KUDZU

FESTIVAL!

September 2007

Blythewood

IGA Parking Lot

FAX US: (928) 244-2784

See you at the 2007 

32nd Annual 

Blythewood Kudzu Festival 
September 27, 28, 29, 30!

A Kudzu Wedding!

Questions or comments? Let us know!

Saturday September 23rd

TONY AND LISA

Tony and Lisa Got Married At The Kudzu Festival!!!

On Saturday, September 23, 2000, Tony and Lisa were married at 5pm in the natural kudzu field next to the IGA in Blythewood.
Following the wedding there was a reception at the Kudzu Festival. 
The Wedding Service was conducted by the Right Reverend Peter Beauregard, Bishop of Blythewood. 

On this page you will find a collection of press releases, articles in the Blythewood Dispatch and other information about the wedding!
Most of the information on this page is taken from press releases from the Kudzu Festival. 


TIMETABLE OF THE WEDDING DAY

1.30 pm:  Members of the public with tickets admitted to the natural Kudzu field.

3.30 pm:  Ringside Seats open for guests.

4.30 pm:  Members of the Grooms family begin to arrive at the field. 

4.40 pm:  Members of the Brides family arrive at the field. 

4.45 pm:  Tony and his party are met at the West End of the Kudzu field by the owner of the IGA and escorted to the ceremony site. 

4.55 pm:  The bridesmaids and pages arrive at the West End of the Kudzu field. 

5:00 pm:  Lisa's mother and her father arrive at the West End of the Kudzu field. The wedding service commences. 

5.45 pm:  The service finishes and the bridal party leaves by the West End of the Kudzu field. They pose outside the Kudzu Field for photographs [see above]. 

5.55 pm:  The bride and groom leave the Kudzu field in an open Ascot landau carriage and pass through downtown Blythewood before travelling along Koon Road and returning via the lower forty. The broken wheel did not delay the procession.

6:00 pm:  The reception begins at the Kudzu Festival. 

6.10 pm:  The bride and groom return to the Blythewood Motel 6 to change for the reception.

6:15 pm:  The bride and groom, in their new festive overalls, appear at the reception.

DETAILS OF THE WEDDING SERVICE

A specially written fanfare was played by the Bubba 'Vern' Elroy when Lisa and her father arrived at the Kudzu field. 

During the bride's procession to the altar, the 'Marche Heroique' on Jim-Tom's record player by Tammy Wynette was played. 

Then the hymn 'Ye Holy Kudzu Bright' was sung. 

After the ceremony 'Kudzu Divine, All Leaves Are Growing, As Shall Our Love' was sung, followed by the lesson, which was Lesson, the First Letter of John, chapter 4, verses 7-11. 

Following the prayers the Latin anthem 'Where There Is A Field, There Is Kudzu' was sung by the choir. 

For the final hymn, the couple chose 'Let All The World In Every Corner Sing, My Kudzu Mine.' After this hymn the register was signed. 

The choir then sang 'The Spirit Of Kudzu Is Upon Me', the Prologue to the Oratorio The Apostles, opus 39, by Billy Bumgardner, followed by 'The Amen Chorus' from Messiah by George Frederick Handel, slightly modified by replacing 'Kudzu' when the crowd sang  'Amen.' 

The people in the Kudzu field all stood to sing the National Anthem, before the bride and groom walked to the West End. 

For this, they were accompanied by the Toccata [Kudzu] from the Fifth Symphony by Charles Marie Widowman. There was not a dry eye in the town of Blythewood that afternoon.

WEDDING RECEPTION DETAILS

The reception for the 550 guests at the wedding of Tony and Lisa was held in the Kudzu Festival proper - IGA Parking Lot!

The food for the evening was being prepared jointly by Sams Kitchens and Blythewood-based caterers Collards Food Design. A selection of hot and cold canapes was followed by a self-service Bar-B-Que Buffet dinner, for which guests were seated on the loading dock. 

