Hartford - Layne (2004-06-01)
A cabin filled with red roses and candlelight set the stage for Christina Lyn Hartford's marriage proposal from Brandon Craig Layne. To commemorate that special day, the couple have chosen roses as their wedding flowers with shades of their favorite colors, purple for the bride-elect and yellow for her bridegroom, figuring predominantly in the ceremony.
Their love story began with a splash, but almost didn't happen.
"Two years ago I went to work at Dolly's Splash Country, for the second year, as a lifeguard," she wrote. Her first year there had been so much fun, she decided to return but then almost changed her mind because of the costs of commuting to Pigeon Forge from her Maryville home.
"About two weeks before the park opened, my friend decided she would go through the training and commute back and forth with me," Hartford wrote. "The first day of her training, I met Brandon."
Layne was quiet and didn't know a lot of people, Hartford wrote.
"We got talking and that's when I found out he just moved here from Kentucky to live with his dad for the summer," she wrote. "We spent the next few months getting to know each other. We found ourselves falling in love."
When summer ended, Layne returned to Kentucky, where he was attending college.
"I was miserable, I missed him and wanted to be with him," Hartford wrote. Although Layne had planned to spend a weekend visiting Hartford after three weeks of absence, plans changed.
"He called me and told he couldn't stand being away from me, and he was coming to live in Tennessee for good, with his dad," Hartford recalled. "I was so excited, I knew at that moment this is the man I would marry."
On June 1, 2003, exactly one year from their first date, at a cabin in the mountains, Layne proposed.
"When we arrived, the cabin was filled with red roses and candles," Hartford said. "Red roses have always been my favorite. After cooking me a romantic candlelight dinner, Brandon took me over to the fireplace, got down on his knee and asked me to spend the rest of my life with him. I said `yes' as he put the ring on my finger."
The couple knew they wanted a June wedding and decided on June 5.
"Picking out the flowers was easy, I love roses and they remind me of the proposal, so we chose to use them," the bride-elect wrote. Since purple and yellow are the couple's favorite colors, the maid of honor will be attired in a banana-colored dress and the bridesmaids in lilac dresses.
"I have been dreaming of my wedding day for so long, I can't believe it's almost here," Hartford wrote. "Brandon and I look forward to spending the rest of our lives together as husband and wife. We thank God for bringing us together, despite the completely different lives we had, to live forever as one."
Christina Lyn Hartford of Maryville, daughter of Wayne and Brenda Hartford of Maryville, will marry Brandon Craig Layne of Sevierville, son of Robert Jude of Sevierville and Angie Riggs of Owingsville, Ky., at 3 p.m. June 5 at First United Methodist Church, Maryville. Pastors Jerry Veach and Bill Hartford will officiate.
Nuptial music will be provided by vocalist Mary Liz Turbyfil. Deejay Jack Ryan of Knoxville will provide music at the reception.
Jennifer Hartford of Maryville will be maid of honor. Bridesmaids will be Kim Henderson, Susan Zerambo, Nikki Odom, Becky Hartford, all of Maryville, and Janie Layne of Atlanta, Ind. Flower girls will be Jennelle Thompson of New Durham, N.H., and Aubrie Politte of Rochester, N.H.
Mike Jude of Owingsville, Ky., will serve as best man. Groomsmen will be Henry Layne of Atlanta, Ind., Matt Layne of Freeburn, Ky., and Nick Hartford, Jon Hartford and Jason Fagg, all of Maryville. Cody Jude of Sevierville will be ring bearer.
A reception will begin at 4 p.m. at the Airport Hilton Hotel.
A wedding trip is planned for Maui.
The future bride is a 2001 graduate of William Blount High School. She is manager at Great American Cookie Company, Knoxville.
The future bridegroom is a 1999 graduate of Phelps High School, Phelps, Ky. He is assistant manager at Jockey International, Sevierville.
Goss - Asbury (2005 March 7)
Laura Michelle Goss is engaged to marry Brandon Shane Asbury at 4:30 p.m. May 14 at Crescent Bend, Knoxville. Friends and relatives are invited to attend.
The future bride is the daughter of Drs. Barry and Karen Goss of Knoxville. She is the granddaughter of Mary Lou Goss of Chattanooga, the late James E. Goss, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Edgar B. Cross.
The future bridegroom is the son of Eddie Asbury and Judy Wohlwend of Maryville and Connie and Mike Autrey of Dallas. He is the grandson of Ed and Evelyn Watson of Asheville, N.C., and the late Glen and Kathleen Asbury.
The bride-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Farragut high School and received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Furman University in 2001. She is a medical student at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and will graduate in 2005.
The bridegroom-to-be is a 1997 graduate of Maryville High School and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology from Maryville College in 2001. He is a medical student at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and will graduate in 2005.
Raley - Powell (2005 March 7)
Andrea Nicole Raley of Byhalia, Miss., is engaged to marry Matthew Marshall Powell of Arlington May 14 at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova. Invitations are being sent.
The future bride is the daughter of Michael and Debbie Raley of Byhalia, Miss. She is the granddaughter of James and Juanita Raley and Doris Scruggs, all of Byhalia, Miss.
The future bridegroom is the son of David and Sandy Powell of Arlington, formerly of Maryville. He is the grandson of Marshall and Velda Powell and Ray and Shirley Ledbetter, all of Walland, and is the great-grandson of Lennie Powell of Maryville.
The bride-to-be is a graduate of Gateway Christian School. She is pursuing a degree in special education at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss.
The bridegroom-to-be is also a graduate of Gateway Christian School and is pursuing a degree in social services at Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. He is serving as youth minister at Eastwood Baptist Church in Indianola, Miss.
