Published: April 05, 2008 01:40 am            

Weber-Bates Wedding

Mr. and Mrs. Don and Estalee Bates of Corsicana announce the marriage of their son, Sanford Scott Bates, to Shannon Dyan Weber, daughter of Debbie Clark Weber of Lewisville and Eugene and Cindy Weber of Russell, Ark. Shannon, a graduate of the University of North Teas, is a reporting specialist at Nexa Technologies in Plano. Sanford (Sandy) attended Southwestern Assembly of God University in Waxahachie and has recently accepted the worship minister position with Greywood Heights Church of God in Van Alstyne.

The couple met as members of Covenant Church of Carrollton at the Singles Element Conference in 2007. Sandy and Shannon were joined in matrimony Jan. 5, 2008 at the First Methodist Church of McKinney, a beautiful stained glass historical church in McKinney. Pastor Carnley of Maurine Street Church of God in Wichita Falls, a personal friend of Sandy’s, presided over the ceremony.

The ceremony, which took place mid-afternoon, focusing on inviting God’s presence and the blessing of their marriage, featured praise team singers and musicians from Covenant Church, led by Joe Ninowski and Melissa Sanchez, Sandy’s sister. Not wanting to take away from the beautiful tall stained glass windows and deep red carpeting, no decorations were used.

The bride wore an elegant gown by Monique Luo with a long flowing train. The A-line gown was strapless with beautifully draped three-tiered layers of embroidery ivory fabric with pearl beads to accent the embroidery. Styled by Shannon’s friend, Diane Holley of Frisco, her hair was swept up on the sides and fell in loose curls down her back under a shear ivory veil scattered with shimmering pearls. She carried a hand-tied, round, airy bouquet of lavender roses, alstromeria, limonium statice, asters, and larkspur nestled around ivory full-size roses with an ivory wrapped stem. All flowers for the ceremony and reception were designed by The Lily Pad of McKinney.

The groom wore a black, longer silhouette, four-button Perry Ellis tuxedo accented with silver vest and Euro tie, with an ivory rose and limonium boutonniere with a silver stem wrap.

Tara Bellard, Shannon’s sister, residing in Germany, served as matron of honor. Bridal attendants were Shannon Bay of Fayetteville, Ark., and Carrie Parma of Plano. They wore spaghetti-strapped, Victorian lilac, long chiffon dresses with an empire waist, and carried hand-tied mix of ivory roses with limonium with ivory-wrapped stems. The flower girl was Cambrie Cody, Shannon’s cousin, who resides with her parents in Austin. Cambrie wore a beautiful ivory satin dress, with lavender limonium in her hair, and carried ivory rose petals in an ivory satin and pearl flower basket.

Donald Thornton of Lewisville served as the best man. Groomsmen were Preston Bates, Sandy’s son, and Al Delossantos of Carrollton. The ring bearer was Levi Sanchez, Sandy’s nephew, who resides with his parents in Plano. The groom party and the father of the bride wore black, one button tuxedos with black vest and Euro tie, with an ivory rose and limonium boutonniere with a green stem wrap.

Hostesses were Jenna Geyman and Ellen Butler, and ushers were Kyle Geyman, Paul Geyman, Jacob Geyman, Rex Butler and Joe Butler, Shannon’s cousins from Dallas, Royce City, Mesquite and Waco.

Sandy escorted his mother, Estalee Bates, to light the unity candle and lead both Don and Estalee Bates to their seats. Jeff Bellard, Shannon’s brother-in-law, escorted the mother of the bride, Debbie Clark Weber, to light the unity candle and to her seat. John Cody, Shannon’s cousin, escorted the step-mother of the bride, Cindy Weber, to her seat.

The bridesmaids walked in to “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. The bride was ushered in and given away by her father, Eugene Weber, to the “Bridal March,” played on the saxophone by David Smith. Once Shannon reached the altar, Sandy surprised her by singing, “Here and Now” by Luther Vandross as the band backed him up.

Dwaine Clark, Shannon’s uncle, performed two readings; The Prayer of St. Francis by St. Francis of Assisi, and an excerpt from the movie, “When Harry Met Sally.” The bride and groom exited to “For the Rest of My Life,” by Derrick Horne.

Following the wedding ceremony, guests were invited into the church reception hall, where hors d’oeuvres by The Pantry Restaurant of McKinney were served. The reception featured a Christian contemporary band, White Chocolate of Longview, of which Sandy was once a member. The tables were covered with ivory cloths, and adorned with lavender roses and limonium wrapped with an ivory bow.

The bridal and groom cakes were created by Stephanie Fulmer, a friend of the mother of the bride. The bride’s cake was a four-layered, two-tiered, traditional butter cream cake, with piping and dots to reflect the bride’s wedding dress. In between the tier and on the dome were solid layers of lavender and purple flowers. The groom’s cake was a two-layered, German chocolate cake, with dark chocolate piping, topped with miniature music instruments and a spray of silver and black music notes and stars.

After the wedding, the bride and groom honeymooned in Playacar, Mexico, and returned to reside in Dallas.

        

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