FITZGERALD — Anna Michelle Foster of Fitzgerald and Stephen Kyle Howell of Tifton were united in a double-ring ceremony at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2010 by the Rev. Blane Jacobs at Crossview Baptist Church in Fitzgerald.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Barry Foster of Fitzgerald. She is the granddaughter of Laverne Wheeler and Ray Wheeler and Mr. and Mrs. Glendyon Foster, all of Fitzgerald. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronnie Howell of Warner Robins. He is the grandson of Dot Pickard of Fitzgerald, the late Tommy Pickard and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jessie Howell Sr.

The church was decorated with wrought iron candelabra woven with sprengeri fern and holding pillar candles. The banisters at either side of the altar were topped with fresh plumosa fern and glass cylinder vases holding pillar candles. Several iron columns were used with ferns and candles atop each one. Fresh arrangements of orange roses, gerbera daisies and green kiwi cushions accented with orange bows were used as pew markers. An arrangement of green bells of Ireland, orange gerbera daisies, yellow daisies and orange roses was used on the registry table, which was covered in white linen and encircled with a tan satin sash.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride entered to George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun.” She wore a strapless, champagne-colored wedding gown with corset closure and embellished with a lace overlay scattered with pearls and crystal beading with a chapel-length train. An asymmetrical, gathered satin panel wrapped around the waist with a satin bow sitting low on the hip. Her fingertip-length veil was champagne-colored and accented with pearls and crystals. The bride carried a hand-tied bouquet of orange mango calla lilies and miracle roses, green hydrangeas and kiwi cushions, lily grass, yellow solidago and green hypericum berries. The stems were wrapped with chocolate colored satin ribbon.

For her ‘something old’ and ‘something blue,’ a penny tucked inside a blue satin bag was worn in the bride’s shoe.  This was also used by the bride’s mother on her wedding day.  A single round pearl and diamond necklace, a wedding gift from the groom, served as ‘something new’ and ‘something borrowed’ was a diamond ring that belonged to her great-grandmother. The bride also wore pearl earrings.

Susan Hobbs opened the ceremony by singing “Surely the Presence.” The O’Neill Brothers’ “Amazing Grace” played as the grandmothers were seated while the mothers were escorted to their seats to Pachebel’s “Canon in D.” The ceremony’s procession began as “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach played. After the giving of the bride, Linsey Sumner and Rhyan Ussery sang “The Prayer” and while the bride and groom lit the unity candle and took communion, “ When I Say I Do” by Matthew West was played. The wedding party recessed to the sounds of Beethoven’s “Joyful, Joyful.”

Carla Casper Revels served as matron of honor with Linsey Sumner, cousin of the bride, Candice Howell, sister-in-law of the groom, Emily Burch, Brittney Harden, Lea Pate and April Blackstock serving as bridesmaids. They wore formal-length strapless gowns in chocolate brown and carried hand-tied bouquets of orange roses, yellow solidago and green hydrangeas, kiwi cushions and hypercium berries. The stems were wrapped in orange chiffon ribbon.

Peyton Foster, daughter of Glen and Aimee Foster and cousin of the bride, served as the flower girl. She wore a champagne-colored, tea-length sleeveless dress accented by a wide sash of chocolate brown satin that tied at the waist and carried an ivory satin basket of orange rose petals.

The groom chose his father, Ronnie Howell, to serve as his best man.  Groomsmen included Blake Howell, brother of the groom, Dean Howell and Josh Howell, cousins of the groom, Brad Foster, brother of the bride, Todd Pate, Drew Tankersley and Ryan During. The groom, best man and groomsmen wore traditional black tuxedoes with black and brown patterned vests and chocolate brown ties. The groom’s boutonniere consisted of a mango lily with lily grass, seeded eucalyptus and green berries while the groomsmen’s was an orange rose, lily grass, seeded eucalyptus and berries.

The bride’s mother was attired in a floor-length, mocha brown dress with cascading asymmetrical layers with a bronze wrap. The groom’s mother wore a cranberry-colored floor length, strapless dress. Both mothers carried hand-tied bouquets of orange roses, seeded eucalyptus and million star gyp with stems tied in ivory ribbon.

Kayla Futch attended the wedding programs and guest book. Wedding photographer was McGinnis Leathers of Athens with Randolph Kinder providing videography. The wedding was directed by Jill Walker.

The newlyweds left the wedding in a 1934 Buick driven by Lauren Walker.

RECEPTION

The bride’s parents hosted a reception immediately following the wedding ceremony at the Elks Lodge catered by MaryAnn Kinnett and family.

The entranceway was lined with shepherd hooks holding lighted lanterns and tied with orange satin bows. In the front room, tables were draped in white linen offering guests a wide selection of heavy hors d’oeuvres. There was also a fruit and vegetable station and a sweet delectables station as well as a beverage table. The main food table held a floral centerpiece arrangement of calla lilies, roses, bells of Ireland, birch branches and aspidistra leaves. The mantles were adorned with rustic candlesticks holding pillar candles, fresh sprengeri fern and lighted gossamer. The hallway was lighted with white fabric and lights and fresh bouquets of sprengeri fern. Fabric swagged across the dance floor’s ceiling in the ballroom and a floral arrangement of orange lilies and greenery surrounded the disco ball. Railings encircling the dance floor were wrapped in fresh greenery and lights.

Guests dining tables were covered in white linen cloths and chocolate brown runners with centerpieces of fresh calla lilies, orange roses, bells of Ireland, green and yellow daisies, plumosa fern and monstera leaves. Candles and scattered greenery completed the tablescapes. White covers tied with tan satin sashes covered the chairs.  

The bride’s cake, displayed on a footed pewter stand, was a four-tier red velvet cake with white icing featuring an orange satin band encircling each tier.  Green hydrangeas and kiki daisies were tucked between each cake layer.  A pewter initial ‘H’ was used as the cake topper.  

The groom’s cake was a Georgia Tech golf bag with black and gold icing complete with golf clubs and a glove.  It was displayed on green ‘grass’ with golf clubs, balls and tees completing the tablescape.  

Both cakes were made by Pat Bryant, who also served assisted by Whitley Bryant, Dianne McDonald and Angela Leyse.

The newlyweds’ first dance was to Sister Hazel’s “This Kind of Love.” The bride and her father shared a dance to “Sending Me Angels” by Delbert McClinton performed by The Bushmen, who also provided the music for the evening.  Taylor Hicks’ “Do I Make You Proud?” was selected for the groom and his mother’s dance.

Guests lined the walkway of the front entrance with an archway of lighted sparklers as the newlyweds departed.

Following their honeymoon to Jamaica, the couple resides in Tifton.