By Staff
Lara May of Meridian and James Lee Bell of Oak View, Calif., were married Saturday, May 24, 2003, at State Boulevard Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Webb officiating.
Parents of the couple are Martha E. May of Meridian, and Mr. and Mrs. James L. Bell of Oak View.
Grandparents of the bride are the late Mr. and Mrs. E.V. Debs May of Collinsville.
Grandparents of the bridegroom are Mrs. Walter Barth of San Mateo, Calif., and the late Mr. Barth, and the late Mr. and Mrs. James L. Bell of Oxnard, Calif.
Nuptial music was provided by pianist, Sinita Webb.
The bride was given in marriage by her mother. She wore a chiffon designer gown with contoured strapless bodice adorned with sequins, crystals and pearl beads. The gown featured a princess waistline that flowed into a cathedral-length train.
Her veil of tiered silk illusion edged in satin ribbon was anchored by a crystal and bead tiara. The bride also wore antique sapphire and diamond earrings, given to her by the bridegroom's family and belonging to the bridegroom's late grandmother. She carried a crescent design bouquet of white calla lilies, periwinkle babies breath and springari greenery accented by iridescent pearls and tied with white satin ribbons and periwinkle lace.
Suzie Tullos of Bailey served as maid of honor. Other attendants were Rhea Espey of Bailey, Shannon Day of Meridian and Kimberly Allen of Westminister, Colo. Flower girls were Danielle May and Devon May, both of Fort Worth, Texas.
Geoffrey Nix of Emeryville, Calif., served as best man. Groomsmen and ushers were Kevin Allen of Phoenix, Ariz., Brad Morgan of Moore, Okla., Sean Bellemare of Nashua, N.H., Matt Allen of Westminister, Colo., Alex Day of Meridian and Chris Mattewson of Hillsborough, N.J.
Registry attendants were Ashley Day of Meridian and Erin Purvis of Vicksburg.
A reception, hosted by the bride's aunt, was held in the church activity center following the ceremony. The bridegroom and his father presented an original musical slide show of the couple.
Assisting at the reception were Dottie Muterspaugh, Linder Moon, Stacy Howell, Justine Nix, Joyce Lane and Shirley Pace.
On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Montana's Restaurant in Meridian.
A bridesmaids brunch was held at Caf Latte and hosted by the bride's aunt, Peggy Tingle.
Guests rang silver bells as the couple departed the church for a honeymoon in Atlanta and Raleigh, N.C.
The couple resides in Virginia Beach, Va.