Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shaun Harris Candice Michelle Macchia and Samuel Shaun Harris, both of Athens, were united in marriage in a beautiful double-ring ceremony at Belmont, home of the bride's parents in Washington, on Saturday, October 20, at fiveo'clock in the afternoon. Rev. Billy Tucker of Rayle officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey J. Macchia of Washington.

The bridegroom is the son of Debbie Harris Gunter and the late Samuel Harris and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Collins of Washington.

The front lawn of Belmont was the setting for the late afternoon ceremony. Rows of white chairs created an aisle that led to a black wrought iron arbor flanked on each side with tall and short fluted columns. Smilax and tulle gracefully draped the arbor and columns and trailed to the ground. Arrangements of orange lilies, talesmia snapdragons, bronze poms, orange wax, orchid sprays and springeri topped each column. Smilax adorned the railings on the veranda and fall chrysanthemums were placed on either side of each of the front steps. A large arrangement of similar florals was centered on the top step. Family seating was marked with florals and tied with Burgundy and gold ribbon.

Harpist, Sarah Oliver of Aiken, S.C., provided a beautiful program of prelude music. At fiveo'clock groomsman Jamie Dove of Washington chimed the hour by ringing the old dinner bell at the side of the house fivetimes to start the ceremony.

The family and wedding party formed a processional and walked from the side of the house to the aisle leading to the altar. The bride and her father, chauffeured by Benny Goolsby of Washington, followed. "Ode to Joy" was selected for the seating of the grandmothers and mothers. "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" marked the entrance of the minister, bridegroom, best man and attendants. "Bridal Chorus" marked the arrival of the bride who was escorted by her father to the altar. At the conclusion of the marriage service, the bride and bridegroom, wedding party and family recessed to the "Wedding March".

Joey Collins of Washington, brother of the bridegroom, was best man. Groomsmen were Tony Macchia of Athens, brother of the bride; Jamie Dove, Jeremy Melton and Terry McClain of Washington. All, including the bridegroom, were attired in black tuxedos with black vests and bowties and white wingtip collared shirts. The bridegroom's boutonniere was a mini white calla and the best man and groomsmen sported mini mango-colored calla boutonnieres.

Brittney Blissett of Washington, maid of honor, wore an elegant cinnamon-colored strapless A-line gown of European satin. The back, slightly bustled and adorned with a rhinestone clasp, fell to a short train.

Bridesmaids, Amber Asaro, Lesley Hopkins and Becky Lamb of Carlsbad, Calif., and Jodi Kolts of Leucadia, Calif., wore identical two-piece ensembles also in cinnamon European satin. The A-line floor-length skirts were topped with strapless ruched bustiers. Each attendant carried a clutch bouquet of mango mini callas, tiger orchid sprays, orange wax and sword fern tied with satin ribbon.

Dixie and Emily Waitman of Dawsonville, cousins of the bride, served as flower girls. They wore sleeveless ivory satin tea-length gowns with matching sashes tied into large back bows and carried baskets of fall-colored flower petals.

Given in marriage by her parents, the bride was enchanting in an ivory and champagne satin gown. A heartshaped embroidered and beaded inset embellished the drop waist bodice that flowed into a full skirt pleated in the back creating a wide cathedral train.

Her cathedral veil with beaded edge was attached to a simple comb.

The bride's clutch bouquet of white dendrobium orchids, mini white callas and cymbidium orchids was tied with a white satin ribbon.

For "something old" the bride had pinned to the inside of her dress a Saint Christopher medal brought by her paternal great-grandfather from Italy. She also carried a handkerchief that her paternal grandmother carried on her wedding day. "Something new" was her wedding dress; "something borrowed" was a sixpence in her shoe from Mrs. Jim Davidson of Washington; and her "something blue" was her garter to given her by her bridesmaids.

For her daughter's wedding, Mrs. Macchia chose a Burgundy wine-colored Cachet Foruni mock two-piece dress with a jeweled jacket. The fitted pleated bodice was attached to a full satin floor-length skirt.

Mrs. Harold Collins, mother of the bridegroom, wore a Megan Lee midnight blue beaded tea-length dress.

The mothers carried tussie mussies.

Mrs. Gerald Macchia of Encinitas, Calif., grandmother of the bride, chose an ankle-length black and golden beige pattered dress with an empire waist accented with a gold rope and half sleeves.

Mrs. Billy Tucker of Rayle, the bridegroom's grandmother, wore a knee-length beige dress with an embroidered and beaded bodice.

Both wore corsages of cymbidium orchids.

As a gift to the couple Mrs. Joe Bennett and Mrs. Jack Harvey of Washington directed the wedding. Long-time Macchia family friend, Michelle Leisher of Del Mar, Calif., assisted them.

Reception

Following the ceremony, the bride's parents hosted a reception and dance at Belmont.

As guests walked to the reception staged under a tent in front of the old barns, they strolled past torches and trees and the grapevine rows strung with sparkling lights.

Chelsea Cornwell of Carlsbad, Calif., tended the bride's book and greeted guests.

The entrance of the tent was marked with an oriental rug sided with large hand-forged torchiers. Round guest tables were covered with burlap cloths topped with ivory linens and centered with lighted amber cube vases holding shades of mini callas with greenery.

A sumptuous buffet of shrimp and grits and pork tenderloin with Jezebel sauce was served.

After pictures, the wedding party, bride and bridegroom were introduced. The newlyweds danced their first dance to "At Last," followed by the bride's dance with her father to "I Loved Her First." "Stand by Me" was chosen by the bridegroom for his dance with Mrs. Harold Collins.

Immediately after the dances, the couple cut their four-tiered wedding cake. The delicious confection consisted of layers of ivory fondant icing decorated with Burgundy swirls and Burgundy fondant ribbons.

The bridegroom's cake was a twotiered chocolate-iced chocolate cake with chocolate spears.

Best man, Joey Collins, and Brittney Blissett, maid of honor, led the toasting. Family friend, Michelle Leisher, ended the toasting with heartfelt wishes for lifelong happiness for the newlyweds.

Approximately 150 guests attended the wedding and reception.

After the reception and dance, the newlyweds left in a chauffeured limousine to spend the first night of their honeymoon at the Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta before flying to Barcelona, Spain, for a Mediterranean honeymoon cruise.

Mr. and Mrs. Shaun Harris are making their home in Athens.

Rehearsal Dinner

Following the rehearsal on Friday, October 19, Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey J. Macchia entertained the wedding party at a Southern-style barbecue in the backyard of Belmont.

Torches ringed the dining area.

Guest tables were covered with vintage tablecloths and centered with candles.

A delicious meal of pulled pork, stew, potato salad, slaw, baked beans, bread, banana pudding and chocolate layer cake was served from the covered porch.