Clara Elizabeth Tucker and Austin Price Watts were wed in The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony June 1, at Saint Richard Of Chinchester Catholic Church. Celebrant was Father Andrew Bowden. The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. James Martin Tucker of Jackson. She is the granddaughter of Lola Smith and the late William Clifton Smith Jr. of Jackson and Mr. and Mrs. Kelly Tucker of Aberdeen.
The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Austin Watts Jr. of Brookhaven. He is the grandson of Nan Noble and the late Rufus Watson Noble of Brookhaven and Nell Watts and the late Lee Austin Watts Sr. of Schlater. The mothers and grandmothers carried white petite clutch bouquets of garden and spray roses, lisianthus and stock.
Given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a couture ivory satin gown featuring an asymmetrical neckline with a ruched waistline accented with a jeweled belt. With covered buttons cascading down the back of the gown, the fit and flare silhouette fell into a chapel length train. A sweeping cathedral length detachable train was added for the wedding ceremony. A cathedral length veil trimmed with crystals and pearls completed the bride’s ensemble.
She carried a hand tied formal bouquet of southern hydrangea, peonies, lisianthus and garden roses in pastel hues highlighting the colors of her bridesmaids’ dresses.
Sisters of honor were Dr. Ann Robin Tucker, Dr. Mary Grace Tucker Sessums and Sarah Martin Tucker Maxwell. Bridesmaids were Katherine Kennedy Denny, Julia Markow Eaves, Katherine Rivers Graves, Madeline Lawo Magness, Ashley Anne McDonald, Mary Landrum Pyron, Emily Turbeville Thompson, Marlee Parker Watts, Stephanie Nicole Weiss, and Sarah Michele Woodruff. They wore personally selected floor length pastel gowns and carried clutch bouquets of peonies, garden roses, lisianthus, stock and dwarf hydrangeas in various shades of white.
Lee Austin Watts was best man. Groomsmen were Buckner Anderson Corso, Steven Caleb Dorman, Alan Noble Gray, Alexander Barrett Gray, William Hunt Hensley, Joseph Carlisle Hurt, Benjamin Bogy Lane, Thomas Gray Manhein, James Sanford Love Moore, Wallis Graham Williams and Patrick Covington Valentine. Honorary groomsman was Jacob Madison Baker. Ushers were Blake Sanford Hobbs, Justin Lyle Hobbs, William Archer Hodges, and Andrew Olin Karban. The groomsmen and ushers wore traditional boutonnieres of stephanotis backed with ming fern and wrapped in sage satin.
Wedding attendants were Kelsey Pettus Berry, Michelle Ley Gobbell and Alexandra Calhoon Miller. Proxy bride was Pauline Causey Hensley. Wearing a french handsewn dress made for the bride in 1996 by the bride’s mother, Marie Kelly Maxwell served as honorary flower girl. Honorary ring bearer was Neal Tucker Sessums.
Nuptial music as presented by Jeanette Sudderth, organist and Ann Boswess Carlson, soloist. Paul John Salvo served as lector.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at The Country Club of Jackson. As guests entered the reception foyer, they were greeted with suspended pastel parasols over a floral arrangement. The bar offerings included Lemon Drop martinis poured through a “W” ice sculpture. The dance floor also featured a monogram“W” and summer pastel parasols. The bride’s traditional five layer almond cake was adorned with piping around each layer. The groom’s three layer red velvet cake was decorated with chocolate covered strawberries.
For her going away ensemble, the bride wore her mother’s vintage 1984 Frances Pepper wedding gown. The couple departed the reception to cheers of Hotty Toddy and glittering sparklers to an awaiting1951 Mercury.
On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom’s parents hosted a seated rehearsal dinner at the Mississippi Museum of Art. A wedding day salon party for the bride and her bridesmaids was held at The Country Club of Jackson. Following their honeymoon trip to Turks and Caicos, the couple is at home in Jackson.
