Matrimony in the Mountains

Leigh Elizabeth Ashby & Mikael Anthony Sisson | 8.3.19 | Dryfork

Mikael, a native of Sissonville, proposed to Leigh one summer evening as they hiked with their three dogs near the Summersville Lake dam. The couple had been dating for several years, and the time felt right to take the next step. Leigh, born and raised in Summersville, said yes, and the couple began working on wedding plans. The setting for the day was The Nelson Farm in Dry Fork.

The aisle for the ceremony was a freshly mowed swath of grass, and the bride was escorted down it by her father. She wore a long-sleeved ivory-colored gown with an open back and V-neck bodice and carried a hand-tied bouquet of wildflowers. The couple exchanged traditional vows as a guitar and banjo played soft bluegrass music for the ceremony.

They held a reception for family and friends following the ceremony with food provided by Fish Hawk Acres. Appetizers included Mexican shrimp cocktail on tostadas, slaw salsa with tortilla chips, and tropical fruits. The main course was beef, chicken, or pulled pork street tacos with traditional sides and small bite desserts. The couple had a naked wedding cake with fresh summer floral decorations made by the bride’s neighbor, Nellie, the owner of Creative Cakes & Floral.

Reception guests played outdoor yard games and enjoyed musical entertainment by Aaron and Dave Beam. Each guest was gifted a jar of Mountain State Honey Co. honey and a hand-crafted honey dipper made by the groom’s father. The keepsake was special to Leigh and Mikael because they aspire to one day become beekeepers. Following a wedding trip to Jamaica, the couple returned home to Summersville, where Leigh works as a teacher and Mikael as a professional engineer.

Photographed by The Oberports

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