Taylor Harris Lindsey and Derrick Adam Southerland of Nashville, Tenn., were united in marriage in a beautiful sunset ceremony at five-thirty in the afternoon on Saturday, October 4, 2014, on the grounds of the historic Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach, Ala. Rev. Chip Wilson of Jasper, formerly of Washington, and Scott Overcarsh of Decatur, uncle of the bride, officiated the double-ring ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Truitt Lindsey, Jr. of Washington and Orange Beach. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Thomas Jones of Charlotte, N. C., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Truitt Lindsey, Sr. of Washington.
The bridegroom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Terry Dale Southerland of Dacula. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Paulk Southerland of Braselton and Mr. Larry Lee Ezell and the late Mrs. Judy Carol Ezell of Spring City, Tenn.
As the guests entered the circular courtyard at five o’clock in the evening, they were welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Lindsey and offered cocktails and a signature lemonade.
The focal point in the center of the courtyard was a tall wooden sign made by the bride’s father with the Southerland name, wedding date, and heart, painted by her mother. Driftwood, moss, oyster shells, and three large pillar candles accented the base of the sign.
To the right, a round iron table held a large iron globe, votives, a beautiful lush floral arrangement, and the guest book. Also in the courtyard was a wrought iron tree with memorial photos of family with a banner of the Bible verse, John 16:22, “but I will see you again and my heart will rejoice.”
At twenty-five past the hour, Cade Kivett, cousin of the bridegroom, announced the ceremony with the ringing of the bell.
At half after five, guests walked down a winding pathway to the seating area with the stunning emerald waters of Wolf Bay as the backdrop.
The bride, escorted by her father, entered under a driftwood archway topped with a cross and accented with sheer fabric, ribbons, and lights to the altar area which incorporated three old doors with iron sconces on each side and a center wooden pedestal holding an arrangement of curly willow, cream hydrangea, soft Juliet garden roses, coral peonies, coral ranunculus, green hypericum berries, plum hellebores, peach spray roses, white scabiosa, finished with lux white anemones with dark centers with accenting soft dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus and green foliage, with hanging amaranthus.
The setting was enhanced by stately oaks and cypress trees that featured hanging candlelit lanterns, white globe lights, and Spanish moss.
Wedding music was provided by Cary Barlowe and Jesse Frasure of Nashville, Tenn. Local artist, Bill Harrison of Orange Beach, was commissioned to live paint the ceremony as a gift to the bride and bridegroom from the bride’s parents.
The honorary bridesmaids, Laura Ann Mann of Columbus and Emily Wilson Bessinger of Smyrna; the bride’s godparents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harvey of Washington; the bridegroom’s grandparents, aunts of the bride, and parents entered to an acoustic arrangement of the hymn, Surely The Presence Of The Lord by Lanny Wolfe.
The wedding party processed to an acoustic arrangement of Come Thou Fount by David Crowder. The bride entered to an acoustic arrangement of I Need You by Tony Lane. Tommy Wells of Washington, soloist, sang The Lord’s Prayer as the sun set over the bay. After being presented as Mr. and Mrs. Derrick Southerland, the newlyweds recessed to a string arrangement of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida.
Best man was Brannan Southerland of Sandy Springs, cousin of the bridegroom. Groomsmen were Mike Coker of Dacula and Tyler Pace of Galveston, Tex.
Sisters of the bride, Hillary Lindsey of Nashville, Tenn., and Lauren Lindsey Fowler of Statesboro, served as maid and matron of honor, and Audrey Southerland of Atlanta, sister of the bridegroom, served as bridesmaid. They wore plum ruched strapless chiffon floor-length gowns with pearl and gold accented necklaces, which were gifts from the bride.
All carried hand-tied bouquets of cream hydrangea, soft Juliet garden roses, coral peonies, coral ranunculus, green hypericum berries, plum hellebores, and white scabiosa, finished with accenting soft dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus, and green foliage, and wrapped with a soft champagne satin, similar to the bride’s bouquet.
Audrey and Reese Fowler of Statesboro, nieces of the bride, served as flower girls. They wore floor-length satin ivory dresses and pearls, gifts from the bride. Audrey wore a floral headpiece while Reese wore a petite wrist corsage. Audrey carried a linen “Here Comes the Bride” banner down the aisle.
