Albany Herald

A double ring ceremony sealed the celebration and

blessing of the marriage of Megan Ansley Wilson and

Thomas Keith Chandler, Jr., on Saturday, April 28th at

6:00 in the evening at the First Baptist Church, Dawson,

Georgia. Reverend Dr. William D. (Biff) Coker received

the vows. Organist, Mr. Cameron Cody and pianist, Mrs.

Linda H. Mayo presented the nuptial music. Mrs. Leticia

Rice, soloist, sang “Parent’s Prayer”, “To Make You Feel

My Love”, and “Surely the Presence”. Mr. Robert Adam

Speir, cousin of the bride, read scripture.

The sanctuary was marked with the elegance of candlelight

and silver. The couple exchanged vows before an ivy

banked grouping of silver candlesticks encircling the unity

candle. Ivy topiaries rose from pewter urns to decorate the

choir rail while silver candelabra holding arrangements of

ivory stock, oak leaf hydrangea, belles of Ireland and

Monte Casino, graced the choir loft. Antique lace, potted

ivies and silver candlesticks of varying heights filled the

baptistry which served as the memory candles honoring

the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jackson Chandler, Mr.

Mills Daughtry, Mr. Richard Herbert McLendon, Mr.

Boyce Adams Raines, Sr. and Mr. Aubrey Eugene Rhodes.

Arrangements of fresh greenery flowed from the sconces.

The family pews were embellished with lace and enhanced

with silver chalice cups holding ivory calla lilies,

ivory hydrangeas and spengeri fern. Bud vases containing

white sweetheart roses were placed in the vestibule in

honor of Mrs. Geneva Daughtry, Great Grandmother of

the Groom, and Mrs. Virginia J. Little, Great, Great Aunt

of the Bride. Mrs. Teensie Roberts and Mrs. Veronica

Thompson served as wedding directors.

The radiant bride was given in marriage by her parents

and escorted by her father. She wore a timeless and elegant

designer gown by Allure made of ivory lace and cafe

charmeuse. The gown featured a V-neckline and sheath

bodice. The entire lace overlay was adorned with embroidered

appliques in a floral motif embellished with crystals.

The A-line shirt was accentuated at the waist and fell into

a chapel length train. The sleeveless bodice was accented

at the neckline and shoulders with open lace appliques

and the back featured a deep V with covered buttons.

Her finger tip veil of illusion was attached to a comb of

pearls and rhinestones. She carried ivory calla lilies centered

in a mounded bouquet of vendella roses. For sentiment,

she carried in her bouquet a lace handkerchief

loaned by Mrs. Ann Bolton and a blue pearl charm inscribed

with the wedding date, a gift of her parents. In

her shoe was a sixpence given by Mrs. Marianna Laing.

The diamond bracelet she wore was loaned by Mrs. Jackie

Wiggins.

Serving as Matron of Honor was Mrs. Ashley Wiley Lee

of Dawson, Georgia. Bridesmaids were: Miss Penelope

Dianne Littlefield of Americus, Miss Courtney Laurel

Spilman of Dawson, Mrs. Kellie Sapp Speir of Athens,

Miss Greta Marie Vanderveer of Camilla, Mrs. Samantha

Barfield Willis of Shellman and Miss Alexa Rae Wilson of

McMurray, Pennsylvania. They wore floor length gowns

of onyx taffeta. The gowns featured a ruffle one-shoulder

and asymmetrical, draped waistline and fell into a fitted

skirt that featured a flounce train. The attendants carried

arm bouquets of ivory calla lilies.

Flower girls were Miss Addie Marie Lee, Miss Caroline

Colleen Lee and Miss Clara Kathleen Lee, all of Dawson.

Their ivory tea length gowns featured a satin sash. They

carried ivory organza flower baskets and wore whispers of

baby’s breath in their hair.

The groom chose his father, Mr. Thomas Keith Chandler,

Sr., to be his best man. Groomsmen were Mr. Blake

Kipling Adams, Mr. Mills Daughtry Adams, both of

Athens, Mr. Thomas Eugene Carroll of Atlanta, Mr. Taylor

Daughtry Chandler, Mr. Jameson Stephen Clark, Mr.

Robert John Dupre, all of Albany, Mr. Reid Collins Garland

of Camilla and Mr. Logan Mark Willis of Shellman.

Ushers were: Mr. Ronald Calvin Lee, Jr. , Mr. Thomas

Neil Lee, Mr. Walter Chandler Lee, all of Dawson and

Mr. Boyce Adams Raines, Jr. of Blakely.

Mrs. Wilson chose for her daughter’s wedding a peacock

silk Dupioni floor length gown by Sarah Danielle. The

gown featured a bolero jacket with three quarter length

sleeves and a layered lapel. The jacket was accented with

an antique pewter brooch. She carried ivory spray roses

and miniature calla lilies in a silver tussie mussie having

belonged to the groom’s late grandmother.

Mrs. Chandler wore a beautiful bronze irridescent silk

taffeta gown by Mon Cheri. It was a one shoulder design

with a swirl pattern billowing to the floor. She also carried

ivory spray roses and miniature calla lilies in a silver

tussie mussie having belonged to the groom’s late grandmother.

Present for their grandchildren’s wedding were Mrs.

Bennie D. Rhodes, Mr. and Mrs. Bobby Fletcher Wilson

and Mrs. Faye D. Raines. Mrs. Rose Marie McLendon,

great aunt of the bride, was seated with the grandparents.

As the wedding guests arrived at Doublegate Country

Club for the reception, they descended the stairs into the

foyer where a massive arrangement in a tall crystal vase of

calla lilies, white hydrangeas, belles of Ireland, white

chocolate roses, Monte Casino, green alstroemeria lilies,

and green mini hydrangeas was displayed. This table held

pictures of the bride and groom and wedding pictures of

the couples’ parents on their special day. The club was

beautifully decorated with tall crystal vases holding

arrangements of calla lillies, belles of Ireland, and white

hydrangeas, alternating with tables holding wrought iron

and crystal chandelier center pieces with arrangements of

mini green hydrangeas, white chocolate roses, green andros,

green alstroemeria lilies and showered with Monte

Casino and Queen Ann’s lace.

The food table held a massive arrangement resting on a

silver plateau mirroring the foyer arrangement and was

surrounded by rose bowls resting on silver stands holding

pillar candles and miniature arrangements.

The bride’s cake table held an exquisite white four-tiered

creation with appliques of sugar – spun lace. An antique

lace bow enhanced the bottom tier that rested on a silver

cake plateau. Two of the tall crystal vase arrangements

flanked the cake and behind the cake table, cubes holding

arrangements of hydrangeas lined the mantle.

The groom’s cake was a realistic replica of UGA, the

University of Georgia’s Bulldog mascot. The table displaying

the cake was garnished with pittosporum. On the

patio tables, gazing ball stands lifted up crystal bowls of

votive candles surrounded by green anthros and green alstroemeria

lilies.

After a wedding trip to Negril, Jamaica, the couple will

reside in Dawson, Georgia.