Neal-Phillips
Published 9:54 pm Friday, July 11, 2014
The marriage of Miss Sarah Coleman Neal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Russell Chandler Neal of Dinwiddie, to Mr.
Blakely Thomas Phillips, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Thomas Phillips of Franklin, took place on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at Lawrenceville United Methodist Church in Lawrenceville. The Rev. Larry House officiated.
The bride is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Willard Newton Coleman, formerly of Warfield, and Mrs. Harold Jones Neal Sr. of Lawrenceville, and the late Mr. Harold Jones Neal Sr.
The groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Burneldo Fast of Franklin, and Mr. Thomas Hitchens Phillips of Morriston, Florida, and the late Mrs. Davenna McConnell Phillips.
The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents in the late afternoon ceremony. She wore a light ivory gown with a satin sweetheart neckline and sheer lace bateau neck overlay. The A line skirt of textured organza featured box pleats and a sweep train. The waist was adorned with a beaded satin ribbon sash. The bride wore her sister’s fingertip-length veil, and carried a hand-tied bouquet of white and ivory small-bloomed flowers accented with succulents and dusty miller.
The matron of honor was Dr. Elizabeth Neal Mims of Mount Sidney, sister of the bride.
Bridesmaids were: Brittany McDowell Butterworth of High Point, North Carolina; Perry Legg Ellis of Richmond; Susan Ashley Francis of Franklin; and Margaret Shelton Phillips, sister of the groom, of Franklin. The bridesmaids wore a navy cocktail dresses of varying styles.
The best man was Mr. Mark Thomas Phillips, father of the groom. Groomsmen were: Richard Miller Atkinson of Franklin; Clay Augustus Bowles of Glen Allen; Jason Dean Hodges of Courtland; Timothy Wayne Lowe of Arlington; and Cristopher John Dillon White, brother of the groom, of Glen Echo, Maryland. Ushers were: Todd Matthew Faison of Arlington; Michael Ray Robinson Jr. of Virginia Beach; and Judson Joseph Stutts of Mechanicsville.
Music during the ceremony was provided by Mrs. Anne Burke, pianist. Vocal music selections were performed by Dr. Elizabeth Neal Mims. Dr. Weston Baily Mims, brother-in-law of the bride, served as the ceremony reader.
The mistresses of ceremonies were Mrs. Susan Hiler Butterworth of Dinwiddie and Mrs. Rebecca Harmon Prince of Sutherland, both cherished friends of the bride. Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Large of Dillwyn served as the guestbook attendant, and Jessica Lynn Wray of Richmond served as the program attendant.
On Feb. 15, a bridal shower was given by friends Ms. Marge Beville, Mrs. Helen Carlow, Mrs. Vicky Heller, Ms. Kristy Kniceley and Mrs. Rebecca Prince.
An engagement party was given for the couple on March 8, hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Jason Hodges.
On March 15, friends Brittany and Susan Butterworth hosted a Pampered Chef-themed shower.
Mr. and Mrs. John Neal and family hosted a buffet supper in honor of the couple on April 5.
An “Around the House” shower and cookout honoring Sarah and Blake was held on Sunday, April 13, hosted by friends Ms. Janice Dyson, Ms. H. Branch Richardson and Mrs. Pauline Winfield.
Mrs. Jamie Neal, aunt of the bride, hosted the bridesmaids’ luncheon on Friday, June 6, at the Kennon House Restaurant in Gasburg.
The rehearsal dinner, hosted by the parents of the groom, was held at Kayhill’s Restaurant in South Hill.
Following the ceremony, parents of the bride hosted the reception at Rosemont Vineyards in La Crosse.
Miss Neal graduated from Dinwiddie High School in 2006 and received a B.S. in human nutrition, foods and exercise from Virginia Tech in 2010. She obtained her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013, and is employed at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU in Fredericksburg.
Mr. Phillips is a 2004 graduate of Southampton High School and a 2008 graduate of Longwood University, where he received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in management. Blake is employed with Earthworks and Sprinklers Inc. in Richmond as a sports field contractor.
Following a honeymoon in Great Exuma, Bahamas, the couple now resides in Ashland.