Neely Estelle Davis of Rome and Bradford Hunt Thornton of Augusta were married at 5 p.m. Saturday June 3, 2006, at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta.
The bride is the daughter of Clyde Randy Davis and Tamara Grissom Davis, both of Rome. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Relas Davis of Rome, Mary John Grissom of Kennesaw and the late Robert Lee Grissom.
The groom is the son of James Carleton Vaughn Jr., Billie Leigh Vaughn, Dr. John William Thornton III and Kathy Baynham Thornton. He is the grandson of Betsy Holding of Wake Forest, N.C., the late William Holding, Eloise Thornton of Raleigh, N.C., and the late John William Thornton Jr.
Chuck Roberts of Atlanta performed the wedding.
A program of wedding music was provided by organist Nick Bowden and harpist Julie Anderson. Selections included “Gabriel’s Oboe” by Ennio Morricone, “Aria in Classic Style” by Marcel Grandjang, “Trumpet Voluntary” by Clarke and “Toccata” from “Symphony No. 5” by Widor.
Greeters were Ellene Noell Craig of Augusta and Virginal Marie Smith of Charleston, S.C.
Emily Ruth Bickel of Boston, Mass., and Katerine Amanda Soltesz of Pittsburgh, Pa., were maids of honor. Bridesmaids were Andrea Kristen Cescutti, cousin of the bride, and Laura Katherine Collier, both of Rome, Lindsay Frances McDonald of Birmingham, cousin of the bride, Vangelia Andrea Morris of Atlanta, Charlotte Leigh Thornton of Augusta and Virginia Elizabeth Leigh Thornton of Athens, both sisters of the groom, Susan Rochelle Ungerleider of Raleigh and Valerie Evelyn Woods of Macon.
Attendants wore gowns of kiwi and aqua double-faced taffeta. The bodices featured V-necks in front and back which wrapped to form a sash. The A-line skirts ended in trains. Each wore earrings of aqua crystal and kiwi stone, presents frome the bride. They carried bouquets of miniature pink Calla lilies, pink cymbidium orchids and pink hypericum berry gathered and wrapped in aquamarine organza ribbon.
Taylor Montooth of Woodstock, cousin of the bride, was flower girl.
The bride wore a gown of ivory and champagne silk-faced satin. The modified sweetheart neckline was bordered with encrusted pearls and Austrian crystals which encircled the bodice to the lower scooped backline. A champagne silk satin cummerbund was worn empire-style and fell to a Windsor knot down the back of the gown. Streamers of champagne silk satin fell over the full-length chapel train. The ends of the streamers were encrusted with the crystal and pearl pattern of the bodice. The full-length skirt of ivory silk satin fell gracefully to the floor. The bride carried a bouquet of kiwi green cymbidium orchids and champagne roses gathered and wrapped in antique ivory satin ribbon pinned with pearls.
The father of the groom was best man. Groomsmen were Robert Trent Davis of Atlanta, brother of the bride, John William Nixon III, William Millwee Owens, Jason Trey Smith, Andrew Holding Thornton, brother of the groom, and John William Thornton IV, brother of the groom, all of Augusta, Brian James Thorstad of Knoxville, Tenn., and Seth Thompson Wylie of Orlando, Fla.
John William Thornton V of Augusta, nephew of the groom, was ring bearer.
The mother of the bride wore a strapless gown in shades of ivory and taupe. The hand-beaded bustier was adorned with ribbon and crystals. The skirt was layered with petals of European Gazar of sandy taupe. The mother of the groom wore a gown of sapphire silk-taffeta. The strapless bodice was ruched to the waistline. The straight skirt featured a diagonal effect that was also ruched to the trumpet train of the gown. A large antique broach was worn at the lower waistline. The mothers carried bouquets of champagne roses and the grandmothers were presented with champagne rose corsages.
Following the wedding, a reception was held at The Buckhead Club Garden Atrium.
The evening before the wedding, the parents of the groom hosted a rehearsal dinner at the Buckhead Club.
Other pre-nuptial parties included an announcement party hosted by Mr. and Mrs. George Abrams, Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Adams, Pat Brotherton, Dr. and Mrs. Billy Burk, Ruthie Decker, Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Dudley, Mr. and Mrs. Tommy Gates, Mr. and Mrs. John Ivester, Judye Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Nunnelly, Tricia Richards, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Roberts, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Sidwell, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Smith, Mr. and Mrs. John Ware and Mr. and Mrs. Sid Wright; a kitchen and recipe shower and brunch at Coosa Country Club hosted by Laura and Jane Gray Collier, Megan Watters and Pam Gates, Vann and Annette Morris, Ivy and Rena Patton, Ginny and Nancy Smith and Valerie and Christina Woods; a cocktail buffet at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill Andrews in Wake Forest hosted by the groom’s family; a bridal shower hosted by Tanise Nicholson and Cathi Cescutti at the Nicholson home; a miscellaneous shower hosted by Valerie Woods and Noell Craig at the Craig home in Augusta; and a bridal shower at Silver Creek Presbyterian Church hosted by Carol Wright, Sue Hastings and Janet Farr.
Following a wedding trip to the Riviera Maya, the couple will reside in Atlanta.