The menu was prepared by Thelma Mabel Cooper and included coulibiac (smoked brim baked with kudzu stems and turnips in pastry), beef tongue stroganoff, and a selection of vegetables and salads, with fresh kudzuberries for dessert. 

The customary cutting of the wedding cake, and the toasts, preceded dinner. The toasts were made by the bride's father, the groom and the supporters.

The wedding cake was made by Marybelle Linda Fripp of Blythewood Country Kitchen, conveniently located in downtown Blythewood. 

Music during the evening was provided by a jug band quartet from the County Prison and an acapella ensemble from the Blythewood Players, both organisations of which Tony is patron, and the official band of the Kudzu Festival. 

THE RINGS

In keeping with local tradition, the gold for the wedding rings of Tony and Lisa has come from Bottoms Creek Gold Mine. The rings have been made to a traditional design by Blythewood Jeweller, Mr Homer Pierce III, of Sellers Jewelry and Auto Supply Store.

The Bottoms Creek Gold Mine was originally known as The Creek Claim. In the early twentieth century gold from the mine was used to make the regalia for the inauguration of Governor Bottoms, which led to the change of name. The 10ct gold used for the wedding rings was discovered during recent exploration activities by Tommy Souther and his father, and refined by Collards Foods. 

Mr Homer Pierce III became Blythewood Jeweller in 1961, succeeding Mr Homer Pierce, Jr.. The title of Blythewood Jeweller was created by Mayor Naise  in 1927. It is a personal appointment from the mayor's office. The Blythewood Jeweller is responsible for the care and maintenance of Blythewood City Hall, all three cars in the town motor pool, and Claim Agent.

BRIDESMAIDS, PAGES, SUPPORTERS

Lisa was attended by two pageboys and two bridesmaids at her marriage to Tony in the natural kudzu field on Saturday, September 23rd. 

The pageboys were Master Felix Sowerbutts, aged seven and Master Mike Rotch, aged six. The bridesmaids were Miss Priscilla Naise, aged eight and Miss Amanda Hugginkiss, aged five. 

Master Sowerbutts and Miss Naise are Tony's neighbors. Master Rotch and Miss Hugginkiss are the children of old friends of Lisa. 

Tony had two Best Men. They were Oliver Klosoff and Wayne King. 

Master Felix John  Sowerbutts - Pageboy. Born 31 August 1993, Master Sowerbutts is the son of Felix and Johnna Sowerbutts of Blythewood. He has two brothers, Fripp, six and Frapp, four and a sister Sis, aged four months. He attends Blythewood Elementary School. Favorite color - blue; favorite animal - pig; favorite television program - Barney; favorite football team - none. 

Master Sean Mike Rotch - Pageboy. Born 25 March 1994, Master Rotch has one brother, Phil, aged four, and is the son of Mike Rotch and Anita Bath of Blythewood. Anita Bath is Assistant Private Secretary to IGA owner Oliver Klosoff and has co-ordinated the plans for the wedding. Master Rotch attends Blythewood Elementary School. Favorites: color - blue; animals - pigs (and horses); television program - Law & Order; football team - I like baseball better. 

Miss Inedd Amanda Hugginkiss - Bridesmaid. Miss Hugginkiss, who was born on 8 March 1995, is the daughter of Abel and Bertha Hugginkiss who live in Blythewood. She has one brother, Leonardo, aged 15 and two sisters, Ivana, 13 and Madonna, 11. She attends Blythewood Elementary School. Favorites: color - blue; animal - pig; television program - Just Shoot Me; football team - none. 

Miss Priscilla Esmerelda Naise - Bridesmaid. Miss Naise was born on 30 January 1992. She is the daughter of Holden Magroin and Lindsey Naise of Blythewood and has one brother, two-year- old Bubba. She attends Blythewood Elementary School.  Favorites: color - blue; animal - pig; television program - Ally McBeal; football team - none. 


 

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