Leigh Taylor Howell and David Ryan Weldon, both of Augusta, were married at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 11, 2010, at First Baptist Church of Rome.

The bride is the daughter of Joy Howell of Rome and the late Ray Olan Howell Jr. The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Darrell Weldon of Ringgold.

Dr. Joel Snider of Rome performed the double-ring candlelight ceremony before an alter flanked by Christmas trees adorned with ivory ornaments. The sanctuary was decorated for the Christmas season with red poinsettias, greenery and candles. Family pews were marked with ivory ribbons.

A program of wedding music was provided by violinists Timothy and Timia Reynolds of Rome and pianist Dr. Adam Goldberg of Augusta. Selections included “Ave Maria,” sung by Elizabeth Brooks of Blakely. Other selections included “Trumpet Tune,” “Ode to Joy” and “Lavender’s Skyline,” a custom-arranged pieced composed by Dr. Goldberg in honor of the couple. Elizabeth Weldon of Ocala, Fla, sister-in-law of the groom, gave the readings.

Ashley Teusink Edmonds of Atlanta served as the Matron of Honor and Kristen Anne Kissane of Chapel Hill, N.C. served as the Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids were Jennifer Breithaupt Culbertson of Atlanta, Eliza Stevens Myers of Augusta, Laura Ashley Moss of Augusta, Sabina Gupta Sud of Chicago, Ill., and Laura Zimmerman Weekley of Atlanta.

They wore Dupioni silk sleeveless dresses with an ivory scoop-neck bodice and a knee-length skirt in acorn with a matching acorn sash at the waist. They carried bouquets of ivory Eskimo roses with hypericum berries surrounded by inverted magnolia foliage.

Coppi Durden, Perry Durden, both of Rome, and Kali Brown of Ringgold, were honorary attendants. Jaci Weldon and Renee Weldon, both of Ringgold and nieces of the groom, served as flower girls. They wore ivory sleeveless dresses of satin and tulle with an acorn-colored sash tied in the back. Adornments of roses and greenery were placed in their hair, and they wore matching pearl bracelets, a gift from the bride. They carried wreaths of gold jingle bells, which they rang as they proceeded down the aisle.

The bride, given in marriage by her family and escorted by her brother, Mitchell Howell of Rome, wore a strapless gown of antique silk satin with French alencon lace accents at the bodice and hemline. A satin sash at the waist was accented by a rhinestone and pearl brooch. Alternating pearl and crystal buttons adorned the length of the back bodice, which flowed into the chapel-length train. To complete the ensemble, the bride chose a fingertip-length veil edged in lace and wore a pearl necklace given to her by her grandmother on her 18th birthday.

The bride carried a bouquet of winter white hydrangea, miniature calla lilies, roses and Cymbidium orchids. The bouquet, tied with ivory satin ribbon, was wrapped with a handmade white lace handkerchief purchased in Russia, a gift from Maggie Foy of Rome, and was pinned with a crystal brooch. The bride also carried a handkerchief embroidered with a message from her matron and maid of honor that was made with the lace of their wedding dresses.

The Best Man was Dr. Daniel Anderson Weldon of Ocala, Fla., brother of the groom. Brothers of the groom Tom Weldon and Gage Weldon, both of Ringgold, were groomsmen. Other groomsmen included cousin of the groom Justin Weldon of Barnesville, Ga., John Moshell of Atlanta, Joshua O'Donnell of Atlanta, and Kyle Haley of Atlanta.

The bride’s brother and Vernon Cutts of Rome served as ushers. Nephew of the groom Wesley Weldon of Ringgold was the ring bearer.

The mother of the bride wore an ivory Dupioni silk three-quarter sleeve jacket with a soft portrait collar and a Dupioni silk knee-length skirt in chocolate with a matching chocolate sash at the waist. The mother of the groom wore a knee-length champagne taffeta dress with beaded bodice and matching bolero jacket. The mothers were presented with bouquets of ivory roses, berries and evergreen foliage. The grandmothers of the bridal couple were presented with corsages of ivory tea roses.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the ballrooms of Forrest Place. Refreshments included the bride’s three-tier cake made from layers of red velvet and covered in buttercream icing with details that matched the lace of the bride’s gown. A satin ribbon with rhinestone brooch was wrapped around the middle layer. The cake was topped with Eskimo roses and berries. The groom’s cake was a square chocolate confection with a three-dimensional golf ball rounding out the top of the cake.

The evening before the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Magretta Hall for the wedding party and guests.

Other pre-nuptial parties included an engagement celebration at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan and Ashley Edmonds in Atlanta; a “Tea and Table” shower given by Margaret Foy, Judy Niblett, Wanda Meeks and Mary Rolan at the Victorian Rose Tea Room; a “Set the Table” bridal luncheon hosted by bridesmaids Laura Zimmerman Weekley, Kristen Kissane, Jennifer Breithaupt Culbertson and Ashley Edmonds at her home in Atlanta; a couples shower hosted by John and Jessica Moshell at their home in Atlanta; a bachelorette weekend in Amelia Island, Fla., which included a lingerie shower, hosted by the bridesmaids; a bachelor party on Lake Blackshear in Cordele; a miscellaneous shower hosted by the Department of Pediatric Dentistry in Augusta; and a bridesmaid brunch was held the day before the wedding at the home of the bride’s aunt Susan Coley of Rome.

After a honeymoon trip to the island of St. Lucia, the couple will reside in Augusta, Ga.