Core, Guinn hold southern double-ring wedding ceremony with classic style, tradition

CROWLEY - Katie Christine Core, the daughter of Sharon and Bradford Core of Crowley, and Thomas Henry Guinn, the son of Timothy and Renaté Guinn of Jennings, were united in marriage on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at one o’clock in the afternoon during a formal wedding ceremony held at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley.

The Revered Father Gary Schexnayder performed the double-ring ceremony with scriptures read by Dr. Michelle Owens, Denise Leger and Sandra Core Duhe. Altar servers were Jordan Owens, friend of the bride; Nicholas and Peyton Trahan, cousins of the groom. Offertory gifts were presented by Stephen Hundley, Amy Simon and Margaux Oustalet. Musical selections for the wedding ceremony were provided by Martin Morgan, Bishop Louis Dugar, Corey Dugar and the choir of Greater Love Church of Crowley.

The bride is the granddaughter of Byron and Sandra Core; Rita LeJeune and the late John L. LeJeune, all of Crowley; and Vi Vicknair and the late George Vicknair of Baton Rouge.

The groom is the grandson of Dorothy Watson and the late Clyde Watson of Lake Charles, and the late Loyd and Marcelette Guinn of Jennings.

The bride, 23, is a 2006 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Crowley and the groom, 25, is a 2004 graduate of Jennings High School. While attending college, they met at LSU in Baton Rouge, from which they both graduated and earned a Bachelor of Science degree, the bride in psychology and the groom in horticulture.

The bride is currently pursuing a Master of Science in counseling psychology at LSU Shreveport and works with well-known medical and family psychologist, Dr. Bruce K. McCormick PhD MP in Shreveport. The groom is a landscape manager for Fleming Landscape and Irrigation in Shreveport.

As guest arrived at the church, Scottish bagpipes were played by Randy Benoit, who stood just outside the house of worship outfitted in traditional kilt and highland dress. The bride and groom are descendants of French and Welsh heritage.

Once inside the church musical instruments were played. Organ and keyboards were played by Martin Morgan, Bishop Louis Dugar, Corey Dugar. The saxophonist was Marcus Davis. The full choir of the Greater Love Church in Crowley sang like angels.

The procession began with the seating of the grandparents and parents to the music selection of traditional wedding hymns followed by the wedding party procession to the music selection of Canon in D.

The bride was presented by her father. She looked radiant as she made a grand entrance into the church to the music selection of Trumpets Voluntaries played by Marcus Davis, saxophonist.

Katie wore an elegant ivory strapless satin couture gown with an ivory vintage lace overlay. The romantic sweetheart neckline featured a fitted A-line silhouette bodice embellished with layers of vintage lace cascading to create a chapel length train. The two layered blusher and cathedral vintage lace veil was handmade by the bride’s maternal grandmother, Rita LeJeune to compliment the intricate lace detail of the bride’s dress. The bride’s bouquet was a traditional cascading fragrant mix of fresh red roses, white freesia, and dendrobrium orchids tied with silk ribbon.

In keeping with tradition, the bride wore an antique watch given to her by her paternal grandmother, Sandra Core as “something old” symbolizing continuity with the bride’s family and the past. She carried a handmade lace handkerchief given to her as a gift from her mother who brought it back from a trip they shared together in Italy. Her wedding gown represented “something new” to signify optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. Katie “borrowed” pearl and diamond earrings from a happily married friend, Dr. Michelle Owens, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family. Representing “something blue” to symbolize love, modesty and fidelity she wore elegant satin jeweled pumps in brilliant blue by Manolo Blahnik.

Personal attendants to the bride included Keisha Rue, who served as makeup-artist, along with hair stylist, Jeanette Broussard.

The mother of the bride, Sharon LeJeune Core wore a classic-style emerald green dupioni silk fitted knee length dress with a square neckline and cap sleeves featuring black jeweled medallions on each sleeve.

The mother of the groom, Renaté Watson Guinn wore an elegant slightly fitted knee length kelly green dress with allover shutter pleats and rosette appliqué. Both mothers wore wristlet corsages of roses, freesia, orchids and purple wax flower.

Mary Kathyrn Doucet of Baton Rouge served as maid of honor wearing a champagne colored classic feminine strapless floral lace dress and carried an upright bouquet tied with satin ribbon.

The groom chose his brother Charles Guinn as best man.

Junior bridesmaids were Mia LeJeune and Brookelyn Owens while Ava LeJeune served as flower girl. The young attendants all dressed in ivory and champagne colored satin gowns embellished with lace and seed pearls. The junior bridesmaids carried miniature bouquets mimicking the design of the larger bridal bouquets. The flower girl carried a ”kissing ball” of red roses. Ring bearer was Jackson Core, brother of the bride, who carried a handmade ivory, lace and silk pillow made by the bride’s maternal grandmother, Rita LeJeune.

Other members of the wedding party included ushers, Alexander Guinn, Christopher Guinn and Timothy Guinn Jr., all brothers of the groom and Phil Andrepont, friend of the bride and groom.

The wedding party bouquets and boutonnieres were designed with roses, orchids, hydrangea, freesia and lisianthus which were also used in the altar arrangements.

During the double-ring ceremony the bride gave the groom a gold engraved wedding band once worn by the bride’s late maternal grandfather John L. LeJeune. The wedding ring was a special gift to the couple from the bride’s maternal grandmother, Rita LeJeune.

After the exchange of the wedding vows, blessing and exchange of rings a nuptial mass was held.

During the ceremony the choir sang “Jesus Loves You” as a special tribute to the couple’s late grandparents. As the newlyweds departed the church everyone joined in the recessional song of “Oh Happy Day.”

Brimming with romance and southern charm, the beautiful Grand Opera House of the South reception parlor located in the heart of historic Crowley just steps away from the ceremony was reserved for the wedding couple’s celebration hosted by the bride’s parents.

As the newlywed couple entered the reception to greet their guest Reverend Father Gary Schexnayder gave a special champagne toast to the couple in both English and French. Out of town guest traveled from Maryland, Texas and throughout Louisiana to socialize, dance and dine on delicious hors’ d’oeuvres, as well as homemade sweets, wedding cake, wine and cordials.

Mitzi LeJeune of Crowley served as floral designer for the entire wedding ceremony and reception. Known for her cutting edge designs she created spectacular breathtaking and unique floral bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages and vased flowers using a palette of jewel tone fresh botanical materials of over 150 dozen red and green roses, hundreds of dendrobium orchids, blue hydrangea, white freesia, purple lisianthus and liatris, accented with red kangaroo paws and burgundy petra to create a lasting impression and set just the right atmosphere for the affair. Lejeune was graciously assisted by Keisha Rue and Donna Mayeux.

After greeting over 250 guests the newly married couple danced their first dance to “The Man in Love with You” before cutting the wedding cakes.

The bride’s cake was a three-tier, butter pecan and amaretto raspberry cake with butter cream icing adorned with roses and orchids served by Sandy Core Duhe, aunt of the bride. The groom’s cake was a two-tier triple fudge cake with chocolate covered strawberries monogrammed with the letter “G” served by Sandra Guinn, aunt of the groom. Both cakes were made by popular wedding cake designer Kathleen Short.

The groom’s parents hosted an intimate rehearsal dinner for the two families and wedding party after the wedding rehearsal the night before the wedding ceremony.

When the time came for the special couple to say farewell the bride selected a beautiful, custom made white crepe v-neck, knee length lined dress with a fitted bodice and gold buckle belt as her going away outfit.

After a honeymoon trip to a private romantic beach front destination, the couple will reside in Shreveport.