Amanda Nicole Cherry and Ji Anthony Carl Paramore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Carl Paramore of Blounts Creek, were united in marriage during a double-ring ceremony on June 16, 2012, at seven in the evening, at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Edward Cherry, Jr. and the bride’s childhood home, in Washington, N.C.

The lawn on the family farm was decorated to depict the bride’s family’s farming heritage. Family members contributed heirlooms, such as quilts, made by the bride’s great-grandmothers, plows and horse drawn wagons, which once were used by the bride’s great-grandfathers. Tobacco baskets, tobacco sheets and tobacco tying horses draped with quilts and shepherd staffs with hanging arrangements of summer flowers, contained in Mason jars, further decorated the yard. The ceremony took place in the corner of the grounds before a split rail fence, attached to an arbor, decorated with tulle and summer flowers. Galvanized pails holding summer flowers adorned the fence posts. A cross draped with ivory tulle was positioned in the side of the yard and served as a backdrop and reminder of HIS presence.

Prior to the ceremony, the groom and his brother placed white roses in empty seats in memory of their late grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd “Butterball” Brooks.

Mr. Mike Wise, a family friend and former employer of the bride,  united the couple, while sharing some personal thoughts and cherished memories. He further thanked the groom for the service that he performs in our community and asked God for protection on him as he protects others. He introduced Mr. Steve Hill, as a longtime family friend and minister from the bride’s church who baptized her and Mr. Hill read Scripture from I Corinthians 13 as requested by the bridal couple. Mr. and Mrs. John Robert Hill, II, and Mr. and Mrs. William Edward Cherry, Sr., grandparents of the bride, and Mr. and Mrs. Major Carl Paramore and Mrs. Eula Jones, grandparents of the groom, were among the approximately 300 guests who attended. Guests were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. William Christopher Cherry, brother and sister- in-law of the bride, and offered cold personalized labeled water bottles by Masters Hunter Thomas Smith and Camron Scott Whitley. The guest register was attended by Mrs. Monica Edwards Bradshaw and Mrs. Brooke Beacham McHargue, cousins of the groom, while sisters Miss Haley Savannah Whitley and Miss Logan Grace Whitley passed out programs and fans.

The groomsmen wore taupe pants and ivory microfiber shirts with marine blue satin ties and escorted the bridesmaids across the lawn, who each chose a different style gown in marine blue. Their knee-length gowns were of satin and chiffon and featured strapless and halter styles. Mr. Brandon Tyler Cherry, brother of the bride, escorted Miss McKayla Elizabeth Aldridge, Mr. Joseph Ryan Bettner escorted his fiancée and March 2013 bride-elect, Miss Margaret Ellen Poston, Mr. Greysen Lloyd Ingalls escorted his wife, Mrs. Kristen Marie Ingalls, Mr. Daniel John Jenson, Jr., cousin of the groom, escorted the maid of honor, Miss Jessica Paige Dickenson, and Mr. Alan Paul Brooks, brother of the groom and best man, escorted Mrs. Amanda Christine Whitley, the matron of honor. The bridesmaids carried bouquets of gerbera daisies hand tied with burlap and satin ribbon.

Prior to the bride’s entrance, the ring bearer, Mr. Brandon Alan Brooks, nephew of the groom, escorted the flower girls, sisters Miss Taylor Renee Cole and Miss Michelle Grace Cole, who wore ivory satin a-line gowns that were embellished with ivory embroidery and marine blue sashes. The flower girls carried hand tied miniature bouquets of gerbera daisies and dropped rose petals from ivory satin purses.

Escorted by her father, Ed Cherry, Jr., and serenaded by guitarist, Mr. Christian Tyler McCullen, singing “Marry Me” by Train as she entered, the bride wore an ivory, strapless sheath made of silk satin. The sweetheart neckline was trimmed with custom designed satin bands in marine blue that were hand embellished with bugle beads and crystals. The corset back was completed with a chapel-length train. The bride carried a cascading hand tied bouquet of mixed summer flowers and gerbera daisies. The bouquet was tied with satin, in a corset design to match the back of her gown. A pearl brooch, her “something borrowed” from the bride’s grandmother adorned the satin ribbon. She also carried an heirloom handkerchief that has been passed down for generations, which served as her “something old.” Following tradition, the mother of the bride will transform the handkerchief into a bonnet to be worn by their first born. The bride wore a sapphire ring, as “something blue” belonging to the groom’s mother. A single layer ivory tulle veil embellished with crystals and pearls and petite silk flower finished the ensemble.

Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception on the grounds behind the home. Mrs. Lori Aldridge Smith, a close family friend, and the bride’s sister, Miss Tracie Lynn Cherry, directed the reception. Parked at the entrance of the reception area was a large mule cart where guests placed gifts. Guests were invited to “leaf” a fingerprint on a large canvas tree for the bridal couple and leave “wishes” in a basket for the couple. A country-style buffet was served and guests sat at tables covered in muslin, burlap and heirloom quilts. Antique kerosene lanterns, atop wood tree slices which were hand carved with the couples initials, served as centerpieces. Mason jars, filled with dried assorted beans and votive candles, also adorned each table. The reception area was flanked by several “hay sofas” covered in granny square afghans and quilts. Arrangements of mixed summer flowers in bushel baskets and galvanized washtubs surrounded the reception area.

The wedding cake, made by the bride’s mother, Mrs. Debora Cherry, sat atop a galvanized inverted washtub on a table covered with a burlap tobacco sheet. The four-tier, basket-weaved cake of red velvet, chocolate and lemon with lemon curd filling, was decorated with fondant gerbera daisies and a silver “P” monogram on the top. Cousins of the bride, Mrs. Bambi Smith Edwards, Mrs. Terri Sawyer Edwards and Mrs. Terri Edwards Menki, served the wedding cake along with homemade banana pudding. Others assisting with the reception were Mrs. Deirdre Lewis, Mrs. Christie Wise, Mrs. Susan Nichols, Mr. and Mrs. Ty Carter, Mrs. Lou Waters, Mrs. Crystal Woolard, Miss Faith Wise, Miss Grace Wise, Miss Tristen Worthington, Miss Tori Lewis, Miss Taylor Lewis, Mr. Blake Paszt, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Holland, Mrs. Anne Martin, Mrs. Thelma Godley, Mr. and Mrs. Sammy Hodges,  Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cherry, Sr., Mr. Joe Torrance, Mrs. Joyth Edwards and Mr. Scott Whitney. Mr. Greg Respess, cousin of the bride, videotaped the event and photos were taken by Captured by Amy Photography. A dance was held on the grounds following the reception. Music was provided by Butch Oliver of Down East Entertainment. Mrs. Shana Parker directed the wedding and her husband, Mr. Frank Parker, directed the parking on the farm. Mr. Zack Parker, Mr. Dylan Moore and Mr. Chase Hartley provided golf cart rides from the parking area to the wedding area.

On the eve of the wedding, the parents of the groom hosted a dinner in honor of the bridal couple at the Woodmen of the World building in Washington. Guests enjoyed a Southern style pig picking dinner with all the trimmings using recipes by the groom’s late grandfather “Butterball” Brooks. Mr. and Mrs. Bud Brooks, aunt and uncle of the groom, Mrs. Shana Rice and Miss Emma Faith Rice, cousins of the groom, assisted with the meal. Blue and white checked tablecloths and gerbera daisy centerpieces were used throughout the building.

An antique cherry easel held a portrait of the bridal couple and their German shepherd dogs, Sasha and Havoc. After the meal,  guests enjoyed a groom’s cake of chocolate, that was decorated with an edible image of the bridal couple. Mr. Shawn Waters, a local artist, supplied the art work for the drawing on the cake. The couple chose this time to remember their wedding party and parents with gifts and thanked everyone for their support.

Prior to the wedding, a shower was given by Mrs. Geneva Holland and Mrs. Lori Smith at the Wharton Station Ruritan building in Washington. Mrs. Maggie Poston, Miss Meg Poston and Miss Kristen Ingalls hosted a lingerie shower at the Poston home. Grandmothers, Mrs. Carolyn Hill, Mrs. Frociene Cherry and Mrs. Carol Paramore hosted a bridesmaids’ brunch the weekend prior to the wedding at the Cherry home. Assisting with the brunch were Mrs. Lou Rutledge, cousin of the bride, and Mrs. Gail Griffin, aunt of the bride.

The bride and groom are both graduates of Washington High School and have attended Beaufort County Community College. The bride is employed with Carolina East Medical Associates and the groom is a City of Washington employee. Since a honeymoon in Orlando, Florida, the couple along with Sasha and Havoc, have made their home in Washington.