Amanda Payne Baxter and Charles (BJ) Buchanan Bennett Jr. were married July 11 at First Baptist of St. Simons Island. The bride was given in marriage by her father Steve Baxter of Atlanta.
The bride is the daughter of Mike and Kim Newhouse of Covington and Steve Baxter of Atlanta. The groom is the son of Charles (Buck) and Joni Bennett of Brunswick.
The officiating ministers were the Rev. Jim T. Bennett III and the Rev. Richard Soper. Music was by Ann Dempsey (pianist) and Mary Gibbs (soloist).
The bride’s dress was a white, taffeta ball gown with a beaded side-draped bodice and a sweetheart neckline. The bride wore a two-tiered veil featuring a beautifully beaded scallop edge. The bride carried a classic nosegay bouquet of white mini callas, hydrangeas, stock tulips, with deep pink princess roses and bulperium greenery. The stems were wrapped in white double satin ribbon and adorned with miniature seashells. The bridesmaids each carried an arm-held bouquet of white open cut callas collared with aspidistra leaves. The stems were wrapped with deep pink sheer ribbon and secured with miniature seashells. The bell ringers carried a pomander ball of green miniature carnations and baby’s breath and were tied with white sheer streamers. They and the flower girl wore clusters of baby’s breath with white streamers in their hair barrettes.
Serving as matron of honor was Kacey Davis of Powder Springs. Bridesmaids were Vicky Alday of St. Simons Island, Carey Bird of Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Brandi Cooper of Covington, Samantha Crum (bride’s cousin) of St. Simons Island, Amina Kirk of Covington, Jaime McNamara of Savannah, Deanna Sims of Covington and Zoë Vinup of Covington. The attendants wore strapless watermelon chiffon knee-length dresses with a ruched bust and asymmetrical hem.
Lauren Bennett (groom’s cousin) served as flower girl and Victoria Baxter (bride’s niece) and Lizzie Stewart (groom’s cousin) were bell ringers.The flower girl and bell ringers wore white sundresses with natural cotton crocheted lace, trimmed with satin ribbons.
Serving as best man was Charles (Buck) Bennett (groom’s father) of Brunswick. Groomsmen were John Thomas Bennett (groom’s brother) of Brunswick, Greg Jackson of Brunswick, Charlie K. of Townsend, Cason Kinstle of Brunswick, Don Stewart (groom’s cousin) of Thomaston, Brian Turner of Darien, Jason Webster of Darien and Kevin Wheelis of Brunswick.
Rich Stewart (groom’s cousin) served as the ring bearer and Hunter Baxter (bride’s nephew) and David Baxter (bride’s nephew) were bell ringers
Before the wedding three bridal showers were hosted by Julie Love and Loraine Stoklosa and held at Color Me Happy in downtown Brunswick, at the home of Gary and Sharon Marmitt of Brunswick and at Satilla Marsh Elementary School.
The rehearsal dinner, hosted by the groom’s parents took place at Gascoigne Bluff, St. Simon’s Island, and the reception was held in the Simons Island Casino Atrium.
The couple honeymooned at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa, Safety Harbor, Fla.
