilbert. She wore a gold and opal necklace that had belonged to her grandmother, Ethel Stallings Gilbert, as “something borrowed.” Her flowers were a bouquet of roses, peonies, tulips, hypericum and lilies in shades of pink, peach, coral and yellow.
Following the wedding, a dinner reception was held on the ranch grounds. A large white tent was filled with tables draped with burlap and topped with cutwork white cloths. Centerpieces of peonies, roses and variegated greenery surrounded with white votive candles decorated each table. Texas-style buffets surrounded the dancefloor, serving stuffed avocados, hand-formed tortillas, empanadas and other dishes. Entertainment was provided by Nightfire of San Antonio.
The wedding cake was a tiered, nine-layer white cake with buttercream icing and lemon and raspberry fillings, decorated with Texas mesquite branches and small sugar birds. The groom’s cake was three chocolate layers in the shape of Texas, decorated with chocolate shavings. The cakes were served in the trophy room/wine cellar.
The couple left in a shower of birdseed as they left the reception on a four-wheel drive gator all-terrain vehicle. Following a week’s wedding trip to Costa Rica, the couple will reside in Austin, Texas.
A rehearsal dinner was held Friday, June 22, at the McAllen Country Club, and hosted by the groom’s parents. The tables were covered with gold linen cloths with centerpieces of yellow roses and artificial butterflies. Each place setting was marked with a bird’s nest filled with Godiva chocolate eggs. Pictures of birds of Texas decorated the room. A slide presentation of the bride and groom through the years, along with family and friends, was presented by the bride’s parents and was prepared by Robert Crawford of LaFayette. After a delicious meal, family members and friends made toasts to the couple.
A post-wedding dinner reception was held Aug. 25 in the Silver Ballroom of the Read House Hotel in Chattanooga. Guests were welcomed, the couple was introduced and the meal blessed by David Cunningham, family friend. The father of the bride toasted the couple. Tables were draped with white cloths and held centerpieces of tall glass vases filled with greenery, pink titanic roses, curly willow, alstroemeria and oriental lilies. The vestibule and buffets were decorated with three large floral arrangements. The terrace room also featured a video presentation by of the wedding day festivities held at Rancho Estrella. Entertainment was provided by The Beaters. Guests enjoyed Texas bluebonnet seeds as favors.
Out-of-town guests attended from Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Missouri, Montana, Michigan, Washington, D.C., and Texas.
An engagement luncheon was held Saturday, April 7, at the Galleries at Southside, Chattanooga. Hostesses were Micki Smith, Kay Henderson, Dr. Suzanne Storey, Joy Scoggins and Sylvia Hill. The bride was presented a gift of an Arthur Court carving board.
A cocktail buffet honoring the bridal couple was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Wardlaw of Lookout Mountain on Friday, April 20, and hosted by Mr. and Mrs. David Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. David Derrick, Adelia Derrick, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Davies, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Crawford, Mr. and Mrs. Breck Parker, Judy Hodge and Carolyn Solmon. The couple was presented with Arthur Court “Texas” and star-shaped trays.
A picnic supper honoring the couple was held Saturday, April 21, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Jackson of LaFayette. Other hosts were Mr. and Mrs. Belfield Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Florence, Mr. and Mrs. Wade Gilbert, George Gilbert, and Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Potts. The couple was presented with an Arthur Court serving tray and a bridal signature plate. A “Georgia” topiary, made by Mrs. Potts, was also presented to the couple.
A lakeside cabin party was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Don Richie, Mr. and Mrs. Pat Clements, and Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Shattuck on Friday, May 11. After dinner, the couple was presented with a set of monogrammed towels and two cookbooks.
On May 12 , a Tex-Mex dinner party was hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Bryon Chapman, Judge and Mrs. Bryant Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Loughridge, Dr. and Mrs. Mike McCary, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Potts, Mr. and Mrs. “Poss” Parnell, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Street, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Underwood, and Mr. and Mrs. Ron Womack at the Underwood home alongside the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. The couple was presented with a dish garden and platter with matching plates and accessories.
A salad supper at the home of Ms. Grady Smith was held on Tuesday, May 15. Hostesses were members of the Women of Faith Sunday school class of First Baptist Church of LaFayette, the bride’s mother’s class. The bride was presented with a recipe from each member of the class and cream-colored bath accessories for her new home.
The Bank of LaFayette hosted a bridal shower for employee Janie Gilbert on Thursday, May 24, at the main office. She was presented with a place setting of Denby china by the bank in addition to gifts from her co-workers.
A bridal luncheon was held Saturday, May 26, at the home of Marilyn Ransom of LaFayette. Other hostesses were Emily Henry and Connie Forester. A large Arthur Court serving bowl with “longhorn” stand was presented to the bride.
A bridal brunch was held at the home of Danette Martin. Other hostesses were Gladys Wood, Evelle Dana, Deb Allen and Aronda Lunsford, both of Chattanooga, Vickie Mason of Ringgold, and Carol Watson of Rising Fawn. The hostesses presented the bride with an Arthur Court tray in the shape of a large crab.
A miscellaneous bridal shower was held at the home of Dr. Lori Ebert of Atlanta on Saturday, June 9. Other hostesses were Anne Barnes of Canton and Karen Hart of LaFayette. The hostesses presented the bride with a serving platter and bowl in her china pattern.
A bachelorette dinner and shower was held at the home of Brooke Groves, Chattanooga, on Saturday, June 2. Other hostesses were Ashley Chelednik, Alice Johnston, Lesslie Meier, sister of the bride, and Olivia Willis, all of Atlanta; Blakely LeGrande, Tracy Neal and Emily Scoggins of LaFayette; Sallie Smith of Albany; and Sarah Skates of Nashville.
A bachelor’s dinner, hosted by the brother of the groom Clinton Grinnell of San Antonio, was held in Chattanooga. Friends from Texas, Marietta and Chattanooga camped on the banks of the Tennessee River after dinner.
On the day of the wedding, a pre-wedding lunch with a Texas theme was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in McAllen, Texas, for out-of-town guests. Hosts were Mr. and Mrs. David Cunningham, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Gilbert, and Mr. and Mrs. Burney Skates. A cake pan in the shape of Texas was the gift for the couple.
A farewell coffee for out-of-town guests was held at the Sheraton Read House Hotel on Sunday morning following the reception. Hosts were Mr. and Mrs. David Bartles of Rock Hill, S.C.; Mr. and Mrs. Neal Gilreath; and Dr. and Mrs. Chip Levie of LaFayette.
CLICK ON THESE LINKS
FEEDBACK: Send a
letter to the editor
SUBSCRIBE: Get the
Walker County Messenger each Wednesday and Friday
GO
BACK: Return to our homepage
Post a Comment