MR. AND MRS. CHARLES RYAN REESE Ashlyn Nicole Winfrey and Charles Ryan Reese of Evans exchanged wedding vows in a beautiful outdoor ceremony at the home of the bride's parents at 206 East Robert Toombs Avenue in Washington Saturday, October 4, at six thirty-o'clock in the evening. Rev. Chris Townsend of Washington and Rev. Jim Newsome of Rayle officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Troupe Mercer Harris III and Mr. and Mrs. George Malcolm Winfrey Jr. of Washington.

The bridegroom is the son of Mrs. Debbie Bostic Reese of Evans and Charles Dwayne Reese of Lincolnton.

Upon arrival, guests were greeted by the hostesses, Mr. and Mrs. Jim DeWeese, Mr. and Mrs. Graham Eason, Mr. and Mrs. Sparky Newsome, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Wells of Washington.

Guests registered in the book tended by Mrs. Adam Andrews of Washington and Kariss Easler of Augusta and were presented programs by Abby, Anna and Ashley Berryman of Elberton.

The aisle was marked with wrought iron stakes wrapped in copper wire. Attached Mason jars hung from the stakes by copper wire and held candles. A beautiful hand-painted monogrammed runner, painted by Mrs. Ricky Lindsey as a wedding gift to the couple, was at the end of the aisle where the couple exchanged their vows. The archway of the bride's home served as the altar and was covered with grapevine with curled moss grapevine, fall hydrangeas, mango canna lilies and pyracantha berries entwined within, placed in loving memory of Mr. and Mrs. Troupe Mercer Harris Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Frank Graves Mitchell, Jr., William Moore, and George Malcolm Winfrey. Four urns up the steps held bittersweet, blue thistle, pepper berries, Vanda orchids, Leonidas roses, gold, yellow and red dahlias, red, yellow and orange ranunculus and French roses.

Mrs. Smythe Newsome of Washington, pianist, presented the wedding music that included selections by Farjeon, Wolf, Pachelbel, Purcell, Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, and Mendelssohn. Paige Eason of Washington sang 'Bless the Broken Road' as the ceremony began.

John Welch of Lincolnton was best man. Not in attendance but serving as honorary best man was Will Bodie, Army 75th Ranger Regiment.

Groomsmen were Chandler Harris of Milledgeville, Adam Winfrey and Blake Winfrey of Augusta and Whit Winfrey of Washington, brothers of the bride; Billy Beck Hogan, Joseph Hogan and Blanchard Norman of Lincolnton.

Lauren Carr of Augusta was the honor attendant. Bridesmaids were Meghan Arnold of Washington and Kendrick Harris of Greensboro, sisters of the bride; Nikki Welch of Lincolnton, sister of the bridegroom; Joelle McElveen of Crawfordville and Nina Kate Cowart of Savannah, cousins of the bride; Emily Appling of Athens, Lauren Bodie of Columbus, Jenna Martin of Augusta, and Mindy Sims of Statesboro.

The bridesmaids wore gowns of snapdragon dupioni silk designed with draped strapless bodices with slight sweetheart necklines and finished with separate floor-length A-line skirts.

They carried hand-tied bouquets of Leonidas roses, Vanda orchids, mango canna lilies, peacock feathers, and hypericum berries.

Flower girls, Madi Welch of Lincolnton, niece of the bridegroom, and Leighton Linder of Augusta, wore handmade heirloom lace dresses and carried wicker baskets. The handles were wrapped with copper wire and each featured a peacock feather. Petals filled each basket.

Frank Graves Mitchell V of St. Simons, nephew of the bride, served as ring bearer. He wore a silk shantung John-John suit and carried an heirloom pillow custom made for the occasion by Mrs. Joanne Roberson of Augusta, who also made the flower girls dresses.

The bride arrived in a white horsedrawn carriage. Given in marriage by her father, the bride was stunning in her gown of antique silk slipper satin and hand-beaded Alencon lace. Her fitted bodice was worn strapless and was fashioned with a pleated sweetheart neckline. The midriff was defined by a wide band of hand-pearled Alencon lace. The full, ball gown skirt fell from a dropped waistline to a demi-cathedral train. The front of the skirt was fashioned with inverted pleats and the back featured an Alencon lace medallion at the pickup on the train. Attached inside her gown was her Phi Mu pin.

Her veil of ivory silk illusion featured a lavish band of Alencon lace and also fell to demi-cathedral length.

