Of course, I don't know whether any of this occurred, but I was surprised to find out that the announcement is still available to view on the website of a local newspaper. With that, an idea came to me to use that as the template for the renewal of wedding vows of my Buddy Wayne Barefoot and Brittany (Raylene) Spears characters.
Before I post the "happy news," I have to explain why it's a renewal.
As I wrote in The Buddy Wayne Chronicles, B.W. had already married a local (Meadow, NC) woman named Shayla McLamb. However, as he was touring the country as a musician, he met Spears, a young singer in her family's bluegrass band who wanted both professional respect and personal companionship. Buddy Wayne was so smitten by Brittany that he dumped Shayla right away and started dating Brittany. Because the Barefoot family disapproved so much of his divorce - and because Brittany was just 18 years old at the time - it was decided that the new couple would elope in Las Vegas. (This is the first picture you see here.)
But B.W. still wanted the wedding of his dreams, and wanted to bond more with Brittany. (Remember that both live separately with their families in different states, North Carolina and Kentucky respectively.) Besides, it would be quality time with their daughter, Blanton Elizabeth who everyone calls "Lizzie." So in 2013, the marriage would be re-enacted publicly at the Barefoot Family Farm. Here's the happy couple - again - and below it is the official announcement.
Brittany Raylene Spears of Beattyville, KY and Buddy Wayne Barefoot of Benson, NC, renewed their wedding vows at 2 o'clock in the afternoon on October 19, 2013, at the Barefoot Family Farm in Meadow, NC. They were originally married in Las Vegas in 2010 and are parents of a daughter, Blanton Elizabeth Spears.
Ralph Barefoot, uncle of the groom and pastor of Long Branch Church in Meadow, performed the ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Blanton Spears and Rebecca Spears of Beattyville. She is the granddaughter of Mildred McGrubb and the late John Henry McGrubb of Lee County and Breckinridge Spears and the late Amelia Spears of Beattyville.
The groom is the son of Brenda Barefoot of Benson and the special friend of Alonzo Barefoot of Meadow. He is the grandson of Rozelle Barefoot and the late Alfred E. Barefoot of Benson and Laura Raynor and the late Tommy Raynor of Benson.
The Spears Family Band provided most of the music, consisting of Brittany Spears, Blanton Spears Jr. (brother of bride), Bunch Spears (brother of bride), Bradshaw Spears (uncle of bride), Brashears Spears (uncle of bride), and Breckinridge Spears (grandfather of bride), all of Beattyville. The soloist was Bubba Brister (friend of groom) of Meadville, MS. Dancing was Bethany Spears (sister of bride) of Beattyville.
The church was decorated with the windows adorned with fall harvest leaves accented with ribbon. The altar had fall harvest leaves accented with ribbon and candelabra with purple bell flowers, white gerberas and bridal roses. The bride was given in marriage by her father.
The bride's dress was a Lillian M design. It was white satin with organza overlay and a strapless neckline. Special details included re-embroidered lace with a floral motif. The bodice was pearl and sequined covered with self-covered buttons to waist. The waistline was natural and enhanced with seed pearls and iridescent beading. It had an A-line skirt with embroidered lace of floral. Special details included motif with pearls and sequins scattered over skirt with a satin edging around the hem. The train was chapel length. The bride's bouquet was hand tied of Charlotte roses accented with white minicalla lilies.
The maid of honor was the cousin of the bride, Rachel Mullins of Lexington, KY. Bridesmaids included Kellie Jo McPooh of Booneville, KY (friend of bride), Lindsay Ratterree of Booneville (friend of bride), Brandy Barefoot of Raleigh, NC (cousin of groom), and Kimberly Strickland of Four Oaks, NC (cousin of groom). The attendants wore satin claret red colored dresses with a chiffon overlay and a small flowing train.
The flower girl was Blanton Elizabeth Spears, daughter of the bride and groom. The ring bearer was Bryson Barefoot, half-brother of the groom.
The best man was Bobby Ray Barefoot (brother of groom) of Pineville, NC. Groomsmen were Britton Barefoot (cousin of groom) of Raleigh, Brandon McLamb (friend of groom) of Plain View, NC, and Blanton Spears Jr. and Bunch Spears (brothers of bride), both of Beattyville.
Ushers were Brett Breathitt (friend of bride) of Jackson, KY, Dave Raper (friend of bride) of Lexington, KY, John William Barefoot (cousin of groom) of Meadow, NC, and Mike Johnson (friend of groom) of Smithfield, NC.
The bride's mother's dress was a champagne tea-length two-piece suit. The top was adorned in pearls and iridescent beading. Her bouquet was hand-tied nose gay of white tineke roses.
The bridegroom's mother's dress was violet tea-length two-piece suit of crushed crepe adorned with iridescent buttons. Her bouquet was hand-tied nose gay of Charlotte roses with French ribbon.
The maid of honor had a hand stein bouquet of white calla lilies, bridal roses, white miniature gerberas accented with purple bell flowers and ivory sheer ribbon. The bridesmaids had hand stein bouquets of white miniature gerberas, bridal roses, gypsophlia accented with purple bell flowers.
