Matthew Joel Wyatt and Anna Elizabeth Freeman were married at 6 p.m. July 26, 2008, at First Baptist Church of Vicksburg. Dr. Douglas Matthew Buckles officiated at the double-ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Josh Freeman Jr. of Vicksburg. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. William David Smith III of Houston, Miss., and Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Josh Freeman Sr. of Natchez.

The groom is the son of Susan Wyatt of Prattville, Ala., and Joe Ellwyn Wyatt of Columbia, Ala. He is the grandson of Blanche Dennis and the late Billy Eugene Dennis of Selma, Ala., and Jewel Cost Wyatt and the late Curtis Daniel Wyatt of Clanton, Ala.

Candlelit lanterns lined the church’s walkway. Two large grapevine wreaths adorned with antique iron crosses decorated the front doors. Matching iron, single candelabrums, each wrapped in grapevine and embellished with white flowers, trimmed the aisles in the sanctuary. Family pews were marked with nosegays of white hydrangeas, roses and birch twigs atop handmade antique-white-satin cones. Single, white votives outlined the altar. Two massive, all-white arrangements of roses, hydrangeas, lilies, gladioli, dendrobium orchids and belles of Ireland in antique urns framed the baptistry, which was covered in greenery and identical blossoms. Completing the altar setting were two nine-branched, antiqued candelabrums. Large hurricane globes with white tapers trimmed in black and cream ribbon streamers centered each sanctuary window.

Mrs. James Courtney Hess, organist, presented a prelude of nuptial selections, including Handel’s “Aria in F Major” and “Thanks Be to Thee” and MacDowell’s “To a Wild Rose.” The First Baptist Church handbell choir, under the direction of the Rev. Gerry Gore, presented Klein’s “Beautiful Savior.” Honor attendants were seated to Bach’s “Air from Suite No. 3,” followed by Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” for the seating of the grandmothers and mothers. Mrs. Walter Curtis Stephens of Natchez, soloist, performed Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” The bridesmaids and flower girl entered to Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring,” followed by Clarke’s “Prince of Denmark’s March.” Before the giving of the bride, Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” was sung by the congregation. Wade Douglas Stewart of Starkville, soloist, performed Chapman’s “I Will Be Here.” An a capella rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” was performed by the Legacy of Faith trio, consisting of Stewart, Chad Allen Stewart of Bartlett, Tenn., and Gregory Keith Thames of Ellisville. The recessional was Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March.”

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a designer gown of Italian satin featuring a combination of pearl and café. Metallic embroidery detailed with crystals, bugle beads and seed pearls embellished the strapless bodice with layered cummerbund. The full skirt extended into a cathedral train, which featured box pleating, satin-covered buttons and Swarovski crystals.

Her cathedral-length veil, attached to a crystal tiara, consisted of a layer of silk illusion edged with beading.

She carried four dozen large, cream Vendela roses handtied with a handkerchief belonging to her maternal great-grandmother.

Maid of honor was Lana Claire Freeman, sister of the bride, of Oxford. Bridesmaids were Shelton Windham Maddox of Richardson, Texas; Brynna Clark Cool of Omaha, Neb.; Gayle Latham Goudelock of Atlanta; Jessica Leigh Dennis of Tupelo; Ann Ostenson Seale of Jackson; Nicole Guy Moore of Oxford; and Sommer Smith Armstrong of Saltillo.

Bridesmaids wore strapless, black-satin ballgowns with pick-up detailing in the skirt and matching sashes at the waist. They each carried handtied arrangements of cream hydrangeas and Vendela roses.

Flower girl was Carrie Hinson Dennis of Selma. She wore a sleeveless, tea-length dress of ivory organza accented in a black-satin sash. She wore a halo of baby’s breath and white sweetheart roses. She scattered rose petals from a cream-moiré satin basket.

Honor attendants were Samantha Polly Smith of Paducah, Ky., and Avery Lynn Liddell, Shelby Claire Liddell, Lindsey Frances Blackledge and Laura Anderson Blackledge, all of Vicksburg. They each carried a single, cream hydrangea handtied with a satin ribbon.

Paul Marion Mooney of Canton served as best man. Groomsmen were Bradley Shaun James of Spruce Pine, Ala.; Patrick Russell Whatley of Weumpka, Ala.; Gregory Keith Thames of Ellisville; Wade Douglas Stewart of Starkville; Crowell Chadwick Armstrong of Saltillo; Robert Dale Morgan Jr. of Starkville; and Chad Allen Stewart of Bartlett.

Ushers were Joseph Lane Campbell and Cory Richard Castle, both of Oxford; William Francis Campbell of Ridgeland; Matthew Dunagin Campbell of Vicksburg; and Ryan Adam Smith of Paducah.

Beth Ann Sullender of Vicksburg served as the bride’s proxy.

Special wedding assistants were Mrs. Robert Erwin Oakman and Mrs. David Joe Boolos, both of Vicksburg. Additional assistants were Mr. and Mrs. David Chaney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles McKinney, Mrs. Daniel Edney, Mrs. Michael Humphries, Mrs. Walter Hallberg, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Tankersley, David Joe Boolos, Mr. and Mrs. David Blackledge, Mrs. Frank Campbell and Mr. and Mrs. Scotty Swillie, all of Vicksburg; and Mrs. Terry Dunn, Carla Ann Dunn, Cami Dunn and Mrs. Hugh Josh Freeman Sr., all of Natchez.

Greeters were Mr. and Mrs. Vastine Charles Ahlrich, Mr. and Mrs. William Fred Baldwin and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Key Woods.

The bride’s mother wore a sleeveless, floor-length gown of champagne satin with a gathered bodice and full skirt. Her matching jacket was edged with seed pearls.

