Lydia Brooke Lamar and Bruce Albert Strother exchange wedding vows on Saturday, June 6

Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Albert Strother Lydia Brooke Lamar of Washington and Bruce Albert Strother of Thomson exchanged wedding vows in a beautiful double-ring ceremony Saturday, June 6, at six o'clock in the evening at Union Baptist Church in Thomson. Rev. C. E. (Butch) Baston of Thomson officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Lamar of Washington.

The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester Strother of Thomson.

Garlands of blue hydrangea and draping tulle tied with periwinkle satin draped the banisters and porch railings. Urns of hydrangeas decorated the steps. Two wrought iron stands with ferns flanked the entrance and floral grapevine wreaths accented the doors.

Inside the vestibule a white wrought iron table was covered with a white lace cloth from Ireland, a gift to the bridegroom's mother from her brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Painter. On the table were the guest book and an arrangement of snapdragons, Japanese asters, delphinium, stock and lisianthus. The registry pen was the same the bride's parents used at their wedding in1979.

The bride's cousins, Dana Danner of Crawfordville and Amber Lamar of Augusta, greeted guests and presented the programs displayed in a white wicker basket.

A larger table held a matching arrangement with two silver-based hurricane globes of pillar candles placed in memory of special family members and friends.

Inside the sanctuary pews were decorated with tulle shoe-tie bows extending to the floor with clusters of trailing flowers and greenery. The altar held a large wooden cross with a massive floral heart of matching flowers. A cluster of greenery was placed at the base of the cross. Nickel votive candleholders on Grecian columns with a profusion of mixed greenery encased the area. The unity candle and a pair of seven- branched votive candelabra were also used. Each side of the sanctuary held large matching floral arrangements in black urns atop Grecian columns.

The couple's parents lit the outside candles of the unity candle before they were seated.

The bride's aunt, Mrs. Randy Danner of Tignall, was pianist. Selections included "One Pair of Hands," "Ode to Joy," "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "O Perfect Love," "Bridal Chorus" for the bride's entry and "Wedding March" for the recessional.

Marijane Hefner of Dearing sang "Surely the Presence" and was joined by Skipper Widener of Thomson for the duet, "When God Made You."

Mr. Strother was his son's best man. Groomsmen were Danny Conner of Warrenton, Jonathan Cushman and Jared Land of Thomson. Their tuxedoes and the bridegroom's were enhanced with boutonnieres of blue thistle, hypericum berries, Italian ruscus and trachelium.

Katie Anderson of Statesboro was her cousin's maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Mary Kate Land of Thomson, Cassie Whitaker of Harlem and Alli Wood of Warrenton.

All wore black chiffon dresses with high-low hems and beaded empire waists. Their hand-held bouquets of blue hydrangeas, lavender lisianthus, moonaqua carnations, green arrow spray roses and beaded accents were tied with silk shantique ribbon with black sheer picot overlays. Their hand-crafted crystal and pearl necklaces, bracelets and earrings, made by Andrea Strother of Washington, matched the beading on their dresses.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride was radiant in her strapless white organza gown fashioned with an empire waist and lace-up back. The all-over draped pick-up design with beaded lace extended into a chapel train. Crystal chandelier earrings complemented her attire.

Her white teardrop tulle with scalloped bead edging and blusher veil was attached to a jewelry and crystal comb.

Her hand-held bouquet featured white peonies, Italian ruscus and trachelium tied with double-face white satin and sheer ribbons. Centering the bow was a portion of lace from the bridegroom's mother's wedding veil sewn onto the ribbon along with an heirloom handkerchief belonging to the bridegroom's grandmother, Mrs. Albert Strother, who carried the handkerchief on her wedding day in l949.

The bride placed a sixpence in her shoe, a gift from Mrs. Ricky Cox after visiting in Hampton, England, in 2003. Her "something old" was the 1927 sixpence; her "something new" was her gown. The heirloom handkerchief was her "something borrowed" and a Georgia Southern collegiate garter was her "something blue."

For her daughter's wedding Mrs. Lamar wore a deep blue satin floorlength dress and jacket with beadwork throughout. Crystal jewelry and a small nosegay of blue thistle, hypericum berries, asters, limonium, bead sprays and a white iridescent ribbon completed her attire. Within the nosegay was a lace handkerchief with the couple's initials. The handkerchief was brought from Belgium by Mrs. Mike Jackson.

