April 21, 2012

An engagement party was held at the Rainbow Recreational Center in Snow Hill, NC.  The party was given by the bride-to-be’s parents, Mr. William Morris, Jr. and Ms. Annette Dixon Morris, and the groom-to-be’s mother, Ms. Kathy Swain Godley.  The bride-to-be’s father owns Morris Barbeque in Hookerton, NC, and its famous barbeque, slaw, and hushpuppies were served at the engagement party. The groom’s uncle, Danny Swain prepared barbeque chicken.  Potatoes, green beans, baked beans, and desserts were also served.  Mr. William Morris, Jr. welcomed everyone, and Ryan, the groom-to-be, thanked all the guests for coming.  Engagement gifts and cards were also presented to the happy couple.

December 5, 2012

A miscellaneous couple’s shower was given at the home of Mrs. Carol Sue Stowe of Washington Park, NC.  The event was given by Mrs. Carol Sue Stowe, Mrs. Sandy Tankard, Ms. Toni Edwards, Mrs. Pam Griffin, Mrs. Erika Lozano, Mrs. Juliette Sykes, Mrs. Dawn Hamilton, Mrs. Beth Peacos, and Mrs. Sherry Woolard, all friends of the groom’s mother.  The home was decorated for the Christmas holidays with poinsettias and Christmas trees.  The couple was given several gifts from their registry.

January 20, 2013

A bridal shower was given at Second Baptist Church of Washington, NC, for the couple.  It was given by cousins of the groom-to-be, Mrs. Teresa Singleton and Mrs. Carolyn Heath, and also by Ms. Joyce Godley, grandmother of the groom-to-be.  The social hall of the church was beautifully decorated with red and yellow flowers.  The bride-to-be was given a corsage in her selected colors. The guests were invited to enjoy finger foods and punch while the couple opened gifts.  The hostesses presented the couple with a gift from their registry.

February 10, 2013

A bridal shower was given on February 10, 2013, at the home of Ms. Carolyn Swain, aunt of the groom-to-be.  The shower was given by Ms. Carolyn Swain, Mrs. Sherrie Swain, Mrs. Linda Abeyounis, aunts of the groom-to-be, and also by Ms. Virginia Parker, Ms. Martha Jane Parker, and Mrs. Melanie Godfrey, cousins of the groom-to-be.

A Valentine’s Day theme was used for the shower.  The table was beautifully decorated with a red tablecloth, draped with a lace, see-through coverlet.  A beautiful, candlelit centerpiece was displayed on a silver platter with a lighted candle and was given to the bride-to-be after the event.  A wide variety of finger-foods and sherbet punch were served to all the guests.  The hostesses presented the couple with a place setting of their selected china pattern and a crock pot.

 

March 3, 2013

A bridal shower was given at the Rainbow Recreational Center in Snow Hill, NC.  It was hosted by family and friends of the bride-to-be.

A Disney theme was used throughout the venue.  Several pictures of the couple from their visits to Disney World were used as decorations.  Red and yellow silk flower arrangements were used on the food tables. The refreshments consisted of pineapple punch, Disney-themed cake squares,  along with other finger-foods. The couple was given a variety of gifts.

March 10, 2013

A bachelorette dinner party was given at Bone Fish Grill in Greenville, NC, by Mrs. Sara Rouse of Ayden, NC.  The party continued at the home of Mrs. Sara Rouse with a lingerie shower for the bride with all of her bridesmaids present.

April 14, 2013

A “Fill Your Pantry” Shower was given for the couple at the home of Mrs. Gray Albritton of Chocowinity, NC.  The event was given by the bride-to-be’s coworkers from Amy’s Hallmark in Washington, NC.  The guests enjoyed a variety of goodies.  The dining room table was beautifully set with a lace tablecloth, china plates, crystal goblets, linen napkins, and silver utensils.  The hostesses presented the couple with a huge basket filled with can goods and staples for their new pantry.  The bride-to-be and mother of the groom were also presented with a creative homemade corsage.

