Mary Elizabeth Anne Samsel and Harris Sojourner Swayze, II were united in marriage on January 28, 2023 at Madison United Methodist Church in Madison, MS. The double-ring ceremony was officiated by Reverend Gary Sinclair, Assistant Pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Jackson.
The bride is the daughter of Mark and Beth Samsel. She is the granddaughter of the late Earline Wooten Norris of Jackson, Mississippi, the late Samuel Ruble Norris of Jackson, Mississippi, the late Howard Zener Samsel of Jackson, Mississippi, and the late Elizabeth Ann Samsel of Jackson, Mississippi.
The groom is the son of John and Peggy Swayze. He is the grandson of Mrs. Frank Irwin Humphreys, Sr. of Yazoo City, Mississippi, the late Mr. Frank Irwin Humphreys, Sr. of Yazoo City, Mississippi and the late Mr. and Mrs. Harris Sojourner Swayze of Benton, Mississippi.
Nuptial music included Air on G String by Bach, Of the Father’s Love Begotten, Canon in D by Pachelbel, O God Beyond All Praising by Holst, Gloria Patri, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, In Christ Alone by Getty and Townend, Wedding March Recessional by Mendelssohn and Water Music by Handel, performed by organist Dr. Donna Banks.
The bride was escorted by her father, Mark Samsel.
The bride wore a custom designed A-line satin gown with an Alencon lace bolero accent. The gown featured a strapless bodice with satin covered buttons down the chapel length train. The bride donned the Alencon lace bolero for the church ceremony but chose to remove the bolero for the reception.
The veil of fine net with pearl accents along the border served as the bride’s borrowed accent since it belonged to her sister-in-law. The bride wore a pearl and crystal hair pin which rested at the top of the braided, tucked-under hairstyle.
The bride’s cascading bouquet consisted of purple irises, violet statice, white roses, cotton picked on her husband’s farm, stargazers, and blue delphinium with baby’s breath nestled throughout, along with a touch of greenery.
The bride’s wedding band was a custom-designed platinum band with two diamonds set in a flower burst pattern. The two diamonds on the wedding band rested on either side of the engagement ring’s 19th century, European cut diamond. The groom’s ring was a smooth, 5.5 mm, 14kt gold band.
The bride wore her mother’s, double-stranded pearl necklace which served as “something old,” a pearl bracelet gifted to her by the bridegroom as a wedding gift, a pearl and diamond ring (gifted to her by her parents and sister upon her graduation from college), and pearl earrings gifted to her by the bridegroom.
The bride secured her bouquet’s sash with a blue, flower-patterned pin from her grandmother which served as “something blue.”
The bride carried a hand-sewn handkerchief with purple accents gifted to her by her mother-in-law. The groom wore a signet ring gifted to him by his parents. The groom also wore gold cufflinks with ruby insets gifted to him by the bride as a wedding gift.
Whitney Samsel, sister of the bride, served as Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids included Krista Samsel, Ann Louise Maula, Annie Kattempudi and Grace Andrews.
The bridesmaids wore royal blue, one-shouldered, floor- length, satin gowns. They carried rounded bouquets consisting of purple irises, purple statice, white roses, blue delphinium, baby’s breath, and a touch of greenery.
Liza Cate Swayze served as flower girl. She wore a soft, satin, A-line dress with a purple sash to match the purple statice and baby’s breath which formed the flower crown she donned for the ceremony.
Paul Samsel and Ezra Samsel served as ringbearers. They wore small boutonnières and carried a sign that read “Here Comes the Bride” as they processed into the church. When the pronouncement of marriage was made, the ringbearers flipped the sign over to reveal the phrase “Mr. and Mrs. Harris Swayze.”
John Swayze, the groom’s father, served as the Best Man. Groomsmen included Royce Swayze, Joshua Easterwood and Ethan Samsel.
Jackson Batton, Joseph Easterwood, Daniel Humphreys and Bruce Kliewer served as ushers.
The bride’s mother wore a silver-blue, A-line, floor length, satin dress with a long-sleeved jacket with subtle silver accents which complemented the silver accents in the bodice of the dress.
The bridegroom’s mother wore a floor-length, chiffon dress with a floral print.
The groom’s grandmother wore a floor-length, patterned blue dress with a lacy, long-sleeved jacket.
The reception was held at Bridlewood of Madison. The reception hall was decorated with fresh flowers, greenery, and fairy lights. A large floral arrangement consisting of white roses, cotton, purple statice, blue delphinium, purple irises, baby’s breath, and greenery served as the centerpiece in the reception hall. Round tables with white tablecloths were spread throughout the hall, each with a centerpiece of a lantern containing greenery and soft, white lights. Cotton bolls and white roses, interspersed with baby’s breath and statice, surrounded the light-filled lanterns.
Guests enjoyed an assortment of dishes including a charcuterie table, beef tenderloin, gouda potatoes, spicy green beans, marinated shrimp, marinated garlic mushrooms, hot spinach and artichoke dip and assorted fruit.
The bride’s cake was a five-tiered, hatch-textured, white chocolate caramel cake decorated with purple statice and white roses as well as greenery, baked by Blue Feather. It was served by Lee Ann Mitchell, cousin of the groom.
The groom’s cake was a two-tiered, square, caramel cake with drip icing decorated with sugar-frosted grapes, baked by The Blue Feather. It was served by Rita White, aunt of the groom.
A rehearsal dinner was held on January 27, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at Koestler Prime, hosted by the groom’s parents John and Peggy Swayze.
The private room was decorated with floral arrangements of white, purple, blue, and green created by Lee Ann Mitchell, cousin of the groom. After appetizers of fried crab claws and artichoke dip, guests enjoyed a seated dinner where they had the choice of pan-seared halibut with grilled vegetables or filet mignon with roasted potatoes. Following the main course, bread pudding, lemon icebox pie, and chocolate chess pie were served for dessert.
The couple registered at Persnickety in Madison, Good Hope in Yazoo City, Dillard’s, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Crate and Barrel. Kim Sharp served as the wedding director.
The couple honeymooned in Maui, Hawaii before returning home to Benton, where the groom is a farmer and rancher, and the bride is a counselor.
