Long-Turner vows spoken at Rock Island park
While exchanging nuptial vows by the river, the couple stood before a wrought iron arch which had been made by the bridegroom. It was decorated with strands of pink roses and greenery and also served as the unity candle stand.
The bride is the daughter of Benjamin and Donna Long of Apison and granddaughter of Gwen and Melvin Smith of Ooltewah and the late Hubert and Edna Long.
Parents of the bridegroom are Steve and Linda Turner. He is the grandson of Fay Harris of McMinnville and the late Bobby Harris.
Bill Speight was the officiant for the 6 o’clock ceremony.
The bride, given in marriage by her parents, was attired in a white bridal gown fashioned with a satin corset-style bodice embellished with beads, and Alencon lace motifs on a tulle skirt.
Her waist-length veil of silk illusion was attached to a pearl-beaded comb. She carried a bouquet of pink roses, carnations, calla lilies and other flowers with the long stems hand-wrapped in satin ribbon.
Lowell Lawson, uncle of the bride, prepared all the bouquets and floral arrangements for the wedding.
Matrons of honor were Denise Dykes of Nashville and Jennifer Corvin of Chattanooga. Bridesmaids were Jessica Reed, Hendersonville; Kristina Coombs, Floral Park, N.Y.; Mindy Curtis, the bridegroom’s sister of McMinnville; and Gretchen Hamill, Chattanooga.
They wore pink floral frocks styled with capped sleeves and a knee-length hemline. Each attendant carried a nosegay of one type flower selected from the combination creating the bride’s bouquet.
Kelsi Priest was flower girl.
Men attending the bridegroom were Antonio Garza, McMinnville; Michael Parsley, Centertown; Brent Tinker, Ider, Ala.; Geep Wade, Franklin; Nick Bridges, Rome, Ga., and Caleb Long, Chattanooga.
A wedding dinner was served at the park immediately after the ceremony with approximately 230 guests in attendance. The white wedding tent was decorated in pink and white using miniature lights, flowers, candles, tulle and ribbon.
The main course included roast beef and gravy, ham, hash brown casserole and green beans. Served later were sausage balls, pigs in a blanket, cheese and salsa dip.
The bride’s tiered cake was accented with pink roses and the bridegroom’s all chocolate cake was a triple heart-shaped confection.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Playacar, Mexico and are now residing in Rock Island.
The bride is an eighth-grade teacher at Warren County Middle School, where she also coaches girls’ soccer. She graduated from Ooltewah High School in 1997 and earned a bachelor’s degree in special education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She is pursuing a master’s degree in instructional leadership from Tennessee Tech University.
A teacher at Warren County High School, Mr. Turner is also head coach for the wrestling team and assistant football coach. After graduating from WCHS in 1997, he received a bachelor’s degree in special education from UTC.