Families and friends of Molly Kathryn O’Neal and Nelson Ppool Ramsey gathered for a “Delta Destination” wedding in Greenwood. They were wed at six in the evening December 14 at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Carl O’Neal of Madison. She is the granddaughter of Sara Ann Dale of Greenwood, the late Mr. and Mrs. Madison Sylvester Dale Jr. of Glendora, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Linville Earl Marter of Grenada.
The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Ppool Ramsey of Madison. He is the grandson of Mrs. Ralph Raymond Ramsey Jr. and the late Mr. Ramsey, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Eugene Fraley, all of Hot Springs.
The ceremony was officiated by the Reverends Don Chancellor, rector of the Church of the Nativity, and Will Compton, rector of the Chapel of the Cross. The ceremony was directed by Katie Dale, cousin of the bride. Music was presented by organist David Williamson.
Given in marriage by her parents, and escorted by her father, the bride wore a custom-created gown. The fitted dress was covered entirely in Alencon lace and featured an open back, a chapel train adorned with covered buttons, and long lace sleeves which ended in delicate points over her wrists. She wore a cathedral length veil of classic tulle and carried a nosegay bouquet of winter white peonies, roses, hydrangea and cala lilies. Tucked into her bouquet was a hand-embroidered handkerchief which has been carried by generations of brides in the bridegroom’s family, dating from the mid 1800s in Scotland. The bride’s mother carried a handkerchief that belonged to her mother, the late Pi Dale of Glendora, the bride’s grandmother.
Mrs. Charles Morson Emerson II, sister of the bride, was matron of honor. The bridegroom’s father was best man. Ring bearers were the bride’s nephews Henry Kenneth O’Neal and Andrew Michael O’Neal, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Terry Rowell O’Neal, her brother and sister-in-law. Stephen O’Neal was scripture reader. Charles Mills Emerson, nephew of the bride, served as usher along with his father Chas Emerson, and Stephen O’Neal. Anne Mitchell, Elizabeth and Hattie Emerson, nieces of the bride, greeted guests and were program attendants.
Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed champagne and cocktails at The Carl Center where the “halls were decked” with twinkling Christmas trees, yards of garland and winter flower arrangements. Guests were then ushered upstairs for a candlelight seated dinner, featuring a winter salad and beef tenderloin. During dinner, family and friends shared toasts, after which guests returned to the first floor for more cocktails and the cutting of the cakes. With a nod to the bride’s lace gown, the traditional three-tiered wedding cake was encircled in intricate ivory sugar “lace” and topped with roses. The bridegroom’s cake echoed his uniform from The United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 2023. Several of his West Point classmates were guests and displayed their class rings alongside the cake.
Guests gathered along the front steps of The Carl Center as the couple departed in a vintage convertible Mustang provided by family friend Will Lott.
On the eve of the wedding, family and friends gathered at “222 Howard” for a welcome party featuring holiday cocktails and heavy hors d’oeuvres.
Following a wedding trip to New Orleans, the couple is at home in Belton, Texas, where the bride is a registered nurse, and Ramsey is an active duty Army armor officer stationed at nearby Fort Cavazos, Texas.
