Elizabeth Elise Veazey and Raymond Browning Gill IV Wedding

Elizabeth Elise Veazey and Raymond Browning Gill IV were united in marriage May 21, 2005, at First United Methodist Church in Senatobia at six o'clock in the evening. The candlelight ceremony was officiated by Rev. Eugene Horton.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Garrett Veazey, junior, of Senatobia. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Luther Hiner of Ashland, Ohio, Mrs. John Garrett Veazey, senior, of Senatobia and the late Mr. Veazey.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Browning Gill III of Memphis, and the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. George Baker Hubbard, senior, of Jackson, Tennessee, Mrs. Raymond Browning Gill, junior, the late Mr. Raymond Browning Gill, junior, and the late Ms. Seta Butler York, all of Memphis.

Upon arrival to the church, guests were greeted by charming program attendants, Eleanor Frances Harrison; Caroline Claire Hubbard, cousin of the groom; Christen Hayes Michael; and Elizabeth Grace Veazey, cousin of the bride. Fresh garlands of magnolia and baby's breath intertwined with white French and satin ribbon laced the entrance above the church doors where friends were graciously welcomed by Mary Chandler Cossar and Sidney Sara Mitchell to sign the wedding register.

All-white dendrobium orchids, hydrangeas, Virginia roses and Italian rusckus with white French satin ribbon graced sconces in the candlelit church narthex and the sanctuary pews. The windowsills, encased with hurricane lanterns and magnolia greenery and blossoms, complemented an elegant altar arrangement of all white hydrangea, Virginia roses, snapdragons, dendrobium orchids and Italian rusckus.

The gathering of family and friends and a cappella solos of "Surely the Presence" and "We are Standing on Holy Ground" by the bride's uncle, Mr. John Joseph West, senior, presented a spirit-filled ambience before the announcement of the bride at the chiming of the hour.

Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore an ivory strapless gown designed by Christina Wu. The bodice was adorned with pearls, crystals and iridescent sequins. A sheath skirt of matte satin and overlay of English net flowed into a court train with a scalloped border of Venice lace. Her diamond winged silk veil fell from a tiara of pearls, rhinestones and crystals. She carried a cascade of all white Virginia roses, baby's breath, stephanotis, dendrobium orchids and Italian rusckus. Tucked in her bouquet was a picture of the bride with her mother and their special friend, the late Mrs. Barbara Borum Michael.

The bride's maid of honor was Christen Lyn Hancock of Jackson. Bridesmaids were Rebekah Campbell Blakeslee of Gulfport; Jane Frances Easley and Grace Elizabeth Fullilove of Clarksdale; Elizabeth Seta Gill, sister of the groom, of Memphis; Mary Peyton Gill, aunt of the groom, of Edwards, Colorado; Lindsay Erin Harper of Columbus; Kathryn Brooks Hubbard and Sara Elizabeth Hubbard, cousins of the groom, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Kaycee Carol Roper of Booneville. They carried cascading bouquets of green cymbidium orchids, blush mini calas, white stephanotis, white dendrobium orchids, casablanca lilies, hyacinths, eniminies and melon sweetheart roses that complemented their iridescent chiffon A-line gowns. The melon colored gowns had thin beaded straps that crossed over in the back and draped at the bodice with a flower cascading flounce.

Honorary bridesmaids were Julia Jean Givens, Kara Janette Givens, and Dana Smith Hurt, all of Senatobia; and Taylor Shinn Phillips of Batesville, who was also the bride's proxy. They carried a tussy mussy made of white gardenias, hyacinths and roses.

Flower girls were Wrennie Harper Clark, cousin of the bride, of Palm City, Florida; Elizabeth Gray Hubbard, cousin of the groom, of Nashville; Katherine Grey Hubbard, cousin of the groom, of Atlanta; and Madison Lindley Michael of Franklin. They wore sleeveless silk taffeta dresses with white organza overlay and circlets of baby's breath in their hair.

The mother of the bride wore a shear shawl atop a fawn colored strapless silk sheath with an applique overlay featuring seed pearls and a flounce around the bottom of the dress. She carried a bouquet of gardenias.

The groom chose a classic black, single-breasted tuxedo with notched lapel. The groom's brother, Cordra York Gill, of Memphis, served as best man. Groomsmen were Bruce Galloway Allbright IV of Denver; William Wright Boggan of Memphis; Stacey Alan Brigance of Olive Branch; Charles Brown Dudley IV of Memphis; Eric Heath Gropper of Haverhill, Massachusetts; William Fortune Hubbard, cousin of the groom, and Charles Christopher Kemper of Indianapolis, Indiana; George Eady Spears of Louisville, Kentucky; Henry Adam Underwood of Germantown; Matthew Rutledge Ware of Memphis; and David Wesley Webb of Tupelo. The groomsmen wore boutonnieres of white stephanotis.

The groom's mother wore a pewter silk sheath with a fitted, silk chiffon beaded overlay. The dress was sheer across the chest and low back. The chiffon overlay fell from the waist in pointed, beaded layers that were completed with a handkerchief hem. She carried a bouquet of gardenias.

Ushers for the ceremony were Donald Richard Cross of Oxford; Alan Derek Moore of Jackson; and Russell Garrett West, cousin of the bride, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Acolytes were Walker Brooks Crowford Mitchell and Joseph Mitchell Ward.

