Mrs. Matthew Gregory Claytor
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Burkhalter of Silver Creek. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ingram also of Silver Creek and the late Mr. And Mrs. Paul Burkhalter.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Claytor of Armuchee. He is the grandson of Cathy Arthur of Armuchee, Joyce Brand of Rome and Mr. and Mrs. James Stewart of Armuchee.
The double ring ceremony was performed by Dr. Philip May. The outdoor chapel was decorated with variegated pottisporum and tree fern filled with white roses, white stock and curly willow. The family pews were adorned with ivory tulle bows while other pews were marked with jars containing ivory hydrangea and tree fern.
Instrumental music was provided by guitarist Wes Rampley prior to the ceremony and included “Come Thou Fount” and “How Deep the Father’s Love.” The prelude, “How Beautiful”, was sung by Mrs. Bonnie Clark. Other selections included “Blessed Assurance” sung by Rampley and “In Christ Alone” sung by Trevor Roberts. Selections also included “Butterfly Waltz,” “Canon in D” and “Would You Go With Me?”
The bride, given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, chose an oyster luxe taffeta gown with an ivory lace overlay with gold accents. The fitted trumpet style dress featured a sweetheart neckline which was covered with lace straps that came together to highlight the open butterfly back that flowed into the chapel length train. She carried a hand-tied bouquet of white Polo roses, Picasso calla lilies, white freesia, white stock and green hydrangea. She also wore her great- great grandmother’s wedding band which was also worn by her mother at her wedding.
Amanda Burkhalter Fincher, sister of the bride, was the maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Sara Burkhalter, sister of the bride, Kendall Roberts, Whitney Broome and Jessica Beam of Silver Creek, Jennifer Bruce of Auburn, Ala., Megan Huffman of Woodstock, and Jessica Donehoo of Carrollton. They wore taupe chiffon dresses with one shoulder strap. The natural waist was fitted and the full A-line skirt fell to the knee. They each wore matching pearl earrings and bracelets which were gifts of the bride. They carried hand tied bouquets of white Polar Star roses, purple and white stock, purple Cool Water roses and green buttons.
The flower girl was AnnElise Mitchell of Armuchee. She wore an ivory chiffon sleeveless dress with rosettes along the neckline and carried a burlap lined pail with ivory petals.
Greg Claytor, father of the groom, and Josh Claytor of Acworth, cousin of the groom, were the best men. Groomsmen were Ben Claytor, brother of the groom, of Armuchee, Phillip Storey of Athens, Cole Fannin of Carrollton, Heath Patterson of Chattanooga, Tenn., Chase Allen of Los Angeles, Calif., and Drew Vlass of Atlanta.
The mother of the bride wore a slate gray formal length jersey gown with a delicate side drape. The empire waist gown featured a sequined bodice with matching bolero jacket. The mother of the groom wore a formal length wedgewood blue jacquard sleeveless dress with scoop neck bodice, chiffon skirt and jacquard jacket with embellishments. They each carried posies of white Polar Star roses, Picasso calla lily, purple stock and green buttons.
After the ceremony a reception was held at Proctor Farm. Refreshments included the bride’s five tier white cake iced in vanilla buttercream. The tiers alternated between smooth finished icing and hand-piped paisley print. Roses and tulips accented the cake. The grooms cake was a chocolate cake with chocolate icing decorated with the Georgia Tech logo.
The bride and groom left the reception in a 1972 white 442 Oldsmobile convertible belonging to the groom’s grandfather.
The evening before the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Burk Farm in Rome.
Other prenuptial parties included an engagement party given by the bride’s and groom’s families at the home of the bride’s parents. A miscellaneous shower was given by Cylina Payne, Bambi Wyatt, Rachel Rayburn, and Troupie Payne at The Shrimp Boat Restaurant; a miscellaneous shower given by the ladies at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church; a miscellaneous shower given by the ladies at New Armuchee Baptist Church; a miscellaneous shower given by Lynn Grindstaff, Amanda Fincher, Sandra Harper, Deanna Owensby, Becky Harper and Patsy Roberts at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church; a gift card shower given by Kendall Roberts and Amanda Fincher at the Robert’s home; a miscellaneous shower given by the bride’s coworkers at Armuchee Middle School; a Christmas ornament shower given by Michelle Arp and the Armuchee girl’s basketball team; a bachelorette weekend in Panama City Beach, Fla., hosted by Amanda Fincher.
After a wedding trip to Brasstown Valley Resort in Young Harris, the couple resides in Armuchee.