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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 31, 2018)
Everything keyed off the bride’s luscious color scheme of coral, gold, browns and creams with a bit of turquoise. A French wine of choice for the occasion was a blush called “Notorious Pink” that proved a hit with guests. Stephanie’s strapless, full-length wedding dress came from ‘Adorned in Grace,” which sells donated bridal gowns; the profits go to help women involved in sex trafficking. “They have beautiful dresses,” she breathes. “And they’re a quarter of the usual price.” After a few alterations and a new veil, Stephanie looked a vision in her ivory-colored gown with gold embroidery on the bodice. Aside from the bride’s dress, though, casual” was the watchword at this wedding. The bride’s attendants wore sleeveless, Coral-colored knee-length frocks; and the groomsmen sported blue jeans, short-sleeved white shirts and brown vests. On a whimsical note, the entire wedding party wore cowboy boots. Vendors that rocked DJ Nathan Ralston, out of the Nehalem/Tillamook area, furnished all the music, a mix of today’s hits and country music. The bride walked down the aisle on her dad’s arm to Sara Bareilles’ “I Choose You.” The Zac Brown Band’s “You Make Lovin’ You Easy” played as the new marrieds walked back up the aisle to join their guests. They danced their first dance as man and wife to George Strait’s “Give It All We Got Tonight.” Sammich Productions had been hired to video-tape this wedding, coming out the day before with a drone. “What they did was really cool, says Stephanie. “ I wanted people to see the love between Tom and I. “(The video) did this; and it really takes you back.” The wedding Five bridesmaids and a matron of honor, five groomsmen (including two of the bride’s brothers) and a best man made up the wedding party. Stephanie’s middle brother Aaron, 25, a youth minister, acted as the couple’s officiant, which meant a great deal. In another sweet touch—and there were so many--Tom’s niece and nephew Addysen and Wyatt Davidson, ages five and four respectively, pulled one - year old Hadlie Hodges, who’s going on two, down the aisle in a decorated wagon as part of the wedding procession. As roughly 220 guests looked on, Tom and Stephanie were married. They’d written their own vows— Stephanie, up to her usual tricks ribbed Tom about the brevity of his very public declaration, saying jokingly,” Is that all you’ve got?” In this wedding, there were many such “moments of laughter and love,” as Stephanie calls them-- things that remain in one’s heart for a lifetime! Congratulations Tom and Stephanie. May your love for each other sustain and keep you. COASTAL WEDDINGS 2018 5
