Hester Graham.

Neeli Michelle Hester and John Stephen Graham were united in marriage at six o'clock in the evening on April 22, 2006, at Galloway United Methodist Church in Jackson, with Rev. Ross Olivier officiating.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Lee Hester of Anguilla. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Glover Alonzo Herndon of Shannon and the late Mr. and Mrs. James William Hester of the Palmetto community in Tupelo. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Norris Graham of Sumrall. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James Ellis Graham of Sumrall and Mr. and Mrs. Hollie E. Hudson of Bassfield.

A program of nuptial music was provided by Dr. Robert Knupp of Clinton and soloist Zina Duncan of Tupelo. Readers were Julie Gresham and Ryan Mouledous. Ashley Cooper and Johnna Coccaro served as program girls.

The altar was decorated with two large candelabra with lighted candles, each enhanced with gladioli, lilies, roses, heather, gerbera daisies, poms, and Italian ruscus in shades of tangerine, yellow, hot pink, and lime green. The lighted candles were in memory of Lee Jamison Hester, brother of the bride; the bride's grandparents; and Melinda Graham, cousin of the groom. Palms in rust-colored urns with ivy completed the setting on each side of the altar.

At the chiming of the hour, the bride entered the sanctuary escorted by her father. She wore an original gown of Verona satin with an over lay of jeweled lace designed with a strapless silhouette falling into a chapel-length train bordered in scalloped embellished lace. A veil of illusion fell from a comb secured beneath a cascade of curls. She carried a rounded cluster of yellow Gold Strike roses and solidago with stems wrapped in satin ribbon.

Attending the bride as matron of honor was Dr. Kelli King. Bridesmaids were Tanya Bosarge, Jennifer Britton, Rachel Dews, Lori Groscost, Jennifer Lott, Karen Lowe, Beth Magee, Ashley McDaniel, and Robin Preaus. They wore silhouette gowns of cornflower blue crepe designed with halter tops adored with jeweled brooches and empire waists accented with bias ruffles. They carried colorful mixed clusters of orange Unique roses, yellow Enchantment lilies, hot pink Baronnea heather, yellow tulips, golden solidago, and lime green pores.

The groom's father and brother, Jeffrey Todd Graham, served as best men. Groomsmen were Glen Brady Jr., Ted Burrell, Walt Denton, Tate Dickey, Ryan Frederic, Troy Johnston, Scott Lanehart, Gray Montgomery, and Kyle Smith.

Following the ceremony, guests were invited to a reception at the Capital Club. The three-tier traditional bride's cake was placed on a ornate silver plateau and decorated with a mixture of red and orange Unique roses and yellow Enchantment lilies.

The square two-tier groom's Italian cream cake was decorated with cream cheese icing accented with chocolate swirls and topped with chocolate-covered strawberries and chocolate shavings.

On the day before the wedding, a bridesmaids' luncheon, hosted by Dr. Kelli King and Tanya Bosarge, was held at the Old Capitol Inn. On the eve of the wedding, family and friends gathered at the Fairview Inn for the rehearsal dinner, hosted by the groom's parents.

Following a honeymoon to the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, the couple resides in Jackson.