Toy Elizabeth Gathings and John Michael Allen were married on February 20 at Fondren Church in Jackson. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Milton Gathings Jr. of Jackson. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lafan Allen of Big Stone Gap, Va.
The Reverend David Felker officiated the ceremony. Nuptial music was presented by Patsy Simpson, organist; Nancy Bateman, cellist; and Bonnie Brown, violinist.
Escorted by her father, the bride wore a fit and flare designer gown of ivory mikado. The gown featured a crescent neckline with custom tulle straps and buttons down the chapel train. It was finished with a cathedral veil with ivory satin trim.
She wore a pearl bracelet, a gift from the bridegroom, and her mother’s pearl and diamond earrings along with navy velvet sandals. She carried a bouquet of white spray roses, white hydrangeas, freesia, white lisianthus, and white delphinium. The bouquet was wrapped in a handkerchief given to the bride by the bridegroom’s maternal grandmother.
Attending the bride as matrons of honor were Margaret Tidwell O’Neal of Nashville and Mary Margaret Lee, cousin of the bride, also of Nashville. Bridesmaids were Leaha Champion Gathings, sister-in-law of the bride, and Lauren Allen Mottern, sister of the bridegroom, all of Knoxville. They wore eucalyptus-colored floor length sleeveless chiffon dresses and their bouquets were smaller versions of the bride’s bouquet. The flower girl was Lucy Grace Gathings, niece of the bride.
The bridegroom’s father was best man. Groomsmen were John Laurance Gathings of Birmingham and Robert Milton Gathings III of Knoxville; brothers of the bride; and Tyler Arrington Mottern of Knoxville, brother-in-law of the bridegroom. Ushers were Jeremy Ross Goolsby of Nashville, Delmas Ray Lawson of Tempe, Ariz., Andrew Honeycutt Meador of Tuscaloosa, and Joshua Evan Spurlock of Wise, Va.
The church was decorated with white flowers tinted with hints of blush and textured greenery.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at the Old Capitol Inn.
Guests danced to music by the Fountain City players from Montgomery. The couple’s first dance was played and sung by the bridegroom’s family friend, Michael Trigiani of Nashville. The interior of the Old Capitol Inn featured a focal installation of soft seating with a collection of white freesia, hydrangeas, roses, lisianthus, delphinium, textured greenery, and candles, which provided a warm ambience to the room.
The bride’s cake was a traditional vanilla cake with buttercream icing. The cake was embellished with ivory satin ribbon, white roses, and white hydrangeas.
The outdoor courtyard had a Nashville flare including a clear-top tent with hanging iron balls lit with twinkle lights, farm tables, wormwood chairs, a wooden bar, and candles. Cutouts of George Strait and Dolly Parton along with cutouts of the couple made for a fun evening of photo opportunities.
A Hatch Show Print was designed especially for the couple. The Hatch, opened in 1879, is a working letterpress print shop in Nashville. Guests signed a keepsake print for the couple and were given a print of the poster to take home as a keepsake from the evening.
After a trip to Vail, Colo., the couple is at home in Nashville.
