Long, Simpson

Published 8:32 pm Friday, December 12, 2008

Jessica Renee Simpson and John Barton Long Jr. were united in marriage on Saturday, June 14, 2008, in a late afternoon outdoor ceremony at Diamond Cross Ranch, Jackson Hole, Wyo. The ranch is an event center that is also a working horse and cattle ranch. It nestles between Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks near Moran Junction, Wyo.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse William Simpson Jr. of Meridian. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Fred Dyer of Hohenwald, Tenn., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jesse William Simpson Sr. of Walnut.

The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Barton Long Sr. of Birmingham, Ala. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Laurie Francis Pratt Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burt Long of Stewart, Ala.

Ceremony music was provided by Steam Powered Airplane. The bride and bridesmaids arrived by way of an old fashioned wagon, drawn by a team of pinto horses with the Teton Range as their backdrop. As they made this dramatic horse-drawn entrance, more magnificent horses were let loose and remained in the field throughout the ceremony.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a sweeping silk charmeuse designer gown with an asymmetrically draped strapless bodice. The empire waistline bodice was trimmed with thin Duchess bias strips descending to a french braid pattern across the chapel-length train with covered buttons down the back.

Her cathedral-length veil was custom designed and edged in silk. She carried a bouquet of hand gathered mix of white stock, peonies, sweet peas mini calla lilies, and lily of valley, tied with a white french satin ribbon.

Maid of honor was Mindy Hearn White of Jackson Hole. Bridesmaids were Stephanie Beatrous, Laura Long Fulton and Betsy Strong, all of Birmingham; Jennifer Russell Gunn and London Luckett Simpson, both of Jackson; Bridget Kennedy Purdy, Meridian; and Alison Ulmer, Nashville, Tenn.

The bridegroom’s father served as best man. Groomsmen were Trey Ayers, Santa Rosa, Fla.; Mark Bates, Atlanta, Ga.; Dustin Blomeyer and Walker Renneker Jr., both of Birmingham; Will Crim, Crested Butte, Colo.; Darin Gamba and Wes White, both of Jackson Hole.; Mark Metcalf, Driggs Idaho; Clint Rogers, Missoula, Mont.; and Joseph Simpson, Jackson.

Following the wedding ceremony, the reception was held in the barn at Diamond Cross with music provided by Bloodkin.

On the eve of the wedding, the bridegroom’s parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Spring Creek Ranch in Jackson Hole. Earlier that day, the bridesmaids’ luncheon was given by Laura Fulton, Brenda Kennedy, Anne Robin Luckett, Lynn Russell, London Simpson and Donna Ulmer at Earth and Vine in Jackson Hole.

The newlyweds plan an extended trip in the spring. The couple resides in Jackson Hole, where the bride is a registered nurse, and the bridegroom is a professional ski instructor and real estate agent.