Mr. Jeremy Smith, Miss Ansley Smith exchange vows

Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Smith

In a beautiful candlelight ceremony on Saturday, April 21, 2007, at 6:00 in the evening, Ansley Paige Smith and Jeremy Harold Smith exchanged wedding vows before a large gathering of family and friends at Colquitt Free Will Baptist Church. The Rev. Kent Barwick officiated at the ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Smith of Colquitt. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heard Jr. of Colquitt and Mrs. Audrey Smith and the late John Smith of Donalsonville. Her great-grandparents are Mrs. Uva Mason and the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Newberry, all of Colquitt.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Hubert Smith of Donalsonville. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Folsom of Quitman and Mr. and Mrs. William Smith of Valdosta.

Greenery andbows adorned the lamp post along side the walkway leading to the front of the church. The handrails to the door of the church were decorated with ivy, lights and tulle. The doorway was accented with fresh garlands of tree fern and springerye. The garlands were filled with various pink and white roses, white alstromeria and lights. Matching wreaths of pink and white hydrangeas were placed on either of the front doors. Beside each door was a white stephanotis topiary tree.

In the foyer, the sofa table held a large vase filled with queen amazon roses, pink ravel roses, pink larkspur, Bells of Ireland and white stock. Along side the table was an easel holding the bride's portrait. The corners of the foyer were decorated with large ferns and palms.

Miss Emily Braswell kept the guest registry table, which held an arrangement of white tulips, various pink roses and greenery.

In the hallway leading to the sanctuary was an all white arrangement of lilies, roses and hydrangeas centered with the memory candle. The candle was lit in remembrance of the bride and groom's deceased grandparents.

Upon entering the sanctuary, guests enjoyed the large arrangement of queen amazon, pink ravel, cherry folly, light pink and white roses, pink larkspur, pink and white snapdragons, white hydrangeas white alstomerra, white lilies and ivy. This arrangement was centered in front of the beautiful baptistry stained glass window. Tall, white columns holding trailing ivy surrounded the white sixteen-branch candelabra trees. In front of the choir rail was the table, which held the unity candle. Decorating the base of the candle was an arrangement of white lilies, white roses and cherry folly roses. Also, placed on each end of the table were different heights of burning white candles. This table also held the silver plate and goblet that was used during the communion ceremony. Ferns, palms and jasmine trees completed the setting for the ceremony.

Thewindowsof the church were decorated with hanging fresh tree fern and springerye garlands. The garlands were filled with pink and white roses, alstomeria and babies breath. The bottoms of the windows were decorated with large pots of trailing ivy.

The center aisle pews were marked with arrangements of queen amazon and pink ravel roses, white tulips, white lilies and white alstomeria adorned by small peacock blue bows.

A video of the bride and groom growing up through the years was shown prior to the beginning of the ceremony, after which Mrs. Ruth Merritt began playing beautiful wedding music.

After the seating of the mothers, Mr. Jeffrey Braswell sang "Angels Among Us," in memory of the deceased grandparents of the bride and groom. The wedding party entered with Mrs. Merritt playing "Canon in D."

After the entrance of the bride, Mr. Buddy Johnson sang "God Bless the Broken Road." As the bride and groom lit the unity candle, Mr. Jeffrey Braswell and Mrs. Renee Haire sang "You and I." As the bride and groom were kneeling on the prayer bench, Rev. Hubert Smith, father of the groom, performed the communion service as Mrs. Haire sang "The Wedding Prayer."

After pronouncing Jeremy and Ansley as husband and wife, they, along with the wedding party marched out to the traditional "Recessional" played by Mrs. Merritt.

Escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents, the beautiful and radiant bride wore a white satin halter floor-length dress. The gown's bodice was totally embellished with pearls and iridescent sequins. The bride wore a tiara with Swarovski crystals and pearls. Her finger tip veil of silk illusion was adorned with pearls. She wore matching pearl and crystal earrings and bracelet that were borrowed from her grandmother, Mrs. Frank Heard Jr.

The bride carried a beautiful cascading style bouquet of queen amazon, pink ravel, pink cherry folly, light pink and white roses. Mini white orchid sprays, mini white callas and white lilies completed the bride's bouquet. She also carried a white linen handkerchief embroidered with blue flowers that was made by her great-greatgrandmother, the late Mrs. Will Newberry. Keeping with tradition, she wore a blue garter given to her by her mother.

The groom was dressed in a black tuxedo with a white shirt, white vest and white tie. His boutonniere was a white mini calla lily.

