Wedding Spotlight
Rivers Countiss and Richard Keyes
Photos by Brian Flint of B . Flint Photography
First Christian Church , Meridian , was the setting for the wedding ceremony of Matelyn Rivers Countiss and Richard Adam Keyes . The couple were united in holy matrimony at half after six o ’ clock in the evening on Saturday , June 26 , 2021 , at First Christian Church in Meridian . The Reverend Doctor Mark Benson preformed the double-ring ceremony .
The bride is the daughter of Mr . and Mrs . John Richard Countiss IV of Meridian . She is the granddaughter of the late Mrs . Beth Burns Hudson , Ms . Betty Burns , Mr . and Mrs . Henry David Burns , Senior , and Mr . Joseph F Miller of Meridian , as well as the late Honorable and Mrs . John Richard Countiss III of Jackson .
The groom is the son of Mr . and Mrs . Richard Earl Keyes of Jackson . He is the grandson of Mrs . James L . Terry , and the late Mr . James L . Terry of Stringer , as well as the late Mrs . Hallie Houston Keyes , and Mr . Earl Rogers Keyes of Jackson .
Wedding guests entered the ceremony and were seated to musical selections provided by Teodora Mitze-Curciumaru , church organist and pianist . The prelude and nuptials music were provided by soloists Blake Barham and Levi Mitzi-Curciumaru .
The chiming of the hour announced the arrival of the bride , who was given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father . The bride wore an ivory gown designed by Martina Liana from Elle James Bridal . The gown featuring a plunging neckline , and an open back with a fitted body accented by French lace and hand-beaded crystals . The dress was finished with satin covered buttons and a cathedral-length veil . For the ceremony , the bride added a full skirt designed by Hayley Page . The bride carried a traditional hand-tied bouquet of peonies , Patience garden roses and ranunculus in shades of pink and ivory . Affixed to the bouquet was a piece of her mother wedding gown handsewn with bride ’ s initials and wedding date .
Attending the bride as maid of honor was Mary Margaret Tardy of Nashville , Tennessee . Bridesmaids were Isabella Jane Allen of Cordova , Tennessee ; Cathryn Brooke Bidgood or Meridian , Mississippi ; Regan Leigh Bounds of Memphis , Tennessee ; Vallie Beth Castle of Jackson , Mississippi ; Brynn Katherine Chesney of Meridian , Mississippi ; Ellen Ann Countiss of Meridian , Mississippi ; Alexander Lauren Elliot of Meridian , Mississippi ; Olivia Elaine Enger of Hattiesburg , Mississippi ; Krysten Keyes Jernigan of Ridgeland , Mississippi ; Marla Kaye Miller of Oxford , Mississippi ; Courtney Danielle Smith of Seattle , Washington ; Rachel Ann Smith of New Orleans , Louisiana ; and Sadie Elyse Wilkinson of Memphis , Tennessee .
Each bridesmaid wore a full-length white , Dupioni silk gown in varying styles . They carried traditional bouquets of peonies , Patience garden roses and ranunculus in shades of pink and ivory mirroring the bouquet of the bride .
Mr . Richard Earl Keyes , father of the groom , served as best man . Groomsmen were Robert Lyon Brown of Columbus , Mississippi ; Ross Christmas Caver of Madison , Mississippi ; Henry Harrison Countiss of Meridian , Mississippi ; John Richard Countiss V of Meridian , Mississippi ; Will Carter Edgecomb of Madison , Mississippi ; Daniel Fox Haas of West Point , Mississippi ; Dallas Thornton Hannah of Meridian , Mississippi ; James Priest Jernigan of Ridgeland , Mississippi ; Houston Rogers Keyes of Madison , Mississippi ; Peter Franklin Keyes , Junior of Madison , Mississippi ; Jacob Temple Land of Dallas , Texas ; William Hamilton Lunsford VII of Hoover , Alabama ; Paul Michael Rice of Madison , Mississippi ; and Matt Arnold Taylor of Flora , Mississippi .
continued on page 44
42 • MERIDIAN HOME & STYLE