Nancy Johnston Lilley and Jeffery Earl Bowen were united in marriage on Saturday, July 14, 2012, at 7 o’clock in the morning. Eric Holmes performed the double ring wedding ceremony. The sunrise private ceremony took place on the Washington waterfront at the pavilion near the Estuarium. Following the ceremony the couple and their families enjoyed a breakfast along the Pamlico River.
The bride is the daughter of Sally B. Johnston of Bath and the late John A. Johnston Jr.  She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John A. Johnston Sr. and Wilton W. Smith of Belhaven and Mr. and Mrs. Hannis P. Braddy of Washington. The groom is the son of Glenn and Nelda Bowen of Washington. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Howard Bowen and Mr. and Mrs. Ernel Woolard, all of Washington.
The bride wore a platinum one shoulder dress which was gathered at the waist with a beaded brooch. She carried a bouquet of white and blue hydrangea, wedding stephanotis and a blue linen handkerchief that belonged to her grandmother. Anita J. Testino, sister of the bride was matron of honor and Lauren Kathaleen Testino, niece of the bride was maid of honor. They wore royal blue dresses and carried bouquets of blue hydrangea. The groom and groomsmen wore dark suits with platinum ties. Glenn Bowen, father of the groom, was best man.  Groomsmen were Michael Bowen, brother of the groom, and John A. Johnston III, brother of the bride. Ushers were John Anthony Testino, nephew of the bride, and Blake Bullock, cousin of the groom. Guests were greeted by register attendants Kelli Johnston, sister-in-law of the bride, and Joe Testino, brother-in-law of the bride. Melitta Bullock, aunt of the groom, served as mistress of ceremony and was assisted by her husband Ward Bullock. The mother of the bride wore a teal knee length dress with a matching gem brooch and the groom’s mother wore a black and white knee length dress with accents of green. They carried nosegays of white roses.
An open reception was held at 2 o’clock in the Family Life Center of St. Clair’s Church of Christ in Bath. The Center was decorated throughout in a nautical theme with shades of blue. The outside entrances to the Family Life Center were marked by ferns and colorful flower pots filled with sand and seashells and nautical flags. Brian and Leigh Swain provided the music for the event. Craig Hagen, minister of St. Clair’s Church of Christ, had prayer for the couple and the reception. A round oak antique table held the white four tier wedding cake which was arranged above a fountain. The cake was a wedding gift from Glenn and Marsha Roper and was made and served by Glenda Thompson, sister of Mrs. Roper. The food tables were covered in white linen with overlays of blue satin and held candles of various heights, along with seashells. The guest tables covered in white linen had centerpieces of clear glass cylinders containing sand and seashells and one had photographs of the bridal couple which was a gift from Gordon and Josie Pippin. Wedding rice bags and bubbles were given out by Emily, Michael Jr., Elizabeth and Katherine Bowen, nieces and nephew of the groom. Family and friends assisted the bridal couple with the reception.
Prior to the wedding day, the couple was honored at several events. Lynn D. Ross held a bridal social at her home in Bath on Sunday afternoon, May 20. Wednesday night, June 13, a rice bagging was hosted by Leigh Swain at her home in Bath. Beaver Dam Church of Christ was the site for a miscellaneous bridal shower on Sunday afternoon, June 24, which was given by the groom’s family and church members. On Friday morning, June 29, the bride was honored with a breakfast shower by her co-workers of First South Bank.
The bride is a graduate of Bath High School and East Carolina University with a BSBA degree in finance. She is employed at First South Bank in Washington. The groom is a graduate of Washington High School and Beaufort County Community College with an AAS in Electronic Engineering Technology. He is employed at DSM Pharmaceuticals in Greenville. Following a cruise to Bermuda the couple will reside in Washington.