Thornton-Long
MOUNT OLIVE — Jessica Nicole Long and Jeffrey Paul Thornton exchanged vows in a double-ring ceremony Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. at Rhodes Friends Meeting, with the Rev. Gordan Clarke and the Rev. Frank Purvis officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Billy Ralph Long Jr. and Rita S. Long of Mount Olive and the granddaughter of Virginia Sullivan and the late Lawrence Sullivan of Mount Olive.
She is a 2001 graduate of Southern Wayne High School and a 2006 graduate of North Carolina State University with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and attends East Carolina University for a Master in Business Administration. She is employed as a pathology lab technician at Goldsboro Milling Co.
The groom is the son of Ammie Dean and Sandra W. Thornton of Mount Olive and the grandson of Kathleen Thornton and the late Percy Thornton of Mount Olive and Hazel Waddell and the late Aaron Waddell of Goldsboro.
He is a 1999 graduate of Southern Wayne High School. He is employed as a purchasing agent at Scott and Jones of Calypso.
The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents.
She wore a strapless slim A-line ivory gown with an Alencon lace overlay, a champagne-colored sash and a chapel-length train.
Her headpiece was a fingertip-length veil.
The bride carried a bouquet of ivory and green hydrangeas, roses, carnations, peonies and lilies along with her grandmother’s handkerchief wrapped around the bouquet.
Leslie McArthur was her friend’s matron of honor, while Meredith Davis, cousin of the bride, was maid of honor.
Bridesmaids were Karen Thornton and Katlyn Thornton, sisters of the groom.
Dean Thornton was his son’s best man.
Groomsmen were David Thornton, brother of the groom; Kyle Stuart, brother of the bride; and Bradley Bradshaw, friend of the groom.
Honorary bridesmaids were Morgan Davis and Madison Davis, cousins of the bride, and Mary-Marshall Boone and Laura Gerardi, friends of the bride.
Jane Jeffreys directed the wedding. Presiding at the register were Jerry and Karen Reaves, uncle and aunt of bride. Emily Taylor, cousin of groom, and Rachael Bill, niece of bride, distributed programs.
Mollie Weaver was a special helper.
A program of wedding music was provided by Jason Cox, pianist and vocalist, and Jaime Cox, vocalist.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s family held a reception at the church.
After a wedding trip to Charleston, S.C., the couple resides in Grantham.
Events held before the wedding included a miscellaneous church shower Jan. 18 at Rhodes Friends Meeting hosted by bride’s family; a lingerie shower Jan. 17 at the home of the bride hosted by Leslie McArthur; and a miscellaneous church shower Nov. 30 at Eureka Christian Church hosted by the groom’s family at Eureka Christian Church.
The groom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner Feb. 13 at Rhodes Friends Meeting.
By News-Argus Staff
Published in Weddings on March 15, 2009 10:28 AM