Elizabeth Tongate & Richard Montgomery IV – Sikeston, Missouri
For Elizabeth and Henley, holidays have always been important days. They met during Thanksgiving weekend in 2003, and Henley proposed over Memorial day weekend. “My friend dropped me off at my house after a road trip, and there was a rose on the front door step with a little note attached to it,” Elizabeth says. The note had a big ‘M’ on it, and directions to go check the coffee table. inside, there were rose petals all over and another note on the coffee table that said ‘a.’ after searching through the whole house, Elizabeth had collected notes that spelled out “marry me.”
The search ended in her room, where Henley waited with a dozen red roses and a proposal for marriage.
Elizabeth knew that she wanted to get married in her hometown and have the reception at her parent’s house, which is a replica of the Briars Mansion in Natchez, Mississippi, where Jefferson Davis was married. “The details came together after we got engaged,” she says. They wanted to include all the special people in their lives, so the guest list of 600 was no problem.
Robin Dial assisted with the planning process. since Elizabeth lived in a small town in Mississippi, she had to outsource the majority of her vendors. “Having robin was essential,” she says. “she oversaw the staff and guests to make sure everything was running smoothly and she was a great go-between for me and the vendors.”
Elizabeth wore a Jim Helm strapless, mermaid/trumpet style gown. The bridesmaids’ gowns were Jim Helm as well,mango-colored with a bow in the back. The groomsman and groom wore Ralph Lauren tuxes with black bow ties and cumberbunds.
The ribbons on the wedding cake matched the style of the back of the bridesmaid gowns. Elizabeth gave her bridesmaids pearl necklaces to wear at the wedding. Elizabeth followed many of the traditional wedding rituals. she didn’t see Henley until she walked down the aisle, and she included something old, something new, borrowed, and blue with her ensemble.
Inside the church, ivory bows marked every other pew, with candelabras with floral arrangements at the end of each aisle. As Elizabeth walked down the aisle, one of the ushers rolled out a white runner in front of her.
The wedding colors were shades of corals/peach, ivory and yellow. since the reception was outside at Elizabeth parents’ home, they wanted the decorations to blend in with the beautiful and colorful landscaping.
Moll Printing did the couple’s invitations and programs. as wedding favors, Elizabeth chose stemless wine glasses inscribed with “Libby & Henley, June 21, 2008.”
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed a cocktail hour, and then transitioned into the reception. entertainment was provided by the Memphis Jazz Orchestra, a 20-piece band out of Memphis. “I love old music from the Frank sinatra era, and that’s what the band played,” Elizabeth says. “People enjoyed the band so much that we had them play an extra hour!” The reception food was catered by The Wedding of Elizabeth Gail Tongate & Richard Henley Montgomery IVMS_RW_TongateMontgomery_Layout.indd 2 10/3/08 10:29:55 AM Susie’s Bake shop and restaurant and varied from salmon, shrimp and crab cakes to stuffed mushrooms, and pork tenderloin.
The theme of the outdoor reception was lights, lights, and more lights. The tent for the band featured three chandeliers. The property was secluded by acres of 5-foot tall cornfields. “It was a beautiful backdrop and definitely something different for the out of town people to see!” Elizabeth says.
Elizabeth remembers her favorite moment of the day. she had walked down the aisle and was standing next to Henley at the altar. “during the song ave Maria we were standing and holding hands and whispering to each other,” she says. “He was saying the most kind things to me and i have never seen him look at me the way that he did.”
Even though her wedding day was picture perfect, Elizabeth admits there was one small moment that was unplanned. “My bridesmaids and i had spent the day getting our hair and makeup done,” she says. “I finished with that, ran upstairs to my room to get my dress and accessories, and walked back downstairs to the porch. everyone had left! i guess we never really planned who would take me. so i went inside and luckily found our wedding coordinator and she took me!”
Acknowledgements and Special Thanks from the Tongate/Montgomery Wedding
Ceremony Site
First United Methodist Church
Sikeston, MO
573-471-3283
www.GBGM-UMC.org
Wedding Photographer
Sherry Rosenberger
Metropolitan Picture Company
St. Louis, MO
314-799-1775
www.MetroPictureCo.com
Wedding Planner
Designs & Blinds
Robin Dial
Sikeston, MO
573-471-6242
www.DesignsAndBlinds.com
Wedding Gown & Bridesmaid Gowns
Jim Helm Shop: The Ultimate Bride
St. Louis, MO
314-961-9997
www.TheUltimateBride.com
Tuxedos
Savvi Formal Wear
Richmond Heights, MO
314-727-0088
www.SavviFormalWear.com
Florist
Flower Patch
Sikeston, MO
573-472-2699
www.FlowerPatchSikeston.com
Wedding Cake
Ellie Minner
573-472-0659
Reception Site
Bride’s Parents’ Home
Sikeston, MO
573-380-3291
Reception Caterer
Susie’s Bake Shop & Restaurant
Sikeston, MO
573-471-8550
Entertainment
Memphis Dance Orchestra
RAM Entertainment/Russ Madry
Memphis, TN
901-757-4900 or 901-680-0131
Rehearsal Dinner Site
Dalhousie Golf Club
Cape Girardeau, MO
573-332-0818
www.DalhousieGolfClub.com
Transportation
Changing Spaces
Sandy Turnbow
573-472-2923
Invitations
Moll Printing Co.
Sikeston, MO
573-472-1848
www.MollPrinting.com
Favors
Discount Mugs
800-569-1980
www.DiscountMugs.com
