The celebration and blessing of the marriage of Margaret Grace Meeks and John Willis Garner was held at six o’clock in the evening on May 25, at St. James’ Episcopal Church officiated by The Reverend David Augustus Elliott III and The Reverend Elizabeth Wheatley-Jones. Organist, Michael Beattie presented the nuptial music.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Eugene Meeks of Ridgeland. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Jackson Parker of Smackover, Ark. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Terrance Eugene Meeks of El Dorado.
The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Whitley Garner of Ridgeland. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Donald Fail of Bay Springs and Mr. and Mrs. John Argie Garner of Tuscumbia, Ala.
The bride was given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father. She wore a designer ballgown of ivory beaded lace featuring a sweetheart neckline with a removable lace bolero. The gown was finished with a cathedral veil of ivory tulle.
Matron of honor was Mary Claire Meeks Lyons, sister of the bride. The maid of honor was Mary Carson Kieffer. Bridemaids included Elizabeth Strickland Bassie; Katherine Elizabeth Dickson; Madelyn Nichole Duvall and Natalie Grace Duvall, cousins of the bride; Dailee Elise Ellis; Cara Irby Garner and Jessica Audrey Garner, sisters of the bridegroom; and Reagan Elizabeth Read. Blair Elizabeth Brumley, Margaret Belle Cazaubon and Vivienne Claire Mitchell, all cousins of the bride, were flower girls. Program attendants were Nolan Jacob Mitchell and Nora Grace Mitchell, also cousins of the bride.
The bridegroom’s twin brother, Joseph Whitley Garner, was best man. Groomsmen were Jack Hughes Brister; Benjamin Mackey Brock; John Lyell Chain; Landon Reid Howard; Phillip Christian Lyons, brother-in-law of the bride; Joseph Scott Noe; Richard Watkins Rein; Holland Roane Townes; Kyle Richard Williams; and Jon-Thomas Bishara Zakkak. Reed Bateman Loeffel Jr. was ring bearer.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at The Faulkner in downtown Jackson. The couple opened the reception with their first dance to the song “This Will Be” by Natalie Cole on the rooftop. Guests danced to the sounds of Mike Rob and The 601 Band. The reception floral arrangements included a collection of white, cream, and pale pink peonies, hydrangeas, roses and tulips. A buffet dinner featured beef tenderloin, shrimp and grits, chicken tenders and Nashville hot chicken wraps. Late night passed snacks were favorites of the couple including mini gyros, flat bread pizzas and cheeseburger sliders and fries.
The couple departed the reception through a tunnel of sparklers and were whisked away in a vintage black Cadillac.
The morning before the wedding a bridal brunch, hosted by Laurie Defoe, Susan Duvall, Mary Lyons, Cissy McCarty, Susan Pond, Adriana Stacey and Kristi Toler, was held at Anjou Restaurant. The brunch was concluded with the Southern tradition of a “bridal cake charm pull.” The decorated cake was a gift from the bride’s family friend, Catherine McIntyre Wilson.
On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom’s parents hosted a cocktail hour and seated rehearsal dinner at the couple’s favorite restaurant, Koestler Prime. Following the rehearsal dinner a Post Toast was held at the A C Marriott Hotel hosted by Barbara and Don Averitt.
On the day of the wedding the bridegroom and groomsmen were treated to a buffet lunch hosted by Angela Carpenter, Jane Cory, Lou Ann Flatgard, Kimberly Wilkins and Amanda Wootton. Also on the day of the wedding, Lacy Humphreys hosted a salon party and brunch for the bride and her attendants.
Following a wedding in St. Barths the couple will be at home in Charlotte, N.C.
