Cross-Watson vows spoken in church ceremony
Jonathan Watson of Smithville, cousin of the bridegroom, was the officiant. Leota Watson, pianist, soloist and the bridegroom’s aunt, presented a program of wedding music. Selections included “The Rose” and “The Wedding Song.”
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Pulley of Clarksville. Her grandparents are Carlene Smith Sanders and Charles E. Pulley, also of Clarksville.
The bridegroom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Morris Watson. He is the grandson of Leida Stoner and the late Clinton Stoner and the late Rev. and Mrs. F. L. Watson.
Adorning the entrance was a pine garland surrounding the handrails marked with white bows. The church doors were graced with pine garland wreaths.
Crystal Clayton, the bridegroom’s niece, attended the guest registery placed on a bronzed black antique table which also held a silver, heart-shaped framed photo of the bridal couple. An antique black lantern holding a red candle was centered among fresh magnolia and holly leaves. A wreath of pine and holly hung behind the table with red poinsettias placed underneath. A towering topiary decorated with ivy and clear twinkling lights stood beside a wall adornment that featured baby pictures of the bride and groom. Red tulle bordered the decoration which was topped with a poinsettia swag.
A table draped in white lace held a silver tray with miniature white wedding bells and programs given to the guests by Ken Clayton III, nephew of the bridegroom. Wedding programs, bound with white chiffon ribbon, displayed entwined silver hearts and the Bible verse, I John 4:18.
Candlelight from tall white tapers in pine, fir and holly-covered silver and clear glass candelabra globes cast a reflective glow on the stained glass windows. Each held a holly and pine wreath. The bridal path was marked with red poinsettias and designating honor pews were antique bronzed pew markers with red candles inside glass globes. Red and white illusion bows were accented with fresh ivy.
Central altar focus was a dimly lit oak cross suspended against a deep red velvet backdrop and flanked by two towering topiaries entwined with ivy and red holly berries. The wedding party stood before a rustic antique fence accented with ivy, magnolia and holly and outlined by pots of red poinsettias on tall white columns. White candles inside hurricane globes atop four columns were decorated with clusters of magnolia, and poinsettias were placed nearby. An antique nine-branched candelabrum was entwined with ivy.
Escorted by her eldest son and daughter, David and Lillie Cross, the bride was resplendent attired in a white silk bridal gown with a chiffon overlay. Designed with a criss-crossed plunging neckline, the dress featured tiny shoulder straps that held the X-shaped bodice and fitted waist by a satin drawstring tied at the back. Hand-beaded embroidery embellished an angel sheer chiffon shoulder sash and a demi train was attached to the flowing A-line skirt.
Her waist-length veil of silk illusion was caught to a bridal halo made of stephanotis flowerets. She wore diamond drop earrings and a diamond drop necklace, gifts from her bridegroom.
She carried a bouquet of Classic red roses with sprigs of mistletoe, frosted holly leaves and red holly berries. The stems were hand-wrapped with white satin ribbon. A red, heart-shaped antique quilt piece tucked inside was a gift from Mrs. Stoner, the bridegroom’s grandmother.
The bride’s daughter, Lillie Cross, accompanied her mother along the aisle as she carried a drop ball held by a shimmering white chiffon ribbon. It featured white roses, frosted holly leaves and sprigs of mistletoe. Her only jewelry was a heart-shaped pendant necklace. Morgan Cross, the bride’s youngest daughter, was flower girl. Both were identically attired in Christmas red tea-length gowns with asymmetrical hemlines, sweetheart necklines and sheer angel chiffon shoulder sashes. Morgan carried a white satin-covered basket from which she dropped red rose petals. The basket featured white ribbon streamers tied into love knots.
Pennie Pulley of Clarksville was her sister’s maid of honor. She wore a long asymmetrical red gown with a draped neckline accentuated by a sheer black sassy chiffon shoulder sash. She carried a bouquet of sterling silver red roses accented with mistletoe, holly and pine needle sprigs. The stems were tied with black satin ribbon.
Paul Cross, the bride’s youngest son, was ring bearer. He carried a white satin, heart-shaped pillow edged in lace and hand-sewn with lilies-of-the valley and two gold rings. Tiny white ribbons tied in love knots flowed from the pillow, which had been handmade by the bridegroom’s mother. Paul and his brother David, who had accompanied their mother, were both attired in black tuxedos with miniature boutonnieres identical to the bridegroom’s.
Dell Watson served as his brother’s best man. Ushers were Mark Kell and Phillip Roller.
The bride’s mother wore a crepe model of charcoal black styled with a flowing tea-length hemline, sweetheart neckline and capped sleeves. The bridegroom’s mother wore a tea-length crepe dress in deep red with braided trim. Both mothers wore red roses with holly berries, mistletoe and pine sprigs laced with a sterling silver mist.
Miniature white wedding bells that had been given to the guests upon arrival were rung loudly as the bridal couple left the altar.
A reception, given by the couple’s relatives, was held in the church reception hall with approximately 100 guests attending. The party area was marked by a white column holding a bouquet of two dozen red roses, baby’s breath, holly leaves and magnolia clusters. A wall adornment of red satin hearts outlined by red and white tulle bows held several childhood photos of the bride and groom. Lindsey Clayton, niece of the groom, gave the guests birdseed bags tied with red and white satin ribbons. She also distributed “thank you” scrolls from a silver tray.
The reception area was decorated with white magnolia swags against white tulle. Red linen overlaid the tables set with arrangements of white roses, ivy and holly leaves and floating white candles in three twisted silver candelabras. Cut crystal pieces encircled the base.
Upheld by white columns, the three-tiered bride’s cake was adorned with ivy and red and white roses. A white linen table skirt was pulled up at the corners and center with red and white tulle bows and trailing ivy. The bride’s table was outlined by fresh ivy wrapped around two posts. Tapers in a three-branched silver candelabra flickered as cashew nuts, heart-shaped mints and red sparkling punch with six miniature floating ice hearts were served from silver appointments.
The bridegroom’s table, overlaid in white linen, held a sheet cake depicting a green golfing range. On display was his childhood Boy Scout photo and a single red candle in a silver holder draped with clusters of crystal grapes.
Servers were aunts of the bridegroom: Imelda Redmon, Gwen Stoner, and Vickie Stoner; Kendice Stoner, his cousin; and Hope Morrow of Dallas, Texas. Assisting in various wedding preparations were the bridegroom’s sisters, Cheryl Watson Mingle and Tish DiChristina, and by his sisters-in-law, Jenny Watson and Tonya Pulley. Mark DiChristina was the videographer.
Parents of the bridegroom were hosts for a pre-wedding day dinner, also held in the church reception hall. A wedding shower had been given earlier by the bridegroom’s aunts.
The couple chose Cabo San Lucas for their honeymoon. They are residing in McMinnville.
The bride is currently a student at Motlow State Community College. She graduated in 1990 from Montgomery Central High School in Clarksville.
The bridegroom is proprietor of L & M Floors. He is a 1979 graduate from Warren County Senior High School.