Local couple united during Lafayette wedding ceremony

LAFAYETTE - Joined as husband and wife on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016, were Margaret-Mary “Maggie” Doucet and Lance William Racca, both of Rayne. The two became one during a seven o’clock Nuptial Mass held at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist with Fr. Chester Arceneaux officiating.
The bride is the daughter of Malcolm and Margaret Leger Doucet of Rayne. Her grandparents are Mrs. Dorothy O. Leger, the late William “Fats” Leger, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Eby Doucet, all of Rayne.
Maggie is a 2008 graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish in Crowley, attained a bachelors degree in education in 2012 from UL-Lafayette, and is employed by the REACH Institute in Lafayette.
The groom is the son of Karen Jackson Racca and Will Racca, both of Rayne. His grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Broussard, Cecil Jackson, and the late Katherine Boudreaux Jackson, all of Rayne.
Lance, also a 2008 graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, attained a bachelors degree in industrial technology in 2013 from UL-Lafayette, and is employed By Weatherford as a lab technician at Weatherford.
For the wedding ceremony, Scriptures were read by Sr. Margaret Ohlenforst, MHS, godmother of the bride; Stephanie Leger, aunt of the bride; and Jessica Racca, sister-in-law of the groom.
Gifts were offered by Sara Beth Landry and Catherine Hebert, close friends of the bride.
The bride entered church on the arm of her father against a musical background provided by organist Thomas Niel, trumpeter Will Green and vocalist Sasha Massey.
For her wedding day, Maggie wore a Nicole Miller-Dakota dress of ivory raw silk featuring strapless sweetheart neckline with a fitted bodice and a fishtail train. The natural waistline was accentuated with a sash of beadwork and Swarovski crystals. Her headpiece was her mother’s cathedral-length veil of sheer illusion trimmed at the hemline with Alencon lace. The veil was worn by her mother 36 years ago and also by her sister, Marci Doucet McGovern. She carried an all-white bridal bouquet of lisianthus, hydrangeas, roses and garden roses with accents of gray brunia berries and lambs ear leaves.
Selected as traditional items for her wedding day was her wedding band, the groom’s great-grandfather’s converted diamond ring, as something old. Her wedding dress was something new and her mother’s wedding veil was something borrowed while the bridesmaid’s dresses served as something blue.
Serving as matron of honor was her sister, Mary-Kathryn Doucet McGuffee.
Bridesmaids were Melissa Doucet Thibault and Marci Doucet McGovern, sisters of the bride; Margaret Gaspard Doucet, sister-in-law of bride; Savana Dohmann and Jillian List, friends of the bride.
Bridal attendants wore Natalie Deayala dresses in a midnight blue tone with a ruffled flounce hemline in a variety of styles. Each carried a bouquet of white hydrangeas, white stock, white roses, in addition to seeded eucalyptus and blue berries.
Serving as flowergirl was Kathryn David, godchild of the bride. She wore an ivory lace ruffled dress and carried a ring of lavender created by the bride.
Attending the groom as best man was his brother, Brandon Racca.
Groomsmen were Matt Doucet, brother of the bride, and friends Elliot Gilbert, Greg Savoie, Tiago Roche and Seth Daigle.
Male attendants each wore a gray suit with matching vest and navy tie, while the groom wore a navy suit with bow tie.
Ring bearers were Athen Racca and Landon Roche, godchildren of the groom, and Reece Doucet, godchild of the couple. Athen and Landon wore linen vests and pants in beige with a white shirt, while Reece wore a linen overall romper in beige linen with a white shirt.
Ushering guests were Joseph Trim, cousin of the groom, and Andreau Trepagnier, Ryan Champagne and Heath Heinen, friends of the couple.
Of special interest and being so very important to the couple, they incorporated their family throughout their wedding ceremony. As each of their siblings entered the church in the procession, the children of the sibling also walked with them. Margaret Gaspard Doucet walked in the procession carrying Reece, her one year old son. She was met mid aisle by her husband Matt, and their other two boys, Brooks (5) and Griffin (2). When Melissa Doucet Thibault entered the church she was carrying her eight week old daughter Everly Davis. Mary-Kathryn Doucet McGuffee carried in four month old Scarlett Kathryn and was met mid aisle by Brandon Racca and his daughter, Madison (6) His son Athen (3) attended as ring bearer. Matt and Brooks also escorted in Dot O. Leger, maternal grandmother, as well as Margaret, mother of the bride.
For her daughter’s wedding, the mother of the bride, Margaret Leger Doucet wore a sleeveless, halter-style formal length gown of steel gray chiffon featuring a lace overlay on a chiffon bodice. She was presented a corsage of white lisianthus and roses with gray lambs ear and blue silk berries.
The groom’s mother, Karen Jackson Racca selected a wore a formal-length gown of champagne chiffon with three-quarter length sleeves. The bodice was adorned with bead work and sequins in an array of gold tones. She was also presented a corsage of white lisianthus and roses with gray lambs ear and blue silk berries.
Immediately following the wedding ceremony, the couple was honored during a reception held at The City Club in River Ranch, Lafayette where guests enjoyed dinner and dancing.
For the decor and theme of the reception, engagement photographs of the couple, as well as navy, gold and gray accents, were noted throughout the reception area of the club. Each table held a centerpiece of various sized concrete candles dipped in gold made by the couple. Dusty Millers and eucalyptus leaves were also arranged throughout the center pieces.
Among the refreshments was the bride’s cake, an elegant four tiered confection with gold/blue accents featuring an arrangement of magnolias and gold beads on the central layer. The topper was a Milk Tea Custom topper made to resemble the couple on their wedding day in their wedding attire. Serving the cake was Sr. Margaret Ohlenforst, MHS, the bride’s godmother.
Guests were attendance from the Rayne/Lafayette areas, as well as Shreveport, Monroe and New York City.
Following a wedding trip including a cruise to the Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Cozumel, they are now residing in Rayne.
Prior to the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was held Thursday, Feb. 4, at The City Club. The 7 p.m. social was hosted by the groom’s mother, Karen Jackson Racca. The menu for guests included rosemary and garlic chicken breast, seared catfish filet topped with seafood white wine cream sauce, horseradish-whipped Yukon gold potatoes, cauliflower au gratin, and warm bread pudding topped with a praline sauce.