Caley Michelle Droke, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Steve Droke of Hornersville, Mo., and Aaron Lance Edmonston, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Edmonston of Hornersville, were united in marriage at 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007, at the Friendship Baptist Church. Bro. Derek Combs performed the double ring ceremony. A plumrose garland covered an arbor accented with baby's breath and sheer ribbon in lilac hues set the backdrop for the ceremony and greenery entwined with Queen Anne's lace marked the pews.

Shannon Combs, pianist, played "Hallelujah" as the grandparents and mothers of the bride and groom were seated. The bridesmaids and flower girls graced the aisle to "Air on a G-String" performed by the Delta String Quartet. The traditional "Bridal Chorus" also performed by the Delta String Quartet was the processional as the bride entered the church. Performing solos during the ceremony were: Steve Droke, singing "I Loved Her First", Jonathon Forsythe, singing "The Luckiest", and Andrew Droke, singing "The Blower's Daughter", accompanied himself on the guitar. Daryl Wilcoxson and Carla Smith sang "O' Happy Day" as the recessional.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore an ivory Mon Cheri couture gown of French Tulle, satin and lace. The fitted satin bodice featured a strapless modified sweetheart neckline with basque waist with reembroidered lace cummerbund featuring topaz accents of Swarovski crystals, sequins and pearls and accented with narrow satin bands. The full bouffant gown of French tulle which extended into a cathedral length train was embellished with reembroidered French lace adorned with pearls, sequins, bugal beading and Swarovski crystal with accents of topaz. The bride wore a scalloped, crystal trimmed cathedral length veil and ivory satin Jimmy Choo stilettos with crystal buckles. She carried a cascading bouquet of Thai dendrobium orchids tied with her grandmother's blue topaz and diamond necklace.

Chelsey Skelton and Mallory Droke served as matron and maid of honor, respectively. Bridesmaids were JaHana Reck, Albe Sells, Kristin Cude, Natalie Hamrick and Ashley Williams. They wore formal length strapless black chiffon gowns accented with a periwinkle chiffon sash. They carried bouquets of periwinkle hydrangeas.

Camille Edmonston, Myra Edmonston and Kylie Cook, nieces of the groom, served as flower girls. They wore ivory spaghetti strap dresses with satin bodices and floor length tulle skirts with front and back pickups enhanced with reembroidered lace and beading.

John Kyle Cook, nephew of the groom, and Will Glover, cousin of the bride, served as ringbearers. John Edmonston, father of the groom, served as best man with Justin Edmonston, John Edmonston II, Heath Christian, Wesley Gillette and Skyler Droke as groomsmen. They wore Ralph Lauren charcoal gray traditional cutaway coats with hickory striped pleated trousers with a five button dove gray vest and pin dot ascot. They wore boutonnieres of periwinkle hydrangeas.

Honored guest were Mrs. Bette Droke, and Mr. and Mrs. Bud Miller, grandparents of the bride.

Ushers were Jason Droke and Bradley Droke, cousins of the bride, and Lucas Sells, friend of the bride. Brook Shrum, friend of the bride, headed the guestbook table. Michael Glover, cousin of the bride, and Caitlyn Edmonston, niece of the groom, served as greeters.

The bride and groom chose to make a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in honor of their guests and in lieu of a traditional wedding favor.

A reception was held at the VFW in Kennett, with the Traveling Whisk catering hors d'oeuvres and with Daryl Wilcoxson providing the music. Tables were covered in black tablecloths topped with mirrors and arrangements of ivory hydrangeas. The bride's table featured a four-tiered ivory cake intricately piped to resemble antique lace and pearls. The cake was surrounded by ivory and lilac hydrangeas. The groom's table featured a cake in the form of a pirate ship. Servers at the reception were Brook Shrum and Alicia Morton, friends of the bride.

The bride is a 2001 graduate of Senath-Hornersville High School and plans to graduate from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine on May 29, 2008.

The groom is a 1996 graduate of Senath-Hornersville High School and a 2001 graduate of Arkansas State University with a bachelor of science in business administration. He is currently employed at Nucor Steel in Blytheville, Ark.

The couple enjoyed a honeymoon in Antigua, West Indies and now reside in Hornersville, Mo.

Paid announcement