Wedding:

Miss Ashley Morgan Morris and Mr. Michael Ryan Godley were united in marriage on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at half after two in the afternoon at Second Baptist Church in Washington, NC. The bride is the daughter of Mr. William Morris, Jr. of Hookerton, NC, and Ms. Annette Dixon Morris, also of Hookerton, NC.  She is the granddaughter of Ms. Berlie Dixon and the late Mr. Sidney Earl Dixon of Snow Hill, NC, and the granddaughter of Ms. Margaret Morris and the late Mr. William Morris, Sr., of Hookerton, NC. The groom is the son of Ms. Kathy Swain Godley and the late Mr. Michael Wayne Godley of Washington, NC.  He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Junius Ray Swain of Washington, NC, and the grandson of Ms. Joyce Boyd Godley and the late Mr. Nathan Brooks Godley of Washington, NC.

The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Scott Setzer, pastor at Second Baptist Church in Washington, NC.  A Scripture reading was given by cousin of the bride, Reverend Bradley Dixon, of Roanoke Rapids, NC, and a prayer of dedication was given by Dr. Jimmy Moore pastor at First Baptist Church in Washington, NC.

The groom chose his brother, Mr. Justin Brooks Godley of Washington, NC, as his best man. The groomsmen included friends of the groom, Mr. Hans Peebles of Concord, NC, Mr. Rodney Bragg of Greenville, NC. and the groom’s uncle, Mr. Nathan Godley, Jr., of Fort Myers, Florida. The ushers were friends of the groom, Mr. Justin Kimak of Raleigh, NC, and Mr. Chris Thurman of Youngsville, NC.  The bride’s cousins, Mr. James Cole, of Hookerton, NC, and Mr. Matthew Sturges of Hookerton, NC, also served as ushers.  Each groomsman and usher wore a silk, yellow rose boutonniere made by the bride and her mother

The bride chose her mother, Ms. Annette Dixon Morris of Hookerton, NC, as her maid of honor. Bridesmaids were friend of the bride, Mrs. Sara Rouse of Ayden, NC; cousin of the bride, Mrs. Kerry Henning of Kinston, NC; and cousin of the bride, Miss Katie Sturges, of Greenville, NC.  The flower girl and ring bearer, Miss Kayla Beaman and Master Brandon Beaman, of Kinston, NC were cousins of the bride.

The bridesmaids wore canary yellow, one-shoulder, full length, satin ball gowns with fan detail on the shoulder.  They each wore red heels and carried bouquets made primarily of silk red roses, and accented with silk yellow roses.  The bouquets were made by the bride and her mother.

The groom’s mother chose a t-length taupe colored sleeveless dress with a flowing scalloped hem. The dress was a nylon/polyester with a coordinated three-quarter-sleeve jacket with a rhinestone closure to front of jacket.

Mrs. Crystal Setzer, of Washington, NC, was the vocalist; she sang “The Rose” as the mothers and grandmothers were seated.  During the seating process, the family participated in a “Memorial Rose Ceremony,” remembering loved ones that looked on from heaven.

The bride’s wedding gown, her “something new,” was a full-length, white satin, A-line gown with beaded lace appliques.  The chapel-length train was adorned with a cut-out lace hem.  She wore a short sleeve tulle jacket with lace embroidery and pearl beading.  The one-tier bridal veil had pearl and sequin trim and was the bride’s “something borrowed” from a friend.   She wore her hair in an elegant updo adorned with a red rose.  The bride wore red heels, with a “sixpence in her shoe,” and carried a beautiful cascading bouquet of red and yellow roses that was lovingly made by her mother.  The bouquet also included “something old” lace detail from her mother’s wedding gown.  The bride also carried a lace handkerchief adorned with “something blue”: a heart that had been sewn by her paternal grandmother.

The church was decorated throughout with yellow and red roses.  Each window held a red lighted candle with a hurricane globe and ivy.  The candelabras were decorated with ivy and yellow roses. Beautiful Kimberly Queen ferns were placed throughout the sanctuary and lobby.  A rose-covered arbor was displayed at the entrance of the main aisle of the church for the wedding party and the bride to walk through.  A white runner was draped down the aisle to the alter with red rose petals scattered all along the sides of the runner.  Yellow tulle was draped on each pew along with red bows down the center aisle. Complementing the décor of the wedding was a slideshow that was presented throughout the ceremony.

The bride’s father, Mr. William Morris, Sr. was her escort down the aisle.  As he escorted her down the aisle, the music of Francesca Battistelli’s “A Hundred More Years” filled the church.