Jonathan Quinn West, cousin of the bride, served as the ring bearer, carrying a pillow covered with an antique laced handkerchief given by the bride's grandmother, Mrs. Elise Veazey.

First Corinthians was read by Hilary Ann Robbins and Jessica Marie Robbins, cousins of the bride, of Concord, North Carolina.

Special nuptial music was presented by violinists Mrs. Kenneth Russell Carnahan, aunt of the bride, and Mrs. Ann Spurbeck of the Memphis Symphony. Cellists were Rebecca Hardin Powell and Sallie Russell Powell, cousins of the bride. Mrs. Jesse Magee Gabbert served as organist, and Mrs. Rufus Egbert Warren was the pianist. Mr. David Preston Durrett, president of Como Opera Guild, sang "The Lord's Prayer" preceding the pronouncement of marriage. Mrs. Danny Lamar Williams served as wedding director.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a poolside reception on the bride's parents' lawn. Greeted with champagne and valet parking, guests enjoyed a moonlit evening that epitomized "Magnolia State" charm and the families' gratefulness for friends sharing the celebration of marriage with them. It was a grand time for all ages with dancing into the night to music by Dr. Zarr's Amazing Funkmonsters of Memphis.

Ice sculptures, bubbling breezes and a flowing chocolate fountain with skewers of fresh fruit were among the special creations enjoyed by guests. Several white pole tents lay host to serving stations offering Southern delicacies including shrimp and grits served in martini glasses, fried catfish with hush puppies and fried green tomatoes, mini corn cakes, assorted sushi, beef, pork, marinated asparagus and rendezvous- style meats and cheeses. The focal tent with French style white wooden back chairs and centerpiece stanga vases of white roses, lilies, hydrangeas, tree fern, spring arye and daisies was uniquely decorated to replicate magnolia trees; its three center poles covered in burlap and wrapped in fresh magnolia branches and blossoms.

A children's tent, surrounded in Battenburg lace with twirling flower pinwheels and child-size tables and chairs, hosted baskets of goodies, offering all the foods even adults love-chicken fingers, French fries, corn dogs, candy and lollipops. The focal point was a three- tiered candy-bar wedding cake.

Special areas for the bride and groom presented their familial expressions. Draping the bride's table was a linen embroidered cloth with Brussels Belgium lace belonging to her grandmother, Mrs. Veazey. On top were silver goblets and champagne cooler with a four-tiered Amaretto, butter cream cake, served on a silver plateau and surrounded by magnolia blossoms. It was monogrammed with her married initials in an oval on the second tier with laced icing. Acrylic ornaments, sparkling tiny white lights and white tulle amassed the poolside gazebo.

Surrounded by a milk chocolate "corral", the groom's cake was a cowboy hat sculpted from chocolate cake, iced with chocolate Kahlua Ganache, trimmed with a red hatband and completed with feathers in the band. A red bandana draped the base of the hat and around the cake, which sat on a burlap cloth. On the table was an oversized cowboy boot filled with sunflowers, Shasta daisies, lilleth and Spanish moss, and a championship team roping saddle, representing a hobby the groom has loved since childhood.

Leaving through an arched arbor, overlaid with a garland of magnolia, guests wished the couple well by tossing birdseed from hand-made silk white roses distributed by rose girls Elizabeth Mitchell Cossar, Mary Carrington Gullage, Eleanor Madison Mitchell, Mary Brooks Mitchell and Beverly McKinley Ward. The couple departed in a black limousine.

After an 11-day honeymoon in Italy, the couple resides in Memphis.

Prenuptial Parties:

On Thursday evening of the wedding weekend, family, out-of-town guests and the wedding party were invited to a welcome party at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Lou Adams in Memphis. This was a casual, fun, outdoor fish fry by the pool and co-hosted with Mr. and Mrs. Butch Faber, Dr. and Mrs. Steve Akins, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Myhr, Mr. and Mrs. Rick Clifford, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Ware, and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Black.

On Friday morning, the groom's grandmother, Mrs. Baker Hubbard, and the groom's aunts, Mrs. Al Hubbard, Mrs. George Hubbard, and Mrs. Bill Hubbard, hosted the bridesmaids luncheon at the Memphis Country Club. The bride showed her appreciation for each guest with a gift and a story about her relationship with each one. A delicious chicken salad luncheon plate was served

On Friday evening, at the University Club of Memphis, the groom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner and dance for the wedding party, family, and out-of-town guests. A seated dinner of filet mignon, garlic mashed potatoes, spinach casserole, green salad and dessert was followed with a series of toasts to the bride and groom. Music was provided by the Memphis Soul Revue. One of the highlights was a surprise performance from Elvis.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Massey was the setting for the wedding day brunch on Saturday morning. All out-of-town guests, family and wedding party enjoyed a delicious brunch of Creole eggs, cheese grits, pork tenderloin with homemade rolls, marinated vegetables, and fresh fruit on the magnificent porch, overlooking the lake. The party was co-hosted with Mr. and Mrs. Andy Wilhite, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Meacham, Mrs. Janet Givens, Mr. and Mrs. Lowry Veazey, Mr. and Mrs. Wade Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. Ellington Massey, Mr. and Mrs. Bo Young, Mr.and Mrs. Phil Tigrett, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Nelms, and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Massey.