Mary Catherine McDonnieal& Russell Keith Franklin June 13, 2015 j brookhaven, mississippi j photography by johnny smith photography
n elegant evening ceremony marked the union of Mary Catherine McDonnieal and Russell Keith Franklin at the picturesque Ole Towne Church in historic downtown Brookhaven, Mississippi. The nuptials were consecrated at half-past six o’clock, on Saturday, June 13, 2015, in a double-ring ceremony officiated by the Reverend Chad Yarborough, a lifelong friend of the bride. The daughter of Ms. Cathy Batson McDonnieal of Brookhaven and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Glenn McDonnieal of Madison, Mississippi, the bride is also the granddaughter of Mrs. Catherine Day Batson and the late Mr. Billy Gene Batson of Brookhaven and Mrs. Neita McDonnieal Gray and the late Mr. Charles G. McDonnieal of Mendenhall, Mississippi.
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The groom is the son of Mr. Tommy and Mrs. Holly Russell Franklin of Brookhaven. He is the grandson of Mrs. Grace Goza Franklin of Wesson, Mississippi, and the late Mr. Willie Franklin of Brookhaven. Maternal grandparents of the groom are Mrs. Penny Harbour Russell of Brookhaven, the late Mr. H. Keith Russell, and Mrs. Sharron Lynn Russell of Wesson, Mississippi. Guests were welcomed to the sanctuary by a selection of classical melodies provided by harpist Mary Johnson. Nuptial music was performed by Sam Mooney, pianist and vocalist; Austin Stewart, organist; and Michelle Arnold, soloist. Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a heavily-jeweled, Victorian-style gown of ivory lace over a pale golden underlay. Fashioned with a sweetheart neckline, the fitted, beaded gown continued to a scalloped hemline that drifted into a courtlength train. A cathedral-length veil of ivory illusion with hand-sewn trim completed the bridal ensemble. A hand-tied bouquet of Constance cabbage roses, white hydrangea, pink piano roses, peonies, and seeded eucalyptus was affixed to an heirloom Bible, which was carried by the bride’s mother in her own wedding. A custom-sewn appliqué created by the bride’s maternal grandmother, Gee Gee, completed the bridal bouquet. Attending the bride as maid of honor was Katie Elisabeth Case of Brookhaven. The bridal party included Allyson Pickett McDonnieal, Amanda Burke Fischer, and Jordan Elizabeth Parker, all of Brookhaven; Sera Beth Briggs of Porterville, Mississippi; Karlee Tait Mullins of Roxie, Mississippi; Margaret Alice Lampton of Starkville, Mississippi; and Paige Alexandria Vinson of