The reception was in the common room of Long Branch Church. Presiding at the register table was Harvey Barefoot (uncle of the groom).
Serving at the reception were Candace Peele, Ruby Elizabeth Barefoot and Bailey Rebecca Barefoot (cousins of the groom), Joshua Mullins (cousin of bride), and David Ratterree, Brianna Breathitt, and Michaelle Breathitt (friends of bride).
The couple honeymooned on a Caribbean cruise before returning to Meadow.
Ralph Barefoot, uncle of the groom and pastor of Long Branch Church in Meadow, performed the ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Blanton Spears and Rebecca Spears of Beattyville. She is the granddaughter of Mildred McGrubb and the late John Henry McGrubb of Lee County and Breckinridge Spears and the late Amelia Spears of Beattyville.
The groom is the son of Brenda Barefoot of Benson and the special friend of Alonzo Barefoot of Meadow. He is the grandson of Rozelle Barefoot and the late Alfred E. Barefoot of Benson and Laura Raynor and the late Tommy Raynor of Benson.
The Spears Family Band provided most of the music, consisting of Brittany Spears, Blanton Spears Jr. (brother of bride), Bunch Spears (brother of bride), Bradshaw Spears (uncle of bride), Brashears Spears (uncle of bride), and Breckinridge Spears (grandfather of bride), all of Beattyville. The soloist was Bubba Brister (friend of groom) of Meadville, MS. Dancing was Bethany Spears (sister of bride) of Beattyville.
The church was decorated with the windows adorned with fall harvest leaves accented with ribbon. The altar had fall harvest leaves accented with ribbon and candelabra with purple bell flowers, white gerberas and bridal roses. The bride was given in marriage by her father.
The bride's dress was a Lillian M design. It was white satin with organza overlay and a strapless neckline. Special details included re-embroidered lace with a floral motif. The bodice was pearl and sequined covered with self-covered buttons to waist. The waistline was natural and enhanced with seed pearls and iridescent beading. It had an A-line skirt with embroidered lace of floral. Special details included motif with pearls and sequins scattered over skirt with a satin edging around the hem. The train was chapel length. The bride's bouquet was hand tied of Charlotte roses accented with white minicalla lilies.
The maid of honor was the cousin of the bride, Rachel Mullins of Lexington, KY. Bridesmaids included Kellie Jo McPooh of Booneville, KY (friend of bride), Lindsay Ratterree of Booneville (friend of bride), Brandy Barefoot of Raleigh, NC (cousin of groom), and Kimberly Strickland of Four Oaks, NC (cousin of groom). The attendants wore satin claret red colored dresses with a chiffon overlay and a small flowing train.
The flower girl was Blanton Elizabeth Spears, daughter of the bride and groom. The ring bearer was Bryson Barefoot, half-brother of the groom.
The best man was Bobby Ray Barefoot (brother of groom) of Pineville, NC. Groomsmen were Britton Barefoot (cousin of groom) of Raleigh, Brandon McLamb (friend of groom) of Plain View, NC, and Blanton Spears Jr. and Bunch Spears (brothers of bride), both of Beattyville.
Ushers were Brett Breathitt (friend of bride) of Jackson, KY, Dave Raper (friend of bride) of Lexington, KY, John William Barefoot (cousin of groom) of Meadow, NC, and Mike Johnson (friend of groom) of Smithfield, NC.
The bride's mother's dress was a champagne tea-length two-piece suit. The top was adorned in pearls and iridescent beading. Her bouquet was hand-tied nose gay of white tineke roses.
The bridegroom's mother's dress was violet tea-length two-piece suit of crushed crepe adorned with iridescent buttons. Her bouquet was hand-tied nose gay of Charlotte roses with French ribbon.
The maid of honor had a hand stein bouquet of white calla lilies, bridal roses, white miniature gerberas accented with purple bell flowers and ivory sheer ribbon. The bridesmaids had hand stein bouquets of white miniature gerberas, bridal roses, gypsophlia accented with purple bell flowers.
The reception was in the common room of Long Branch Church. Presiding at the register table was Harvey Barefoot (uncle of the groom).
Serving at the reception were Candace Peele, Ruby Elizabeth Barefoot and Bailey Rebecca Barefoot (cousins of the groom), Joshua Mullins (cousin of bride), and David Ratterree, Brianna Breathitt, and Michaelle Breathitt (friends of bride).
The couple honeymooned on a Caribbean cruise before returning to Meadow.
Between the template and the above notice, I made two significant changes:
- Because B.W. has cut ties to his biological father, his great-uncle and "father figure" Alonzo replaces him in that slot.
- The Christmas garlands and greens in the real wedding were replaced by fall harvest leaves and other related accents.
Finally, the first syllable of Brianna's name is pronounced "dry" instead of the usual "free," and Michaelle's first name is pronounced as if were spelled "Mikayla" or "McKayla."
That sounds great and all of these photos are amazing. We too just got engaged secretly and would be announcing the engagement in the huge Xmas bash that we would be hosting at one of the San Francisco venues. We are super excited for this bash and are making every effort to make it special.
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