She wore a set of three motherof pearl and crystal pins.

Her bouquet, hand-tied with lace ribbon and pearl pins, featured ivory roses, white hyrangeas, rice flower, sweet peas, and freesia, cream cymbidium orchids, astilbe and stock and a single albino peacock feather. Mrs. Harris, the bride's mother, chose a Chris Cole original strapless sheath in olive gold. The bodice of pintuck satin pleats dropped to hiplength to the full-length chiffon skirt.

Mrs. Reese, the bridegroom's mother, chose a pink chiffon top with sheer sleeves and rhinestone front closures and black evening pants.

They carried Leonidas roses, mango canna lilies, hypericum berries and a peacock feather hand-tied with copper ribbon.

Seated in places of honor with the mothers were Mrs. George Malcolm Winfrey Jr. and Mrs. Inez Whittington Moore of Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mitchell III of Crawfordville, Mrs. Samuel Paradise of Lexington, Mr. and Mrs. Al Bostic of Augusta and Mr. and Mrs. Russell Reese of Lincolnton. Mrs. Jay Durham and Mrs. Jack Harvey of Washington directed the wedding.

Reception

Following the ceremony, Mr. and Mrs. Troupe Mercer Harris III hosted a garden reception at home. Guests meandered around the side walkways through the formal gardens to a large white tent elegantly decorated for the occasion. Tables, covered with ivory cloths with live moss toppers, held massive wrought iron planters of fresh flowers matching those in the urns used in the ceremony. Tent poles featured white columns with beautiful cascading arrangements. Chandeliers added to the elegance of the setting. The tent extended to the front of the carriage house where a long table held beverages.

Nearby the tent was the praline station with the large copper pots. Kissing peacocks were the featured decoration.

Underneath the private grotto arbor were more of the floral hanging creations and guests' tables covered in green lemour with ivory lace toppers.

Throughout the formal gardens were round tables of hors d'oeuvres featuring the green lemour and ivory lace with center silver candelabra of fresh wedding flowers. Smaller silver urns centered guests' tables.

The focal point of the formal gardens was the large fountain, the wall of which showcased varying heights of stemmed silver votives. The nearby gazebo, also beautifully appointed, provided more seating for guests. Near the fountain was the bride's cake atop a table covered in ivory with an ivory lace overlay. Centering a silver plateau, the five stacked layers with butter cream icing featured fondant roping, sugar paste flowers and delicate filigree piping. The couple's monogram centered the front of the middle layer. Topping the confection was a silver vase of sweet peas, thistle and roses.

The bridegroom's cake on the back porch was actually a 'flower pot' stacking of cupcakes, many made by Mrs. Joey Brown of Anderson, S.C., as a gift to the couple.

During the evening the band, The Second Coming of Alabama, provided music for dining and dancing as well as background music for guests as they mingled and toured the Harris home also filled with exquisite bouquets of hydrangeas, roses, and lilies.

As the evening ended, the couple left in their wedding attire amid a tossing of flower petals, given to guests by Abby, Anna and Ashley Berryman.

Following a wedding trip to Negril, Jamaica, Mr. and Mrs. Reese are residing in Evans.

Rehearsal Dinner

Following the rehearsal for the Winfrey-Reese wedding, the prospective bridegroom's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. John Welch of Lincolnton, entertained at a rehearsal dinner at The Court Street Livery in Washington.

For the occasion the bride-elect chose a black sweater dress with an orange, black and red necklace and red shoes.

The doors of the Livery featured initials of the couple made from fall leaves. Pumpkins, fall leaves and candles were used to decorate inside.

Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner of barbecue with chicken strips, green beans and macaroni and cheese. For dessert, guests chose from a presentation of Red Velvet, caramel and chocolate cakes.

During the evening the prospective bridegroom presented his wedding party with monogrammed knives in addition to neckties for the wedding.

Guests included the wedding party, family and friends.

Wedding Day Brunch

Mrs. Alan Cowart and Mrs. Steven Price of Savannah, Mrs. Heather Mitchell of St. Simons and Mrs. Chris McElveen of Crawfordville, aunts of the bride-elect, were hostesses for a wedding day brunch at Alfred's on The Square in Washington.

A delicious brunch was presented in stations and included omelets, waffles, with other buffet areas with eggs, bacon and sausages.

The affair entertained the wedding party and out-of-town guests.