Honorary bridesmaids, Laura Ann Mann and Emily Wilson Bessinger, wore a shade of purple design and matching bracelets, given as gifts by the bride. Each wore a floral wrist corsage.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride was beautiful in her custom-made gown by Nashville designers Ani & Ari. Her subtle trumpet-shaped gown was made with soft hand-stitched cotton lace and a sweetheart neckline with a bodice of an eggshell-colored silk and a mid-length train. Sewn into the dress was a piece of lace from the bride’s mother’s gown with the initials and wedding date of her parents.
In lieu of a veil, the bride chose to wear her maternal grandmother’s rhinestone hair combs, which served as her “something old.”
She carried a large nose spray of cream hydrangea, soft Juliet garden roses, coral peonies, coral ranunculus, green hypericum berries, plum hellebores, peach spray roses, and white scabiosa, finished with lux white anemones with dark centers with accenting soft dusty miller, seeded eucalyptus and green foliage, wrapped with a soft ivory satin. The nose spray was adorned with an item from each of the bride’s grandparents and a locket with her parent’s initials.
For the celebration the bride’s mother was lovely in a Nicole Miller taffeta eggplant floor-length gown with a matching bolero jacket.
The bridegroom’s mother wore a beautiful navy Alex Evening’s floor-length chiffon gown with sheer sequin lace sleeves.
Both mothers were presented wrist corsages of coral ranunculus and seeded eucalyptus.
Reception
Following the ceremony, guests were entertained in the courtyard with music and artist exhibitions of glass blowing and pottery making. Guests were offered hors d’oeuvres and cocktails prior to being seated for dinner. Dinner was served on the grounds under a canopy of lanterns and white lights. Tables were embellished with mercury lanterns, vases of flowers and candles.
The dinner included a fresh green salad, shrimp pasta, sesame seared ahi tuna, prime rib, assorted vegetables, Alabama bean cakes, and a Gouda mashed potato bar.
The cake was tiered layers of white and yellow cakes with raspberry, strawberry and lemon filling. An assortment of cupcakes and petit fours was also offered.
Following dinner, the bride and bridegroom were serenaded by Hillary Lindsey and Cary Barlowe singing James Taylor’s How Sweet It Is. The bride and her father danced to Sam Cook’s Cupid also performed by Hillary Lindsey and Cary Barlowe. The bridegroom and his mother danced to Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World.
Guests were entertained and danced to music provided by renowned DJ Telemitry, Jesse Frasure of Nashville.
The bride and bridegroom exited under an arch of wedding sparklers and were driven away in a 1930’s red and black Cadillac.
Following their honeymoon in Barbados, the bride and groom are residing in Nashville, Tenn.
Two hundred guests attended. Attending from Washington-Wilkes and those with Washington connections were Mrs. Joe Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Durham, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Wells, Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Lindsey, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Isham, Mr and Mrs Glenn Echols and Jordan; Mrs. Tony Williamson, Audrey and Abby, of Thomson, Mrs. Russell Rainey of Evans, Mrs. John Broadnax of Athens, Mr. Trey Lannae and Miss Joy Thurman of Calhoun, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Lindsey of Cleveland, Colonel (ret.) and Mrs Andy Anderson of Fayetteville, N.C.
Rehearsal Dinner
Dr. and Mrs. Terry Southerland hosted a rehearsal dinner at Flipper’s Seafood and Oyster Bar overlooking the beautiful sunset of Wolf Bay on October 3.
Featured on the tables were white tablecloths overlaid with rustic tea-colored linen runners adorned with assorted white lanterns with mound moss and pillar candles, tea lights, and a framed table number on printed sheet music. Photos of the bride and bridegroom played on various screens throughout the night. Wedding pictures from the parents and grandparents of the bride and bridegroom were featured on the bar. A banner, made by the bridegroom’s sister and mother, was hung with the saying “Eat, Drink, and Be Married.”
Guests enjoyed cocktails and the option of the fresh catch of the day, chicken alfredo, seafood jubilee, and fried shrimp. Desserts included key lime pie and bread pudding. Favors of white Jordan almonds wrapped in boxes with a small brass key and a saying from the bride and bridegroom were given to each guest.
The evening was filled with toasts and speeches from friends and family celebrating the happy couple.
Eighty guests attended.
