On Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, at 6 p.m. in the evening, Amanda Gail Smith and Jonathan David Conerly exchanged vows and united as one in the presence of God, family, and friends. Pastor Shane Davis officiated the ceremony.

    The bride is the daughter of Ron and Brenda Smith of Meridian, Miss. She is the granddaughter of Arnold Jack Mears and the late Doris Evelyn Hatch Mears of Meridian, Miss., and the late Charlie Edward and Honora Smith, of Biloxi, Miss. The groom is the son of Mike and Donna Conerly, of Brandon, Miss., and Mary Lorraine Conerly, of Louin, Miss. He is the grandson of Mary Simmons and the late Franklin Simmons, of Louin, Miss., and the late David and Grace Conerly, of Jayess, Miss.  

    The bride was walked down the aisle by her father at the Chapel of Memories on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., wearing a fit and flare Oleg Cassini gown accented with lace, beads, seed pearls, and sparkle, ending in a chapel-length train. The bride wore a Melissa Sweet chapel-length veil with rose appliques decorating the bottom in honor of her late grandmother, Doris “Gobby” Mears. The bride was met by her groom wearing a charcoal Calvin Klein suit with a boutonniere made of hymnal paper. The groom also wore a watch as well as cufflinks given to him by his bride on their wedding day to honor his late brother, Shannon Conerly, of Louin, Miss.  

    Serving as matron of honor was the bride’s sister, Rhonda Smith Kavan, of Nashville, Tenn. Attending as bridesmaids were Mary-Catherine McGregor, Whitney Fuller, and Jennifer Shomo.  

    The bride’s nephew, Eli Preston Kavan, of Nashville, Tenn., was the ring bearer and pushed a train down the aisle to announce the entrance of the bride. Mary-Catherine McGregor’s children, Sian and Fiona, were program attendants at the ceremony. Music for the ceremony was handled by the bride’s brother-in-law, Brad Kavan, of Nashville, Tenn. You Call the Shots Photography, out of Columbus, Miss., provided two incredibly talented and kind photographers to capture the entire day.

    Serving as best man was the groom’s friend, Justin Rhodes, of Bay Springs, Miss. Attending the groom as groomsmen were Dennis Smith, Mike Conerly, and Jay Anthony.   

    Following the ceremony, the bride and groom entered the reception by walking down the stairs of the Hunter Henry Center on the campus of Mississippi State University to the MSU fight song, ringing cowbells, along with all of their guests.  

    After honeymooning in Key West, Fla., the couple resides in Philadelphia, Miss. The bride is a therapist for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the groom is a terminal trainmaster for the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The couple would like to express their deep gratitude for all who were a part of their wedding day as well of those who were there in spirit.