Lauren Elizabeth Roberts and Robert Benjamin Ledford were married on July 22, 2017 at 6:30pm at The Depot on Bradley, in Carrollton, Georgia. The marriage was performed by the bride’s aunt, Carla Roberts Pryor of Brunswick, Georgia.
The Train Depot opened its doors to the public in 2013 with a complete renovation and has become the perfect wedding venue for those couples wanting a fun and unique backdrop to celebrate with friends and family.
The mother’s processional began to the instrumental version of Gone With the Wind. So very appropriate for this Southern Wedding. Mrs. Peter Roberts, the mother of the bride was the last to be escorted in and mark the entrance of the wedding party.
Next came the groom, Robert, with his best man and groomsmen, following behind me in order, as was practiced at the rehearsal on the evening before.
Robert was as handsome as ever, dressed in a formal black suit with a black satin vest, black long sleeve shirt, and maroon tie. His groomsmen wore formal black suits with matte black vests and white long sleeve shirts. each one wore a different tie of pink, gray, black, or plaid.
The 7 bridesmaids all wore floor length gowns of steel grey chiffon by Azazie.com. Each dress style was different, and specifically chosen by the bridesmaid.
The Roberts-Ledford Wedding Party 7-22-2017
After the mothers were seated and the Groomsmen were standing in place, the bridesmaids began their descention from the top of the staircase. Each bridesmaid was perfectly poised as they took their place, forming the remaining half of the wedding party layout and the signal that the Bride’s Procession was to begin.
The plan was for the father of the bride, Pete, to wait for Lauren at the bottom of the staircase. She would descend the staircase and take her dad’s arm and proceed down the aisle together. Except, she was not there. We waited a few more seconds and still no Lauren. I looked to Kirsten, mother of the bride with questioning eyes, wondering if everything was ok. She looked back at me with the same questioning eyes. All the guests were looking around and wondering what may have happened. At that point, Pete decided to go up the stairs to retrieve Lauren. And there she was! Of course everyone knows that a real princess may take as long as she wishes! A beautiful princess in every form of the word and ready to marry her prince.
Pete and Lauren stood together at the top of the staircase, as Father and Daughter. It was perfectly clear. Lauren was indeed a princess as she held her dad’s arm and descended the staircase. I directed the guests to stand and the two proceeded down the staircase and down the aisle to meet her groom.
I suddenly felt my emotions coming to the surface. I’m such a romantic anyway, but to see my brother and his daughter, both of whom I love dearly, taking this important step in life, was overwhelming. I took deep breaths and blinked back the tears and composed myself as they stepped forward together, facing me.
“Who presents this woman to marry this man?”, I asked.
“Her mother and I.”, Pete responded.
And so the ceremony began. I had written the ceremony especially for Lauren and Robert and felt it had a good message I wanted to relay to them, as well as the guests. All the while, I could feel my emotions right on the surface, so it was a constant battle to keep them in check. I do an excess of 100 ceremonies a year and I am rarely, if ever emotional, so what is this going on with me?
They said their vows to each other, exchanged rings, and received a blessing. I began to pronounce them when my voice began to break and the tears started to flow. I looked at the congregation of guests and they were all in tears, as well. I spoke through the tears and pronounced them husband and wife together. Everyone cheered as they kissed and took each other’s arm to begin the recessional.
Lauren was truly a princess on her wedding day and Robert was her prince. I saw it with my own eyes. Yes, she has always been beautiful beyond words, but on her wedding day, she was a princess. Her fair, porcelain skin and blue eyes along with her natural blonde curly hair was that of a princess.
Lauren wore an A-line silhouette, WTOO strapless, soft net wedding dress with a beaded Cybele lace bodice and a deep sweetheart neckline. The neckline had a sheer modesty inset and eyelash trimmed scalloped edges, mirrored on the waistline and semi-open back with a lined, layered skirt in Latte and a Latte Smoke lace and netting sweep train. It’s what a princess would wear to the ball. She held a bouquet of exquisitely designed and cut paper flowers of asters, peonies, carnations, and dahlias, of white, light and dark pinks, light and dark greys, and maroon, with mint leaves and adorned with white pearlized sprigs, made by Ruby and Cosette, an Etsy designer. Pinned to the bouquet was a blue handerchief, originally owned by Lauren’s maternal great grandmother, the late Mrs. Addie Godbee, formerly of Crawfordville, Georgia, and was also carried by Lauren’s mother, Mrs. Peter Roberts, in her wedding. This completed the something old and something borrowed tradition. The bridesmaids held a similar bouquet, as well, while the groom and groomsmen wore a paper carnation boutonniere.
The wedding Party
The bride chose as her maid of honor, her sister Megan Leigh Roberts and matron of honor, Amber Teel. Bridesmaids were Lindsay Caldwell, Katelyn Witta, Sarah Manter, and twin sisters of the groom, Callie and Caitlyn Ledford.
