Martha Grace Holifield and Matthew Shelton Gray were united in marriage in a candlelight ceremony at Liberty Park Baptist Church in Birmingham on December 15. Dr. James Robert Futral officiated the service.

The bride is the daughter of Henry and Ann Holifield of Birmingham. Parents of the bridegroom are Mr. and Mrs. Albert Shelton Gray II of Madison.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a designer gown of white satin fashioned with a strapless neckline. A wide double-faced ribbon of champagne satin sashed a natural waistline and extended the length of the chapel train. The bride’s bouquet was a nosegay of bridal white roses and calla lilies held with the heirloom lace handkerchief that her mother carried in her wedding 34 years ago.

The scripture was read by Dr. Elizabeth Lecia Spriggs of Ridgeland, and a program of special nuptial music was presented by Jennifer Yun, violinist.

Jennifer Sellers Holifield, sister-in-law of the bride, served as matron of honor. Maids of honor were Margaret Lee Allred and Susan Claire Brabec of Jackson. Bridesmaids were Sarah Lloyd Allred, Whitney Lauren Holmes, Carlin Williams Milner and Agnieszka Alicia Sikora of Jackson; Stevanie Amber Chestnut, Laura Elizabeth Cobb and Ashley Paige Jones of Birmingham; Ann Caroline King of Starkville; and Mary Milam Granberry of Memphis. The bridal attendants wore strapless crimson red gowns of duponi silk and carried bouquets of roses, calla lilies, and freesia in shades of red and yellow.

Junior attendants were Addison Wilson Cain of Oxford and Vann Kennon Walthall of Birmingham. Flower girls were Amelia Brooke Benes, Charlotte Goodner Walthall and Helen Dade Walthall of Birmingham, and Mary Jane McConnell of Montgomery. Acolytes for the service were Anna Claire Benes and Elizabeth Catherine Walthall of Birmingham.

The bridegroom’s father was best man. Groomsmen included Brian Higdon Gray, brother of the bridegroom; Lyles Henry Holifield and Wilson Thaddeus Holifield, brothers of the bride; Jefferson Allan King, Ross Conner King and William Higdon King, cousins of the bridegroom; Steven Drake Maloan of New Orleans; Thomas Edwin Robinson of Brandon; Jesse Glennan Grady and Michael Garret Shumaker of Starkville; and Joe Green Ulmer III of Memphis. Russell Earl Dearman of Madison and John Scott Magee of Oxford served as ushers.

Program attendants were Martha Louise Blackmon of Birmingham; Killian Lecia Buechler of Ridgeland; Mary Madison McNair of Madison; and Alexandra Wren Rust of Franklin, Tenn. Serving as rice girls were Heather Sellers McConnell of Montgomery and Hailey McCall Rust of Franklin.

The bridesmaids’ luncheon was held the day before the wedding at The Old Overton Country Club. Hostesses for the luncheon were the bride’s grandmother, Mrs. Earl Raymond Wilson, and the bride’s aunts, Mrs. John Harbour Mounger and Amy Lyles Wilson.

A seated dinner and dance reception was hosted at The Old Overton Country Club by the bride’s parents following the wedding ceremony. On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at the Summit Club in downtown Birmingham.

After a wedding trip to Antigua, the couple will live in Oxford.