Jocelyn Christine Gong and Thomas Carl Rollins Jr., both of Jackson, were united in marriage at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 20, 2008, at North Greenwood Baptist Church.
The Rev. Ricky Wheat of Greenwood officiated the double-ring ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry D. Gong of Greenwood.
She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gong formerly of Duncan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Way T. Jue formerly of Rosedale.
The bridegroom is the son of Thomas Carl Rollins Sr. and Mildred Proffitt Rollins both of Columbus.
He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Proffitt of Coker, Ala., and Florence Rollins of Columbus and the late Jimmy Carl Rollins.
Mrs. Trisha Walker and her daughter Bett Walker Fuller, both of Jackson, served as wedding directors.
Nuptial music was provided by soloist Connie Black of Greenwood, who sang several songs including "Ave Maria", "A Wedding Prayer", "Wedding Prayer" and "Me & You"; pianist Richard J. Gong, uncle of the bride, of San Antonio, Texas; cellist Karis Gong, cousin of the bride, of San Antonio, Texas; and organist Patricia Ethridge of Greenwood.
Two Christmas wreaths with large red bows adorned the entrance doors at the front of the church. Garlands of fresh holiday greenery decorated the double-door facing.
Inside the foyer a beautiful table arrangement of white poinsettias with a mosaic candle surrounded a large Nativity scene decorated with jewel tones.
Under each stained glass window in the sanctuary was green foliage with jewel-tone ornaments enhanced by lighted hurricane candles. Between each window there were large wreaths decorated with ribbon in jewel tones.
Each side of the sanctuary was decorated with two tiered Christmas trees covered in clear lights framing the setting for the ceremony.
The altar centerpiece were red Christmas poinsettias and greenery with a large hurricane candle in the center. A Christmas garland with ribbon and jewel-tone ornaments surrounded the stained glass Baptism wall.
The square columns in the choir loft held gold mesh cones filled with gold tone ornaments, foliage and clear lights.
The bride, who was escorted by her father and given in marriage by both her parents, wore an original, custom designed wedding gown by Stephen Yearick of New York. The gown featured a modified crescent neckline with a scallop of petals embellished with hand-beading.
The elegant form-fitting bodice was hand-beaded with teardrop and round Austrian Crystals and appliqués of hand-beaded English net with bugle beads and antique white and gold threads in a lattice pattern. The basque waistline, encircled by beaded petals was accentuated by knife pleating at the back.
The full skirt was hand-embellished with a cascading floral motif of English net with a scallop of hand-beaded petals on the hem, which flowed into a semi-cathedral train. Clusters of beading, rhinestones, iridescent Austrian crystals and rocals were hand-beaded in the embroidered English net.
The illusion fingertip-length veil fell from a comb and had teardrop and round Austrian crystals and appliqués of embroidered English net hand-beaded with bugle beads and antique white and gold thread in a lattice pattern. All the beads on the dress were hand-sewn.
The bride carried a bouquet of white roses with green berries hand-tied together with a white ribbon.
The mother of the bride wore a long navy blue designer dress of iridescent shimmery taffeta and organza. The dress had a sleeveless beaded bodice with a sheer long sleeve organza jacket with beading at the collar.
The mother of the bridegroom wore a long teal blue designer dress of taffeta with a matching ruffled bolero. The strapless gown had shimmery beads and sequins across the top of the bodice.
Bett Walker Fuller, of Jackson, served as matron of honor. Andrea Komm, of Southaven, served as maid of honor, both were roommates and sorority sisters of Jocelyn at Mississippi State University. The bridesmaids were Angelica Jue, cousin of the bride, of West Los Angeles, Calif.; Jessica Jue, cousin of the bride, of Artesia, Calif.; JoBeth Gilmer Lee of Flowood, Lacy Crumrine of Oxford, Danielle Lacy of Hickory Flat, and Mandy Nelson Gong, sister-in-law of the bride, of Brandon.
The bridesmaids wore Watters & Watters designer gowns. The slate colored luminescent taffeta dresses featured a strapless draped bodice and v-back. Each attendant carried a bouquet of pink Stargazer lilies and Gerbera daisies with greenery, pink Wax Flowers and gold ting ting fillers.