The bride chose her cousin, Whitney Tabb of Leesburg, as matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Brittaney Brake of Columbus, Tamara Grow and Haley Weaver of Colquitt, Carly Lamb of Soperton and DeeJay West of Atlanta.

Flower girls were Mara Green of Donalsonville, Morgan Heard, cousin of the bride of Adel, and Lexie Smith, niece of the bride of Bainbridge.

The bridesmaids wore halter style dresses with a white satin peplum bodice with a peacock blue bottom. Flower girls wore white crystal accented spaghetti strapped dresses over a full tulle skirt. The bridesmaids carried hand tied bouquets of various pink and white roses. Flower girls carried white pearl handle baskets filled with pink rose petals.

Honorary bridesmaids were Laura Smith, Christy Barry, Wendy Smith, Keri Horne, Jamie Tomberlin, Whitney Roberts, Carla Rathel, Keri Green, Brynn Horne, and Lindsay Phillips. They carried single, pink ravel roses tied with a peacock blue bow.

Tony Green of Donalsonville served as best man. Groomsmen were Sloan Childree, Casey Gross and Josh Gross, all of Donalsonville, Dane Heard, uncle of the bride, of Adel and Brandon Smith, brother of the bride, of Bainbridge. They each wore black tuxedos accented with white shirts and a peacock blue vest and tie. They wore boutonnieres of light pink mini calla lilies.

Serving as ring bearer was Reece Heard, cousin of the bride, of Adel. He also wore the same tuxedo and boutonniere as the groomsmen and carried a white satin pillow accented with pearls.

Tyler and Garrett Heard, cousins of the bride, of Adel passed out programs and keepsake bookmarks as the guests arrived.

The bride's mother wore a black floor-length gown with matching jacket, trimmed with beads and Swarovski crystals. The groom's mother wore a navy chiffon floor-length gown with a matching jacket accented with sequins. Both mothers carried a bouquet of white roses tied with white satin ribbon.

Mrs. Kaye Braswell and Mrs. Anita Tabb directed the wedding.

RECEPTION

Immediately following the wedding ceremony, in honor of the bride and groom, the bride's parents hosted a reception in the church social hall. The room was beautifully decorated with a central centerpiece sitting atop a tall pedestal, which consisted of a large vase filled with lemons, limes and strawberries and a towering arrangement of pink and white snapdragons, bells of Ireland, white hydrangeas, white lilies, queen amazon and cherry folly roses, pink larkspur, asparagus fern and lily grass. The "Y" shaped food table which held this arrangement was set up with an abundance of chicken tenders, pasta salad, various dips and cheeses, sandwiches, cocktail sausage and chicken salad timbales. A table holding various meats and breads, along with another table filled with shrimp and seafood dips, was located on either side of the table holding silver punch bowls filled with strawberry slush punch, iced tea and bottled water. A beautiful fruit table with a background of strawberry topiary trees and various mixed fruits completed the set-up of the food.

The guests were seated at tables with white floorlength tablecloths topped with a peacock blue overlay. Centered in the middle of the tables were tall milk white vases filled with arrangements of queen amazon, pink ravel, cherry folly and white roses, white and pink tulips, pink mini calla lilies, white alstomeria, asparagus fern and lily grass.

The bride's table held four white satellite cakes all placed on top of crystal pedestals. Each cake was topped with pink and white roses. Surrounding the front of the cakes was fresh flowers of the wedding colors entwined with greenery.

The groom's table held a two-tiered red velvet cake decorated with tuxedo strawberries made by Mrs. Susan Weaver of Colquitt. This table also featured various chocolates displayed beautifully by the caterer.

Following a week long honeymoon in St. Augustine, Florida, the bride and groom are making their home in Colquitt.

Rehearsal Dinner

The groom's parents hosted the rehearsal dinner on the eve of the wedding at Fain's Barn in Donalsonville. The barn was beautifully decorated using a country theme.

A delicious meal of barbecue pork, barbecue chicken, and all the trimmings along with strawberry and chocolate desserts were served.

Bridesmaid's

Luncheon

A bridesmaid's luncheon was held on Friday, April 20, at Bleu's Coffee and Créme. The guests enjoyed a delicious chicken salad plate with fruit.

The bride-to-be presented gifts to her attendants for celebrating this special occasion with her.

Hostesses for the occasion were Mrs. Martiele Pickle, Mrs. Wanda Griffin, Mrs. Betty Jo Toole, Mrs. Tammy Richardson, Mrs. Debra Bryan, Mrs. Patsy Hornsby, Mrs. Debbie Spooner and Mrs. Wally Barbree. The hostesses presented Ansley with a crystal cake plate with silver server.