Sara Jane Nelson and Stephen Heath Ingram, both of Durham, N.C., were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Sept. 6, 2008, at North Greenwood Baptist Church.
The bride is the daughter of Sherry Clark Nelson and Michael Eugene Nelson of Greenwood.
She is the granddaughter of Frances Duke Wesley and James Ed Clark of Carrollton and the late Betty Dora Nelson of Greenwood.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Jeffrey Ingram of Shaw.
He is the grandson of Anna Ingram Jones and the late William Wesley Ingram and Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Dale Morris, all of Shaw.
The Rev. Dr. Jim Phillips officiated the candlelight ceremony.
Ashleigh Brooke Hayes of Knoxville, Tenn., Elizabeth Jennings Duffy of Sugarland, Texas, and Julie Eve Vincent of Nashville, Tenn., served as program attendants.
Mrs. James Roberts, aunt of the bride, and April Castle, cousin of the bride, served as wedding directors.
Nuptial music was presented by oboist Dave Freeman and pianist Melissa Sims of Greenwood. Selections included "Ave Maria," "How Beautiful," "Canon in D," "Arioso," "With All My Heart" and "The Lord's Prayer."
Soloists were Keith Stevens of Water Valley, who sang "How Beautiful," and Cissye Gallagher of Greenwood, who sang "The Lord's Prayer." Stevens and Gallagher also sang a duet of "With All My Heart."
At the chiming of the hand bells, the bride was escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents. She wore a full-length embroidered ivory gown by Spanish designer Manuel Mota. The vintage-style dress from the Pronovias Barcelona Collection was gorgeously constructed of guipur lace, tulle and designer silk. It was accented by an antique diamond brooch, along with diamond earrings and necklace that were gifts from the groom the day of the wedding. The bride's ensemble was completed with a cathedral-length veil.
The bride carried a bouquet of white cream Virginia roses wrapped in a handkerchief that belonged to her late great-great-grandmother, Dora Halsey Duke.
Attending the bride as matron of honor was Mignon Nelson Hodges, and serving as maid of honor was Betsy Clark Nelson of Greenwood, both sisters of the bride.
Bridesmaids were Megan Alicia Belenchia of Cleveland; Meredith Leigh Coleman and Kathryn Anne Flanagan, both of Greenwood; Laura Overstreet Gore of Drew; Regan Bennett Hall of Southaven; Autumn Alexandria Robinson of Destin, Fla.; and Katherine Shelby Ussery of Greenwood, cousin of the bride.
Each attendant wore a rich mocha satin A-line gown with a deep V-neckline and gathered bodice by designer Francesa Pitera of the Jim Hjelms Collection.
Serving as flower girl was Sidney Olivia Smith, cousin of the groom. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ward and the late Jack Smith of Dothan, Ala.
William Jeffrey Ingram served his son as best man.
Groomsmen were Aaron Rene Bazzell of D’Iberville; Matthew Wyatt Chism and Alex Christian Fletcher, both of Cleveland; Stephen William Franks of Memphis, Tenn.; Luke Pelham Ingram of D'Iberville, brother of the groom; Kip Michael LeBlanc of Austin, Texas; Richard Frederick Miller II of Cleveland; and James Hunter Ussery of Greenwood, cousin of the bride.
Nelson Price Hodges, nephew of the bride, served as the ring bearer. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Price Hildreth Hodges III of Greenwood.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Garden Club Headquarters of Mississippi.
The entrance walkway was lined with crystal vases filled with ivory pillars. The doorway was elegantly draped with an arrangement of white and cream hydrangeas, gladiolas, lilies and Virginia roses. A candlelit stairway set the tone for the bride's table, which featured a beautiful four-tiered cake designed by Chow Cakes of the Delta.
The cake creation was adorned with antique brooches and satin ribbon and delicately placed on the bride's mother's lace wedding gown. The vintage theme was completed with a framed wedding portrait of her mother.
The groom's two-tiered chocolate cake, also a Chow design, set the tone for a tranquil area for guests to enjoy southern beverages and black and white beach photos of the couple in Wilmington, N.C.
Linda Weir of Ruleville created countless variations of candle treatments and flower arrangements in white, ivory and blush throughout the Garden Club, which included large floral focal points in both the main dining room and the foyer entrance.
Dining tables with square glass vases of ivory roses, hydrangeas and gladiolas, along with candle votives, were placed throughout the grounds. Guests relaxed on sofa settings under trees ornamented by lanterns, candelabras and lights as they enjoyed music by Under the Gun. A "wish tree" illuminated the outdoor reception area where guests were invited to garnish the branches with hand-written messages for the bride and groom.
Following a honeymoon in Riviera Maya, Mexico, the couple is at home in Durham, where the bridegroom is employed as a perfusionist at Duke University Hospital. The bride is employed as an account executive for Capitol Broadcasting Company, FOX 50 Television.
On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom's parents entertained guests with a rehearsal dinner at the Blue Parrot Restaurant in downtown Greenwood. Guests enjoyed exotic cuisine and live music by Neil Duke of Birmingham, Ala., cousin of the bride.
The bride's attendants enjoyed an overnight stay at The Alluvian, followed by morning brunch in the boardroom of the hotel.