John Michael Rollins, brother of the bridegroom, of Columbus served as best man. Other groomsmen were Jason Brewster of Starkville, Harry D. Gong, Jr. brother of the bride, of Brandon, Matthew Scott Gong, brother of the bride, of Brandon, Tyler Lee of Flowood, Chris Loschiavo of Fayetteville, N.C., Jonah Taylor of Dallas, Texas, and Jeremy Winders of Columbus.
Honorary groomsmen were Thomas Cooper of Fort Walton, Fla., Brad Holley of Marietta, Parke McManis of Washington and Aaron Rice of Taylor.
Ariane Fong, cousin of the bride, was the flower girl.
She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Fun Fong Jr. all of Atlanta, Ga.
The ring bearer was Master Philip Macke, cousin of the bride.
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Macke all of Jackson.
During the nuptials the groom surprised his bride by singing his rendition of her favorite song "This Kind of Love" recorded by Sister Hazel.
After the ceremony, the wedding party boarded a trolley at the church which took them to the Country Club for their reception.
Decorations at the Greenwood Country Club included lighted reindeer along the driveway leading to the Club House and sparkling lights on the bushes surrounding the fountain. Two large Christmas trees covered with lights were at the front and back entrances to the club.
The foyer of the club was decorated with a Christmas tree covered in white lights and crystal ornaments, which also lined the entrance to the grand ballroom.
Pictures of the couple were on display in the foyer along with the guest book and a red "Double Happiness" signing cloth.
Amy Gee of Itta Bena presided at the guest register.
The ballroom was adorned with green wreaths with gold bows on the sconces around the room.
The bride's cake was set up in the ballroom under the chandelier. On each table were centerpieces made of Stargazer lilies affixed in a black wooden tray filled with ornamental rocks and an off-white candle with red and gold Chinese "Double Happiness" ribbon tied around it.
The "Double Happiness" signifies double the happiness and half the sadness in the couple's married lives according to Chinese tradition.
The four-tiered cake was made by Chow Cakes of Clarksdale. The traditional wedding cake with lemon filling was covered with buttercream icing and decorated with dots and stripes on the separate layers and the couple's monogram in the center.
The bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets were placed around the wedding cake. To the side, between the main ballroom and the food tables, were four grooms' cakes, each displaying different emblems, logos including that of the United States Marine Corps, Phi Delta Theta fraternity, Mississippi State University, and Mississippi College School of Law.
There was another table on the side which displayed a four-tiered 50th wedding anniversary cake to honor the groom's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Proffitt, who were married on this very day fifty years ago. The anniversary cake was surrounded by pictures of the grandparents' wedding day on December 20, 1958. These cakes were made by a family friend of the groom, Deanna Watkins.
The bride and groom used the groom's Marine Corp sword for the cutting of the cakes.
The couple also toasted each other from two giant champagne flutes.
Guests danced to the music of the April Cole Band of Memphis, who provided a variety of musical genres including Classic 60's, Motown, Disco, Funk, Reggae, Top 40, and popular party hits. Everyone enjoyed a delicious buffet catered by the Country Club.
After the festivities, the bride and bridegroom left the Country Club by limousine. After making a stop at Webster's Food & Drink, to join close friends for more entertainment, the happy couple traveled by limousine to the airport in Memphis, for their honeymoon trip to Playa Del Carmen in Mexico.
On the night before the wedding, the groom's mother hosted the rehearsal dinner for about 80 guests at Giardina's Restaurant at the Alluvian Hotel. The party was then moved to the Delta Room for after-dinner cocktails and the couple's slideshow.
On the morning of the wedding, a bridesmaids' luncheon was hosted at the Crystal Grill in Greenwood.
There were several prenuptial parties and showers given in honor of the couple.
Their engagement party, held on Dec. 28, 2007, the night before Mississippi State University played in the Liberty Bowl, in the Forest Ballroom at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis, was a surprise event for the bride. Close family and friends were present for this happy occasion. Food was catered by the Peabody Hotel and entertainment was provided by a local jazz band.
The couple is now at home in Jackson where the bride is a registered nurse at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the groom is in his third year of law school at Mississippi College.