Megan Roberts, Maid of Honor, and sister of bride, Lauren
Amber Teel, Matron of Honor and best friend of the bride, and Lauren.
Callie and Caitlin Ledford, bridesmaids and sisters of the Groom
Bridesmaids
The groom chose as his best man, Matt Seal, and groomsmen, Ryan Ledford, Adrian Mendes, and Marques Garrett. Ushers were the bride’s cousins, Nathaniel and Jarod Burt.
Nathaniel, Albert, and Jarod Burt
Lauren is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Carlton Roberts of Fayetteville, Georgia. She is the maternal granddaughter of Mrs. Patsy Webb of Crawfordville, Georgia and the late Jimmy Webb, formerly of Elberton, Georgia; and the paternal granddaughter of the late Mr and Mrs. Carlton T. Roberts, formerly of Gray, Georgia.
Robert is the son of Mrs. Cathy Benson of Ambrose, Georgia and step father Billy Benson; his father, Mr. Brett Ledford of Fayetteville, Georgia and stepmom, Mrs. Pam Ledford. He is the paternal grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Benny Ledford; the maternal step grandson of Mrs. Janie Martin of Fayetteville, Georgia.
Robert and Pam
Out of town family members in attendance were the bride’s maternal aunt, Mrs. Ginny Webb Burt and husband, Albert of Fayetteville, Georgia; paternal aunt, Mrs. Pam Roberts Leonard and husband Jim from Williamsburg, Virginia; paternal aunt, Mrs. Carla Roberts Pryor and husband, Minor of Brunswick, Georgia; maternal cousins, Jarod and Nathaniel Burt of Fayetteville, Georgia; paternal cousins, Mrs. Anne Leonard Walker and husband, Matt Walker, and daughters, Lyla and Rosie Hale of Villa Rica, Georgia; Ms. Emilie Leonard MacIntosh and daughters, Caitlyn and Elizabeth MacIntosh of Greenville, South Carolina; Ms. Kate Pryor Lehman and son Ryan Lehman of Brunswick, Georgia; a host of many friends and relatives.
Carla Roberts Pryor and Pam Roberts Leonard
Carla Roberts and Pete Roberts
Pete and Kirsten with Dennis Thompson
Cousins of the bride, Caitlin, Emilie, and Elizabeth Leonard
Rosie, Lyla, Matt, Anne, Pam,
Nathaniel And Jarod Burt, ushers and cousins to the bride. And Patsy Webb, maternal grandmother of the bride.
Albert and Ginny Burt
The cocktail hour followed immediately after the ceremony with the couple’s introduction into the reception. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ledford danced the first dance of their marriage to Crazy Girl by Eli Young Band. The Father-Daughter dance came next with Lauren and Pete dancing to a special recording by Pete on guitar of “I Want it That Way”. This was a song that Pete played to his girls when they were little. The Mother-Son dance started with Robert and his Mother, Cathy, and ended with Robert and his step mom, Pam.
Drinks and appetizers were enjoyed by everyone and dinner was served shortly thereafter. Music, dancing, and fun commenced while the cake was cut, and the bouquet and garter were both tossed. Megan Roberts, sister of the bride, and maid of honor, caught the bouquet.
Table centerpieces were designed and beautifully arranged by Kirsten Roberts and lifelong friend, Whitney Walker. They were antique and unique bottles painted in gloss pink, chalk grey, dark grey, and matte maroon, along with milk glass. The bottles were arranged on a glass platter filled with chocolate kisses with love stickers on the bottom from Lauren and Robert. The bottle vases held long stem paper flowers to match the bouquets.
Wedding favors were small jars of homemade jellies of Strawberry, Butter Peach, Apple Butter, and Lemon Ginger Marmalade flavors by Georgia Jams of Griffin, Georgia. Each jar was adorned with a wooden spoon tied to the side, marking the flavor.
The couple exited the Bradley Street Depot at 10pm amid cheers and sparkles from the guests. After a honeymoon trip to Charleston, South Carolina, the couple will make their home in Peachtree City, Georgia.
Wedding Vendors:
Venue: The Depot on Bradley
Photography: Forever Captured by Dionis
Officiant: Carla Roberts Pryor, St. Simons Elopements
Catering: The Bountiful Basket, LLC
DJ: Scott Stillman
Florals: Ruby and Cosette
Baker: Cutie Pies and Cakery
Rentals: Tableclothsfactory.com
Groomsmen Suits: Mens Wearhouse
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Wedding Gown Designer: Watters Wtoo Bridal
Wedding Gown: J. Andrews Bridal, Peachtree City
Hair: Katelyn Witta at A Shane Buffkin Salon
Make Up: Amber Teel
Jelly Favors: Georgia Jams
Lodging: Courtyard by Marriott, Carrollton, GA
By: Carla Roberts Pryor
https://www.stsimonselopements.com
stsimonselopements@yahoo.com
St. Simons Elopements 