Whitney Katherine Kearney of Money and Alston Dell Avritt of Cordova, Tenn., were united in marriage at 4 p.m. May 31, 2008, at First Presbyterian Church in Greenwood.
The Rev. Dr. Rusty Douglas of Greenwood officiated the double-ring ceremony. Scriptural charge was by the Rev. Dr. Tom Cheatham of Starkville.
The bride is the daughter of Mrs. John Whitfield Kearney Jr. of Money and the late Mr. Kearney.
She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John W. Kearney Sr. of Money, Mr. Ross L. Earles of Springfield, Ill., and the late Mrs. Earles and Mrs. Calvin D. Hall of Athens, Ill., and the late Mr. Hall.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert DeWayne Avritt of Cordova.
He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. A.L. James of Wynne, Ark., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Obie D. Avritt of Cleveland.
Upon entering the church, the narthex was decorated with two large arrangements of snapdragons, blue and white hydrangeas, belles of Ireland, Autumn olive and roses.
At the altar, there were two massive urn arrangements of white hydrangeas, Casa Blanca lilies, Anna and Virginia roses and lime green mini hydrangeas, flanked by candelabras with ivory candles and greenery.
The pew markers and windows held arrangements of peach virsilia roses, porcelina spray roses, Casa Blanca lilies, white hydrangeas and alstromeria.
Nuptial music was provided by organist Ray Smithee and vocalists Connie Black and Randy Weeks, all of Greenwood.
Given in marriage by her uncle, David Edward Schinneer of Springfield, Ill., the bride wore a dress made of ivory silk taffeta with a fully draped bodice and an embellished belt at the waist. The v-neck gown featured a dramatic trumpet skirt and a sweep train. The fingertip-length veil complemented the gown with an ivory satin trim.
She carried a bouquet of Vendela, Eskimo, Virginia and Anna roses, white hydrangeas, white Casa Blanca lilies and lisianthus.
Elizabeth Cordell Doughty of Memphis, Tenn., served as matron of honor.
Bridesmaids were Ashley Suzanne Gragson of Greenwood, cousin of the bride; Martha Elizabeth Kearney of Charleston, S.C., sister of the bride; Deborah Kearney Drumheller of Covington, Ga., sister of the bride; Heather Henderson Wilkey of Greenwood; Draper Love Matthews of Richmond, Va.; and Sarah Stephen Thompson of Tuscumbia, Ala.
Kathryn Elizabeth Drumheller of Covington, niece of the bride, served as junior bridesmaid.
Each bridesmaid wore a tea-length pleated organza dress with a sweetheart neckline. The elegant platinum dresses featured net trim at the hem and were accented with a peach satin ribbon around the waist.
They carried bouquets of peach virsilia roses, Casa Blanca lilies and porcelina spray roses.
Jessica Rose Manley of Ripley, Tenn., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marlon Manley and niece of the groom, served as flower girl.
John Marlon Manley of Ripley, brother of the groom, served as best man.
Groomsmen were Brandon James Manley of Madison, brother of the groom; Jason Dwayne Avritt of Greenville, S.C., brother of the groom; Camron Layne Hall of Wynne, Ark., cousin of the groom; Brian Richard Drumheller of Covington, Ga., brother-in-law of the bride; Daniel Spencer Howie of Oxford; and Phillip Andrew Anderson of Brighton, Mass.
Cheryl Cascio Ewing served as wedding director.
Jennifer Canty Landrum of Kosciusko served as the bride's proxy.
Program attendants were Amanda Lynn Moody and Zachary Blake Aaron, both of Florence, Ala.
Floral arrangements at the church were provided by Phyllis Hardin and Brenda Jones.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held on the grounds of Pleasantview Plantation, the bride's family home in Money.
Golf carts decorated with fresh flowers transported guests to the reception area, where tall wrought-iron candle holders with hurricane globes greeted the guests as they entered.
The white reception tent was decorated with arrangements of snapdragons, Gerbera daisies, Queen Anne's lace and misty. A large silver punch bowl held individually wrapped boxes containing candies for the bride’s guests.
With a beautiful view of the Tallahatchie River in the background, servers in white jackets manned the 24-foot-long wine table. The table, which was draped in off-white linen with white overlay, was flanked on each end with large floral arrangements held in China swans on moss-covered topiary frames.
Individual tables, covered in white linen with peach overlay and centered with floral arrangements in the bride's colors of peach and white, were placed around the lawn under 100-year-old pecan trees.
A large white tent held several food tables covered in off-white linen with white overlay. The main buffet table, which circled the center pole of the tent, held four massive arrangements of roses, Oriental lilies, alstromeria lilies, Gerbera daisies, Queen Anne's lace and snapdragons atop tall glass vases filled with limes and hosta leaves.
The bride's table, which was covered in white linen with a peach shadow-worked antique cloth overlay, held a four-tiered wedding cake decorated with orchids, Freesia and roses.
A Mississippi State-themed chocolate cake, a tribute to the groom's alma mater, was the main feature of the groom's table, which was covered with an antique ecru linen cloth.
Both cakes were prepared by The Grapevine.
The Ken Dinkins Trio from Memphis entertained guests in the music tent. Small cocktail tables with free-formed arrangements of fresh garden flowers flanked the stage and dance floor.
Small wicker baskets, containing roses, daisies, snapdragons and lilies, hung by peach satin ribbon from the branches of trees surrounding the pool decking, while a large floral arrangement floated in the pool.
Floral arrangements at the reception were provided by Pi Dale, Bess Falls and Nancy Walker.
The event was catered by A Cut Above.
"Bubble girls" at the reception were Journey Brawyn Avritt of Greenville, S.C., and Jessica Rose Manley of Ripley, both nieces of the groom.
On the eve of the wedding, a bridesmaid luncheon at the Viking Cooking School was hosted by Betty Cordell, Elizabeth Doughty, Burny and Kathryn Drumheller, Barbara and Ashley Gragson, Charlene Johnson, Joanne Branham, Bonnie Kearney, Marty Kearney, Love and Draper Matthews, Joan Pitts, Karen Schinneer, Dianne Scott and Heather Wilkey.
That night, a rehearsal dinner at Lusco's was hosted by the groom's parents, Delbert and Jessica Avritt.
Other pre-wedding parties honoring the couple included a Christmas ornament shower at the home of Heather Wilkey, also hosted by Elizabeth Doughty and Charlene Johnson
A cocktail buffet was held at Highlandale Plantation in Schlater, the home of Nancy Walker, and also was hosted by Pi and Matt Dale, Barbara Gragson, Bonnie Kearney, Dianne Scott, Nick Chandler, Fisher Southworth, Johnny Clarke, Laura and Frank Stainback, Edwina and Bill McCain, Meredith and Carlisle Page and Bob and Terry Carpenter.
Following a honeymoon cruise to Calica and Cozumel, Mexico, the couple is at home in Cordova.
The bride is self-employed as the proprietor of Pleasantview Pottery.
The groom is employed as the project leader of software development at International Paper in Memphis.
