Ficken - Gray
Jessica Elaine Gray and Bryce Hain Ficken III exchanged vows in a double-ring ceremony March 31 at 2 p.m. at Free Gospel Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church, with the Rev. Wayne Browning officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Donald and Sam Gray of LaGrange and the granddaughter of Roland “Bud” and Joanne Gray, Jeannette Smith and the late William Harper Smith of LaGrange.
She is a 2003 graduate of Eastern Wayne High School and a 2006 graduate of East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science degree in family and consumer sciences education. She is employed at Eastern Wayne Middle School as an exploring life skills teacher.
The groom is the son of Hain and Lynn Ficken of Dudley and the grandson of the late Bryce Sr. and Mary Ficken of Mount Olive and the late Eugene and Elsie Davis of Goldsboro.
He is a 2002 graduate of Faith Christian Academy and a 2006 graduate of Mount Olive College with a Bachelor of Science degree. He is employed as an insurance agent with Ficken-Blackwelder Insurance and Realty.
The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her family.
She wore a strapless candlelight gown with a sweetheart bodice adorned with crystals and beads. The back featured a lace embellishment adorned with crystals and beads and flowed into a mermaid-style skirt with a short train.
Her headpiece was an elbow-length candlelight veil of bridal illusion with penciled edging.
The bride carried a bouquet of mixed flowers of pink and white calla lilies and pink and white roses.
Kathryn Ginn was her friend’s maid of honor.
Bridesmaids were Brooke Gray, cousin of the bride; Caitlin Allen and Skyler Hardy, friends of the couple; and Casi Mooring, friend of the bride.
Hain Ficken was his son’s best man.
Groomsmen were Jason Gray, brother of the bride, and Jonathan Graham, Taylor Whitfield and Wade Graham, friends of the groom.
Ushers were Scott Hardy, friend of the groom, and Blake Gray and Jonathon Gray, cousins of the bride.
Morgan Gurley, friend of the bride, was flower girl.
JoAnn Summerlin, cousin of the bride, directed the wedding. Presiding at the register was Lindzy McDonald, friend of the bride. Jacob Gray and Jacob Smith, cousins of the bride, distributed programs.
A program of wedding music was provided by Sharon Barrow, pianist; Doug Tart, trumpeter; and Al Laws and Barbara Smith, vocalists.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held in the church fellowship hall. Dwight and Sherry Gray and Kim and Rhonda Gray, uncles and aunts of the bride, greeted guests. Maryann Wiggins, aunt of the groom, and Gloria Allen, friend of the couple, served the wedding cake. Cathy Smith and Amy Smith, aunts of the bride, poured punch.
After a wedding trip to Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., the couple reside in LaGrange.
Events held before the wedding included a bridal luncheon March 24 at Lydia’s Tea Room hosted by Rhonda and Brooke Gray and JoAnn Summerlin; a barbecue and handy man shower March 17 at Sleepy Creek Clubhouse hosted by Spring Creek High School’s athletic department; a miscellaneous shower March 15 at Eastern Wayne Middle School hosted by co-workers; a lingerie shower March 10 at the home of Amy Smith hosted by Amy and Cathy Smith, aunts of the bride, and Crystal Barrow, cousin of the bride; a miscellaneous shower March 3 at New Hope Fire Department hosted by the bride’s family; and a miscellaneous shower Feb. 18 at Sleepy Creek Clubhouse hosted by Skyler Hardy and Caitlin and Gloria Allen.
The groom’s parents held a rehearsal dinner March 30 at Walnut Creek Country Club.
By News-Argus Staff
Published in Weddings on April 1, 2007 3:31 AM