The ceremony was a double ring ceremony and was centered on the couple’s bond with each other and with God.

The photographer chosen by the bride and groom was Stuart Warren Photography of Washington NC, and the Videographer was Mr. Jose Luis with Licon Videography of Greenville, NC.

The sound technician was Mr. Woodson Furlough, and the video technician was Mrs. Kay Beddard, both of Washington, NC.

Friend of the Bride, Mrs. Dorothy Mobley greeted guests upon their arrival and welcomed them to sign the guest book.  Program attendants were cousin of the groom, Miss Elizabeth Godley, from Fort Myers, Florida, and Mrs. Shelley Dixon of Roanoke Rapids, NC.

The Mistress of Ceremony was a cousin of the bride, Mrs. Judy Strickland, of Seven Springs, NC.

After the ceremony, a receiving line was formed with the wedding party as the guests were invited to the church’s family-life center for the reception.  Along the way to the reception, a table displayed the bride’s portrait along with the bridesmaids’ bouquets.

The reception director was the bride’s aunt, Mrs. Lisa Sturges, of Hookerton, NC, and friends and family of the bride helped with the reception.  The tables at the reception were beautifully decorated with white linen tablecloths and topped with topiaries made by the bride.  Music played in the background as the guests helped themselves to heavy hors’doeuvres. A beautiful arrangement of red and yellow roses adorned the center of the food table.  The wedding cake was served by the bride’s aunt, Mrs. Karen Dixon, of Snow Hill, NC.  The cake was made of red velvet and buttercream icing and was adorned with real red and yellow roses.  The pineapple delight punch was served by the bride’s aunt, Mrs. Donna Dixon, of Snow Hill, NC.  A table was displayed at the back of the family-life center with photographs of the couple and a chest of favors for the guests from the bride and groom.

As the bride and groom made their departure from the church, the guests lined the walkway and showered the newly married couple with red rose petals.

Approximately 225 guests attended the wedding with guests in attendance from Hampton, Virginia; Southern Pines, NC; Fort Myers, FL; Greenville, NC; Seven Springs, NC; Kinston, NC; Youngsville, NC; Raleigh, NC; Hookerton, NC; Snow Hill, NC; Charlotte, NC; Washington, NC; and Wilmington, NC.

An after-rehearsal dinner was held Friday night, April 26, 2013, at First Baptist Church’s Family-Life Center in Washington, NC, hosted by Ms. Kathy Swain Godley and Mr. Justin Brooks Godley, mother and brother of the groom.  Each table was decorated with white linen tablecloths. The centerpieces were mason jars filled with blue and clear crystals and topped with blue, green, and white hydrangeas and tied with raffia.  Candles were lit on each table and the tables were decorated with framed photographs of the couple.  Each table was dressed with lime- green paper place mats with white china and crystal goblets.  A plated meal of pork loin and vegetables was presented to each guest. The plates were served by friends of the mother of the groom, Mrs. Carol Sue Stowe, Mrs. Pam Griffin, Mrs. Brenda Woolard, Mrs. Erika Lozano, Mrs. Sandy Tankard, Ms. Toni Edwards, Mrs. Beth Peacos, Mrs. Sherry Woolard and Miss Jordan Woolard.  After the meal, the groom’s mother gave all the guests a poem that she wrote about the couple on how they met; the poem was read aloud by the bride-to-be. A groom’s cake was cut by the groom’s aunt, Mrs. Sherrie Swain, and the groom’s cousin Mrs. Melanie Godfrey.  After the cake was served, the groom-to-be thanked everyone for coming and gifts were given out to the wedding party. Goodbyes were said to 60 plus guests.

Ryan is currently employed with Flanders Filters, of Washington, NC, and works in the Customer Service department.  He has an Associate’s Degree and has attended Beaufort Community College, Pitt Community College, and Southeastern College in Wake Forest, NC.

Ashley is currently employed as Assistant Manager at Amy’s Hallmark in Washington, NC.  She has attended Southeastern Free Will Baptist College in Wendell, NC, and is currently pursuing a Business Administration degree from Pitt Community College.

After a wedding trip to Myrtle Beach, SC, the couple resides in Washington, NC.