The groom’s mother wore a two-piece, floor-length dress of gold organza. The matching jacket was complemented with a jeweled clasp.

Both mothers carried handtied nosegays of cream roses.

A reception followed at the B’nai B’rith Literary Club.

The foyer table held a collection of Ole Miss and Mississippi State items. Personalized mints from each university were distributed as favors.

A mahogany table under the staircase featured a silver urn atop an antique platter holding ivory rose petals and monogrammed cups. Swags of magnolia and grapevine trailed the staircase banister.

The guest table on the mezzanine level was centered with a large, cream-colored urn of gladioli, hydrangeas, roses, belles of Ireland, stock and dendrobium orchids.

The antique buffet table, positioned along a mirrored wall in the ballroom, was topped with a gold runner and held two candelabrums entwined with grapevine and a single pheasant feather. The center arrangement, surrounded by moss and vine balls, consisted of curly willow, pheasant feather, magnolia and forsythia in a massive glass cylinder.

Guest tables, topped with gold runners, were centered with arrangements including white hydrangeas and roses uplighted by submersed votive candles.

Centering the room was a huge, lighted ice block displaying assorted canapés. 

A beverage station was set up along the landing area. Citrus punch was served from a silver bowl “suspended” over a bed of oranges. A clear table placed over fresh peaches held peach iced tea in a cut-glass apothecary server. Champagne flutes were displayed on an acrylic table above puddles of golden silk and twinkling lights.

The bride’s four-tiered, traditional white cake was covered in buttercream frosting and accented on each tier with handmade fondant pearls and antique-white-satin ribbon. The confection, adorned on top with a gold W monogram, was presented on an antique silver plateau.

The groom’s three-tiered chocolate cake, frosted in chocolate buttercream, featured the Mississippi State University logo. Tuxedo strawberries dipped in white chocolate accented the confection. The groom’s MSU football helmet and other Bulldog memorabilia completed the table.

Guests were entertained with music by Riverwind.

The bride, a former University of Mississippi homecoming queen, arranged a surprise visit from Colonel Reb for the groom, a former MSU quarterback.

For a wedding trip to Amelia Island in the Atlantic, the couple departed in a flurry of ivory-silk rose petals.

They will make their home in Tupelo. The bride is an anchor/reporter/producer for WTVA in Tupelo. The groom is a sports director and executive accountant for the Mississippi Radio Group. He is also a staff writer for bulldawgjunction.com and a football analyst for Comcast Sports South Television.

Rehearsal dinner

The wedding party and families were honored by the groom’s family with a rehearsal dinner on the eve of the wedding at the Bryn Rose Inn.

Bridesmaids’ luncheon

On the day before the wedding, a bridesmaids’ luncheon was held at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Bervin Windham. Assisting in hosting were Suzanne Latham, Mrs. Louis Guy, Mrs. Thomas Ostenson and Mrs. Larry Edmond Clark. The bride chose this time to present gifts to her attendants. Special guests were the bride’s grandmothers, great-aunt and family and friends.

Bachelorette party

The bride was honored by her attendants and close friends with a bachelorette weekend in Nashville, Tenn.

Luncheon

Martha Ann May Klaus hosted a luncheon for the bride at her home. Special guests were the bride’s grandmothers, great-aunt and close family and friends.

Announcement party

The couple was honored with an announcement party at Cedars by the Lake, home of Dr. and Mrs. Stanley Randall Easterling. Co-hosts were Mr. and Mrs. David Blackledge, Mr. and Mrs. Woody Brumitt, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Burnett, Mrs. Frank Campbell, Mr. and Mrs. David Chaney, Dr. and Mrs. Martin Chaney, Dr. and Mrs. Al Cofrancesco, Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Cooksey, Buddy Dees, Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Edney, Mr. and Mrs. Tripp Farris, Linda Feibelman, Dr. Janet Fisher, Mr. and Mrs. Dwayne Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Grogan, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Holland, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Hudspeth, Mr. and Mrs. John Wayne Jabour, Mr. and Mrs. John Kamman, Dr. and Mrs. Tim Kerut, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Leech, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Mendrop, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Lee, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Liddell, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Markle, Mr. and Mrs. James May, Mr. and Mrs. David McDonald, Mr. and Mrs. Charles McKinney, Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Mims, Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. George Nasif, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Oakman, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pettway, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Robinson, Mr. and Mrs. Randy Shelton, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Shelton, Dr. Debbie Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Strong, Mr. and Mrs. Scotty Swillie, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Tankersley, Mr. and Mrs. Don Thames and Dr. and Mrs. Jimmy Vessell.

Showers

Mrs. Robert Burke, Candace Logue and Mrs. Charles Tolliver hosted a miscellaneous shower for the bride at the Tolliver home. Special guest was the bride’s maternal grandmother.

Friends at WTVA in Tupelo honored the bride and groom with a miscellaneous shower at the television studio. Special guests were the bride’s maternal grandparents.

Jessica Leigh Dennis hosted a miscellaneous shower for the bride at her Tupelo home.

The bride was honored with a miscellaneous shower at First Baptist Church. Hostesses were Mrs. V.C. Ahlrich, Mrs. David Baldwin, Mrs. Fred Baldwin, Mrs. Dennis Chipley, Mrs. Charles Crowther, Mrs. Larry Daggett, Mrs. Ralph Frisbee, Mrs. Walter Hallberg, Mrs. Keith Matthews, Mrs. Randy Oswalt, Mrs. Robert Peters, Mrs. Kerry Pitts, Mrs. Will Poe, Mrs. Ernest Thomas, Mrs. Gary Williams and Mrs. Harry Woods.