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France - Fortune
Carolyn Marie France and Seth Thomas Fortune were joined in marriage on March 15, 2003 at Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dr. Brad Kalajainen officiated at the 2 p.m. ceremony.
Peggy Webb, pianist and aunt of the groom from Tupelo, Mississippi, provided a selection of classical, romantic and Christian music, prior to the ceremony.
Parents and grandparents were seated as strains of Claire de Lune, composed by Debussy, was performed. Attending were Marie France of Kentwood, Michigan, paternal grandmother of the bride, Charles Hekker of Grand Rapids, Michigan, maternal grandfather of the bride and Marie Hussey of Tupelo, Mississippi, maternal grandmother of the groom. Mother of the bride, Judy France of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and mother of the groom, Sandra Fortune of Mountain City, Tennessee, walked in unison to the unity candle where they symbolically lighted the white tapers on either side of the central unity candle. Father of the groom, Tom Fortune, was seated with the groom’s mother and extended family at the front of the church.
As the processional, Cannon in D by Pachelbel, resounded, the bridal party began their entrance into the sanctuary. The honorable Reverend, Dr. Kalajainen, entered from the side corridor followed by the groom, Seth Fortune of Atlanta, Georgia; best man, Andy Cox, friend of the groom from Kingsport, Tennessee; and groomsmen, Chris France from Washington, D.C. and Kevin France from Grand Rapids, Michigan, both brothers of the bride. The groom and groomsmen wore black tuxedos and white rose boutonnieres.
Entering from the back of the sanctuary and processing down the center isle were bridal attendants Bethany France, sister-in-law of the bride from Grand Rapids, Michigan and Laura Fortune, sister of the groom from Nashville, Tennessee. The matron of honor was Stephanie Dillinger, friend of the bride from Yorktown, Indiana. The bridal attendants were identically attired
in hand-designed, floor length gowns of Victorian lilac bridal satin. Each attendant carried a nosegay of white tulips joined with flowing streamers of lilac and white ribbon and bridal lace.
The Bridal Chorus by Lohengrin heralded the entrance of the bride, Carolyn France of Atlanta, Georgia. She was escorted by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Phil France. The bride was radiant in her regal white satin gown, which was sleeveless with a princess waistline and a flowing train. Miniature strips of woven satin created the elegant back that accentuated the bride’s dark, curled tresses. The bride wore a string of cultured pearls and a jeweled tiara attached to a hand-created, shoulder-length veil, to complete her traditional, classic look.
After the greeting by Dr. Kalajainen, Jenny Epalza from Columbia, South America read the Biblical scripture on love from I Corinthians 13. The minister’s personalized message on love proceeded the exchanging of vows and the blessing of the rings. As the couple lighted the unity candle, Laura Fortune sang When You Say Nothing at all, composed by Schlitz and Overstreet and accompanied by Peggy Webb at the piano.
The ceremony concluded with the blessing of the marriage and the presentation of the bride and groom. The bridal party exited the church during the recessional to the traditional Wedding March by Mendelssohn.
After a honeymoon to three islands in Hawaii, the couple is making their home in Atlanta, Georgia with a re-location to the new England area later this summer.
A reception followed at The Pinnacle Center in Kentwood.
