BETSY KATE GAINES
& PAUL MASON WAGES
PHOTOGRAPHED BY MORGAN COOMBS
istoric downtown New Albany Mississippi’s First Baptist Church was the setting for the afternoon wedding of Betsy Kate Gaines and Paul Mason Wages on July 12, 2014. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Benjamin Gaines of New Albany. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Larry Paul Wages, also of New Albany. Rosemary Gaines, Betsy’s aunt, was the event coordinator and floral designer, along with the Jody’s Design Team. Betsy’s style is elegant and clean with modern touches, and that look defined her fairy-tale afternoon. As guests arrived, the church’s outside entry was accented with fresh bay leaf garland with glistening crystals and fresh Dendrobium orchid strings. The altar centerpiece featured a mirrored ironwork table with a lush waterfall arrangement of fresh diamond white, Romeo and blush garden roses; Phalaenopsis; forget-me-nots; blush hydrangeas; dahlias; Gerbera daisies; and white Dendrobium orchids. Candlelight and tall containers filled with masses of garden roses ranging from white to soft pink and apricot, along with other architectural elements, completed the fairy-tale setting. Escorted by her father, the bride wore an ivory fitted gown by Casablanca. Threedimensional lace appliqués covered the gown. The sweetheart neckline and intricate lace straps sloped down her back into a deep V-cut, completing her elegant look. She carried a colossal style bouquet of soft blush and champagne garden roses accented with shadowed blush dahlias. Her bouquet was adorned with lace from the sleeve of her mother’s wedding gown, a string of pearls belonging to her grandmother Gaines, and a sterling silver charm from her aunt Rosie. Sarah Gaines, sister of the bride, served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Nicole Cole of Southaven, Miss.; Aniston McClellan and Hanna Roberts of New Albany; and Morgan Williamson of Pontotoc, Miss. Honorary bridesmaids were Kristin Buskirk, Jordan Dunnam and Carrie Foley, and proxy bride was Carly Boyd, all of New Albany. Larry Wages, father of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen were Zack Cobb and Brock Gaines, both of New Albany; Cruz Gray of Waynesboro; and Chandler Taylor of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Ring bearers were Garrett and Graham McClellan of New Albany. The bride’s parents hosted a reception at Anna Beth’s on Oxford, where guests were greeted on the lawn by string music and song by the Paul Tate Strings, while the guests enjoyed light Southern fare. The couple were presented and enjoyed their first dance to Randy Dunnam singing Come Rain or Come Shine. Upon the bride and groom’s departure, Betsy tossed a charm bouquet of good luck to the many girls awaiting that special moment. On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a dinner in honor of the bride and groom at Oaks Country Club. Family members and friends enjoyed a menu of Southern foods and desserts. Toasts were made, and words of love were given to the couple. After a honeymoon to Riviera Maya, Mexico, the couple make their home in New Albany, where Mason is an attorney and Betsy is an elementary school teacher.
June/July 2015 | INVITATION OXFORD
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