Miss Bennett, Harrelson united in marriage

Posted: Wednesday, March 7, 2012 8:00 pm

Rebecca Colleen Bennett and Matthew Glenn Harrelson, both of the Woodlands, Texas, were recently united in marriage in an evening ceremony in the Robb Chapel of First United Methodist Church in the Woodlands.
The Rev. Rob Renfroe, pastor of the church, performed the double-ring Christian ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Michael and Jolynn Bennett of Dallas. She is the granddaughter of Virginia Bennett and the late Donald Bennett of Dallas and the late Joe and Hope Nelson of Kemp, Texas.
The groom is the son of Jim and Linda Harrelson of Union City. He is the grandson of the late Maude and W.H. McDaniel and Margaret Harrelson and the late Royal Harrelson, all of Oneonta, Ala.
Greeting the guests were program attendants Kristin DeLong of Austin, Texas, Jennifer Scott Parmara of Spring, Texas, and Kelly Unthank of Fort Worth, all cousins of the bride.
Guests were ushered down the aisle, which was lined with glass hurricanes containing ivory candles and mounted on tall poles attached to the ends of the pews. The altar area was flanked by large urns of greenery and arrangements of flowers in the same colors as the three stained glass windows behind the altar.
A prelude of classical music and hymns was presented by the church organist. The mothers entered to “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” by Bach.
The bride’s mother was attired in a full-length black taffeta skirt with shimmering pewter top featuring a ruffled neckline. A wide black sash tied in a bow at the waist completed the ensemble. The groom’s mother chose a full-length dress of purple chiffon with a beaded bodice and matching beaded jacket. Both wore wrist corsages of white dendrobium orchids and ginestra.
The wedding party entered to “Trumpet Voluntary” by Purcell.
Sarah Pearson of Dallas served as her sister’s matron of honor. The bridesmaids included Nell Ann Galindo and Natalie Johnson, both of the Woodlands, and Christie Jaster and Beth Veyna, both of Richmond, Texas, college friends of the bride. Their street-length sleeveless V-neck cream sheaths were elegant with black lace overlays. They carried nosegays that were a combination of white dendrobium orchids, ginestra and eucalyptus.
The bride’s niece, Katherine Pearson of Dallas, served as the flower girl. She wore a full-length white taffeta dress with a white organdy overlay. The empire waist was highlighted with a row of small white flowers and ruffled organdy which was repeated on her hair bow. She carried a smaller version of the bridesmaids’ nosegays.
The groom’s father served as his best man. Groomsmen were Ty Goodrich of Jackson, childhood friend of the groom; Keith Harrelson, the groom’s brother, Will Starnes and Carter Thomas, all of Birmingham, Ala.; and Christopher Selman of Columbia, S.C., Spearman Cobb of Mobile, Ala., and Matthew Bishop of Auburn, Ala., all fraternity brothers of the groom. They wore traditional black tuxedos with black bow ties.
The bride entered the chapel escorted by her father to the strains of the “Bridal Chorus” by Wagner. She wore a beautiful ivory taffeta strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. The trumpet fitted dress featured tiered asymmetrically draped layers and a chapel length train.
Sewn onto the petticoat was a piece of her grandmother’s veil. Also on the petticoat was the wedding date embroidered in blue by the groom’s mother. Her cathedral length veil was edged with scalloped lace. She carried a bouquet of white cymbidium orchids, ginestra and seeded eucalyptus.
After the bride was given away by her parents, a passage of scripture from the book of Ephesians was read by the bride’s brother-in-law, David Pearson of Dallas. Following the vows and giving of rings, the couple stepped up to the altar to receive Holy Communion.
After being presented as husband and wife, the couple recessed to the “Bridal March” by Mendelssohn.

RECEPTION
The parents of the bride hosted a reception at the Woodlands Country Club Palmer Clubhouse.
Set up in the foyer was a table with pictures of the newlyweds, their parents’ and grandparents’ wedding pictures and a large wooden “H” for the guests to sign. Also on display were the elegant beaded satin wedding shoes of the bride’s grandmother.
While the guests enjoyed drinks and hors d’ oeuvres in the foyer area, the newlyweds were having a private supper in another room. Guests were then ushered into the dining room, where the beautiful tables were prepared for seating. Each table was covered in a chocolate satin tablecloth with an overlay of an ecru cutwork tablecloth. Candlelight glowed from the lantern in the middle of each table and from surrounding votive candles.
Guests helped themselves to the delicious buffet, which included prime rib, chicken, vegetables, salads and rolls.
The bride and groom danced their first dance to “At Last” and the bride and her father danced to “My Girl,” followed by the groom and his mother dancing to “It’s a Wonderful World.” Guests continued to dance through the evening to the music of a 12-piece band.
The bride’s four-tiered vanilla cake with raspberry filling was covered with white buttercream frosting and topped with orchids and greenery similar to the bride’s bouquet. Also served were “pie bites” of coconut cream and strawberry cheesecake.
The couple left the reception through an archway of sparklers waved by the guests and departed in a golf cart decorated in tulle that was draped and tied in bows. After honeymooning in the Riviera Maya, the couple resides in the Woodlands.

REHEARSAL DINNER
On the eve of the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted the rehearsal dinner for the wedding party and out-of-town guests at the Woodlands Country Club Tournament Clubhouse.
Guests enjoyed drinks and hors d’ oeuvres and then were treated to a Tex Mex buffet. The tables were covered with white linens with lanterns and votive candles in the center.
A video of the bride and groom’s earlier years was prepared and shown by the bride’s brother-in-law, bringing back fond memories of days gone by.
A toast was proposed by the groom’s father, followed by more toasts and memories shared by various guests.

Published in The Messenger 3.7.12

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