Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Gordon Johnson Bryanna Dell Pilgrim of Thomson and Jeremy Gordon Johnson of Norwood exchanged wedding vows in a beautiful double-ring ceremony Saturday, July 24, at five-thirty o’clock in the afternoon at Antioch Christian Church in Thomson. The bride’s father, Rev. Larron Pilgrim of Thomson, officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Larron and Susan James Pilgrim of Thomson.

The bridegroom is the son of Michael and Ella Johnson of Thomson.

Ferns under the cross, on the porch and flanking the front doors enhanced the front of the church. In the vestibule, a table, overlaid in white, held the guest book, tended by Nicole Wood of Thomson, cousin of the bridegroom, also an arrangement of hydrangeas, spider chrysanthemums, roses and lilies, and the couple’s framed engagement picture.

Inside, the baptismal window ledge held ferns and ivy. The unity candle, flanked by tree candelabra, decorated the altar with ferns interspersed throughout. White sheer bows adorned clusters of hydrangeas and greenery that marked the family pews.

Candles on the piano and organ were placed in memory of the bride’s grandparents, the late Gilbert and Ellen Pilgrim, and uncle, the late Lawrence James, and the bridegroom’s grandmothers, the late Carolyn Cofer Johnson and the late Estelle Wheelbarger. The bride’s uncle, Ronnie James of Washington, lit the candle remembering the bride’s family and Nicole Wood lit the candle in memory of the bridegroom’s grandmothers.

Myrna Moore of Thomson, pianist, presented a program of wedding music and accompanied soloist, Stephanie Green of Thomson.

Mr. Johnson was his son’s best man. Usher-groomsmen were Chaplain Jamie Johnson of Fort Campbell, Ky., brother of the bridegroom; Nic Wood, cousin of the bridegroom; Joey Scott, cousin of the bride, Ricky McCord and Robert Cort of Thomson, and Josh Simmons of Grovetown. The bridegroom’s nephew, Seth Johnson of Fort Campbell, was junior groomsman. All wore black tuxedoes with pistachio vests and ties and pistachio rose boutonnieres. The bridegroom’s black tuxedo was finished with a silver vest and tie and a white rose boutonniere.

Charlotte James Bullard of Appling served her niece as matron of honor. Her black tea-length dress, fashioned with a draped v-neck, was enhanced with a rhinestone brooch.

Bridesmaids were Shannon Scott, cousin of the bride, and Danielle Whitaker of Thomson, Tawny Taylor and Rainne Austin of Dearing, Missy Challender of Boneville and Heather McHatton of Augusta. Their black strapless tea-length dresses were enhanced with sequin designs on the skirts.

All carried bouquets of pale lilies, purple delphinium, Fuji chrysanthemums and pink roses.

Junior bridesmaids, Cassie Johnson of North Carolina, daughter of the bridegroom, and Summer Scott of Thomson, cousin of the bride, wore pistachio tea-length dresses and carried bouquets of pale lilies, Fuji chrysanthemums and pink roses.

The bride’s cousin, Emma Scott of Thomson served as flower girl. Her tea-length pistachio dress was finished with a black sash and bow. She wore a tiara in her hair and carried a white basket of pink rose petals.

The bridegroom’s nephew and ring bearer, Saul Johnson of Fort Campbell, was attired as the ushergroomsmen and carried a white satin pillow.

The bride was escorted by her father. Her mother stood with her daughter as Rev. Pilgrim moved to the altar to conduct the ceremony. The bride, given in marriage by her parents, was stunning in her full-length ball gown. The strapless bodice was heavily embellished with sequins.

Her veil fell to cathedral-length.

She carried a bouquet of white and green hydrangeas, light green roses and white delphinium tied with white satin ribbon. Attached to the ribbon was a pin that belonged to her great-grandmother, the late Willie McAvoy.

For her daughter’s wedding, Mrs. Pilgrim chose a silver knee-length tiered dress and bolero jacket.

Mrs. Johnson, the bridegroom’s mother, wore a periwinkle blue floor-length dress and brocade jacket adorned with sequins.

The bride’s grandmother, Dell James of Washington, chose an anklelength blue dress and jacket.

Her honorary grandmother, Martha Reeves of Thomson, wore a black and white ensemble.

Each was presented a corsage of white roses.

The bride’s grandfather, Howard James of Washington, honorary grandfather, Lynn Reeves of Thomson, and the bridegroom’s grandfather, M.G. Johnson of Norwood, were presented rose boutonnieres.

Bonnie McCorkle and Dianne Wood of Thomson directed the wedding.

The couple left the church in a white vintage Cadillac convertible.

Reception

The bride’s parents entertained at a reception at The Depot in Thomson following the ceremony.

The bride and bridegroom’s tables were covered in white. Centering the bride’s table was a three-layered stacked cake iced in pistachio with the couple’s names, Bryanna and Jeremy, and other designs piped in black. Deep pink roses topped the cake. A bride and bridegroom statue was nestled in the greenery at the base. To each side of the center cake were two square cakes, also in pistachio and black. The cakes were made by Danielle Whitaker as a wedding gift.

The bridegroom’s cake was a double layered strawberry stacked cake iced in strawberry cream cheese with pistachio accents. Chocolate-dipped strawberries cascaded down one side. Shana Smith of Thomson made the cake as a wedding gift.

Mrs. Whitaker served the confections.

A tall candelabrum centered the buffet which held a bountiful dinner catered by Tammy Bowling of Dearing as a gift to the couple.

Guests were seated at tables covered in white and decorated with votives around bouquets of hydrangeas and lilies. Tulle and flowers decorated the chairs.

DJ Rikki Taylor of Thomson provided music for the reception. The bridal couple danced to I Could Not Ask for More and the bride danced with her father to I Loved Her First.

Following a wedding trip to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are living in Washington.

Rehearsal Dinner

The bridegroom’s parents were hosts at a rehearsal dinner at Young Memorial Church in Thomson Friday evening.

Fresh flowers and candles decorated the area.

A delicious buffet was served.

Guests enjoyed a slide presentation of the couple from their younger years to their engagement.

Mr. Johnson presented gifts to his wedding party.