Mrs. Strother, the bridegroom's mother, chose an eggplant chiffon floor-length dress with a flowing skirt and jacket with beaded accents complemented by crystal earrings and matching necklace. Her tussie mussie held green arrow spray roses, trachelium, bead sprays and white iridescent ribbon and a handkerchief appliquéd with the couple's initials.

Grandmothers of the bride, Mrs. Guy Stephens and Mrs. Gene Lamar of Washington, and the bridegroom, Mrs. Albert Strother of Warrenton, had corsages of roses, bead sprays and iridescent ribbon. They were also presented initialed eyelet handkerchiefs.

Mrs. Butch Baston and Mrs. Judy Richards of Thomson directed the wedding.

Reception

The bride's parents entertained at a reception in the church fellowship hall.

As guests exited the sanctuary, they followed a path marked with shepherd hooks holding white wicker umbrella-shaped baskets of trailing greenery and a single hydrangea bloom and alternating hurricane-style candleholders.

In the entrance a table held a picture of the bridal couple and the original penciled print of the church by Mrs. Ann Mansur of Washington. This artwork was also featured on the front of the programs.

Upon entering the fellowship hall, guests enjoyed a variety of heavy hors d'oeuvres. The table showcased a large urn of bells of Ireland, light and dark blue delphinium, lavender and pink stock, white gerbera daisies, purple lisianthus, Japanese asters, blue hydrangeas, pussy willow, Shamrock Fuji chrysanthemums, iris and trailing greenery. In the center of the two tables extending from the main arrangement were white columns with hurricane globes and pillar candles encircled with wreaths of mixed greenery at each base.

Punch and tea were served by the bride's cousins, Katie Danner and Nikki Lamar of Augusta and Gloria Holloway of Thomson. Others assisting with the catering were Mr. and Mrs. Newton Gunter, Laverne Kilgore, Janet Thornton, Mrs. Joe E. Griffin and Mrs. Brian Dawson of Washington.

Guest tables featured floor-length white linen cloths with periwinkle organza toppers and matching flowers in silver pitcher containers. Each place setting was marked with a box of homemade chocolate truffles made by Carla Pinnell of Washington.

The bride's cake was placed on a white linen cloth with an organza overlay trimmed in ribbon edging. The four-tiered confection was atop a silver plateau and decorated with hydrangeas, delphinium, Japanese asters, thistle and greenery. The cake was before a nickel screen of votive candles and entwined sprengeri fern. The bridegroom's cousins, Teresa Ashcraft and Whitney Hillman of Thomson, served cake.

A tent was placed just outside the fellowship hall. A candlelit walkway joined the two with blooming plants and greenery. Table decorations coordinated with those inside.

Following a wedding trip to Mesa Verde, Colo., the couple is living in Thomson. Mr. Strother is vicepresident of Al Strother Body Shop, Inc. and Mrs. Strother is employed by the McDuffie County School System.

Rehearsal Dinner

The bridegroom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at their home.

The bride-elect chose a black, white and yellow print sundress.

A backyard barbecue was the fare and red and white were used throughout. Tables were covered in white with red gingham overlays. Decorations were Mason jars of sunflowers, bear grass edged with lemon leaf, accented with red crystals and tied with red gingham ribbon, also miniature Mason jars with red raffia and tea lights. The buffet featured a large arrangement of sunflowers, bells of Ireland, bear grass and pittosporum in an oversized decorated Mason jar. Places featured fans made by the brideelect's mother as gifts to guests and scrapbook engagement photos of the couple made by the bridegroom's mother and cousin, Teresa Ashcraft, as gifts for each family.

A delicious meal of grilled barbecued pork, cooked by family friends, Bubber Conner and Tommy Yates of Thomson, was enjoyed with delicious accompaniments. During dinner guests were treated to a DVD display of photos of the couple, done by the bride-elect's cousin, Dana Danner.

The bridegroom's Red Velvet cake, made by his aunt, Mrs. Jane Painter, was served with other desserts. His cake, piped in red, was decorated with a "Willow Tree Promise of Love" embracing couple and the couple's initials.

Mr. Strother presented his groomsmen with gifts cards of appreciation.

After guests were seated, the hosts welcomed everyone and introduced the bridal party and family members.

Prior to the arrival of the bridal party, guests were treated to hors d'oeuvres under the tent.

Guests also viewed gifts received by the couple that were displayed in the Strother home.