Mrs. Christopher J. Benson
The bride is the daughter of Steve and Diane Miller of Rome, the granddaughter of the late Jessie and Frank Minosh of Herkimer, N.Y. and the late Betty and John Miller of Rome.
The groom is the son of Carole Law of Mableton and the late Earl Benson, Jr. of Elijay, the grandson of Beatrice Warr, the late Billy Warr of Laverne, Ala., Wanda LaDuke of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and the late Glen LaDuke of Mableton, the late Betty Benson of Marietta, and the late Dr. Earl Benson, Sr. of Clayton.
Rev. Terry Huey of Wildwood Baptist Church in Kennesaw performed a double ring ceremony overlooking the serene lake surrounded by the gardens at Belle Terra.
While reciting their vows, the couple stood beneath a domed wrought iron arbor with greenery and fall colored flowers. The isles were marked with wrought iron shepherd hooks with hanging lanterns filled with fresh seasonal flowers cascading out. A program of wedding music was performed by violinists Darby and Cheryl Jones.
Pieces included “Sheep May Safely Graze,” “Pachelbel’s Canon in D,” “Wagner’s Wedding March” and “La Rejouissance” from Royal Fireworks. During the sand ceremony, Darby Jones sang “The Prayer” accompanied by her mother, Cheryl Jones on the violin.
Lindsay Williams of Alpharetta was the maid of honor. Bridesmaids included Marcella Wells of Greeneville, N.C., Jennyffer Nunez of Atlanta, and Jessica Kemp of Rome. The maid of honor and bridesmaids all wore satin empire ballgowns with illusion halters in the color of latte. The bride’s
attendants also carried an assortment of fall colored flowers. Annalyn and Elizabeth Resch of Rome were the flower girls and wore white dresses made of satin and chiffon with matching bolero jackets trimmed in white pearls with floor length A-line skirts made by their grandmother, Teresa Resch. The flower girls both carried white baskets filled with rose pedals.
The bride, given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, chose a white satin gown with a soft chiffon split overlay flowing over the front of a full A-line skirt extending into a chapel length train. The cap sleeves were highlighted by metallic embroidery that contained throughout the sculptured bodice of the gown. Her short veil was adorned by pearls and her jewelry included drop diamond earrings. She carried a bouquet of flowers grown especially for her. Her bride’s bouquet included mini orange sweet heart roses, calla lilies, dahlias, zinnias and ivy. Red hypericum berries and anitie lilies were also included. The bride’s bouquet was wrapped in white satin with her maternal grandmother’s rosary and paternal grandmother’s ring discreetly attached in their memory.
Brian Thomas of Atlanta served as best man. Groomsmen included Taylor Benson, brother of the groom of Kennesaw, Joey Guerrieri also of Kennesaw and Will Mirandy of Cartersville.
Jr. Groomsman was Carson Miller cousin of the bride. The ring bearer was Collin Miller also the cousin of the bride, both from Rome. The father of the bride, the groom and his attendants wore black tuxedos with vests and matching ties to coordinate with the bride and her attendants.
The mother of the bride wore a gold striking tapestry full-length gown. The strapless corset bodice was matched with a chiffon bolero. The mother of the Groom wore a dark colored fall suite and both mothers carried tussie mussies of sweet heart roses and hypericum berries.
Following the ceremony, guests relocated to the Conservatory of Belle Terra for the reception. The bride’s cake was four-tiered square cake with buttercream frosting topped with chocolate ganash, with layers alternating between Italian cream and white cake with strawberry filling. The cake was adorned with fresh orange calla lilies.
The grooms’ cake was a two-layered, chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting with white chocolate shavings sprinkled on top. An assortment of homemade Italian cookies were made by the bride’s aunts.
On the evening before the wedding, the rehearsal dinner, given by the Bride’s parents, was held in Hackett Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church featuring the bride’s favorite recipe, Grandma’s True-Italian Homemade Lasagna made by the bride’s parents and some of their closest friends.
Pre-nuptial parties included a couple’s shower given by Tony and Debra Miller, bride’s uncle and aunt, at their home in Rome; a miscellaneous shower given by Teresa Resch, Betty Sparks, Barbara Rees, Crista Resch, and Pam Bojo at Coosa Country Club; a shower given by the co-workers of the mother of the bride from United Community Bank; a miscellaneous shower given by the bride’s co-workers at The Department of Family and Children Services; and an “advice shower” given by Pam Gilmer at her home in Rome. A bridesmaids luncheon was held at Harvest Moon Café on the Friday before the wedding, given by Teresa Blevins and Mandy Howard.
After a wedding trip to the Riviera Maya, the couple will reside in Kennesaw.