Hays and Barthel
O
n Saturday, February 27, 2016, Miss Abigail Frances Barthel, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Farris Barthel, Jr., became the bride of William Hunter Hays. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stephen Hays of Start, Louisiana. Performing the double ring ceremony was Mr. Hunter Fife. The wedding was held at five o’clock in the evening at Trio Plantation in Rayville, Louisiana, which is the home of the bride’s maternal grandfather, Francis Victor Jordan II. Trio Plantation was founded in 1841 by Dr. Harrison Jordan, the bride’s great, great, great, great grandfather. He built the Trio House in 1869 as a wedding present for his son, Dr. William Thomas Jordan, and his fiancée, Miss Frances Elizabeth Harrison. There have been eight generations of the Jordan family to live at Trio Plantation. As a tribute to the bride’s belated parents, Abby wanted
a memorial tree to honor them. Two swans representing each of her parents were placed in front of the memorial tree and pictures of them adorned the tree. Large custom made candelabras which were made especially for the bride’s parents’ wedding in 1979 were hung from the trees. Over 300 strands of crystals as well as lighted greenery were hung from the massive old trees. Gold chiavari chairs were placed facing the Front Gallery of the old plantation home. The front double doors of the house held a large cross covered in antique moss. Xuan Lu’s String Quartet was seated on the front gallery and played musical timepieces as guests arrived. The bride’s wedding gown was custom made by designer Martina Liana. She wore her maternal grandmother’s, Mary Sue Gryder Jordan, antique emerald necklace, earrings and ring and wore an English six
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pence in her emerald green Manolo Blahnik heels. She carried a bouquet of Red Heart garden roses, Sumatra lillies, and lavender which was gathered and tied with a suit tie belonging to Abby’s deceased father, Bill Barthel, as a reminder that he indeed was escorting his daughter to her groom. Before Abby walked out of the double doors, she paused in quiet tribute in front of her mother’s wedding gown which was on display on the antique piano in the hall. Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Barthel Morton, matron of honor and sister of the bride, wore an elegant full length sapphire blue halter gown designed by Dessy Designs. The bridemaids were: Jessica Chace, Lauren Grady, Lauren Bordelon, Cara Barthel, Meagan Venus, Alizabeth Guillot, AnnaGrace Guillot, and nieces of the bride, Carson Wilkie and Ella Wilkie. They wore emerald green
Dessy gowns, each with a unique style. They carried lavender bouquets. The three flower girls were nieces of the bride and groom: Sadie Morton, Mattie Hays and Katy Grace Hays. The groom wore a designer tux with a white coat and black bow tie. Wearing black tuxedos were his best man, Ryan Romero, and his groomsmen: Christopher Hays and Matthew Hays, brothers of the groom, Tyler Starks, Christopher McDuffie, Michael Liles and Joey Johnson. The ring bearers were Caden Hays and Liam Keels. The Plantation Bell tolled as the couple was announced husband and wife. As the couple processed, the bride surprised her groom as well as their guests by having the string quartet play the song, “Another One Bites the Dust.” The Great Room featured the delectable creations by Chef Pat Nolan. The guests enjoyed a true