Marah Lenann Melvin and Wesley Preston McFadden were married at half past four in the afternoon on Sept. 24, 2016, at The Hilton President Hotel in Kansas City, Mo.
Parents of the bride are Michael Blane and Mona Susan Percy Melvin, Iola. Parents of the groom are Jacqueline “Jacque” Lorraine Ensminger and Jack W. McFadden. The bride’s grandparents are Jeanne Ann Masterson Percy of Iola and the late William Glenn “Curly” Percy, and Osa Lenore Melvin Howard of Williamsburg and the late Master Sgt. Ernest Ned Melvin. The groom’s grandparents are Jack L. Ensminger of Moran and the late Marjorie C. Woodward Ensminger, and Jacquelyn “Jackie” Cox McFadden of Iola and the late James P. “Jim” McFadden.
The couples’ parents, grandparents and great-grandparents were honored at the Family Wedding Table in the foyer which held all of their framed wedding pictures placed on gold foil doilies with the names and wedding dates of each couple attached. The chandelier and candlelit ceremony took place in the Congress Ballroom where the altar was banked with large floral arrangements which were placed atop pedestals covered in rose-gold sequined fabric and featured ivory, champagne and blush pink roses, hydrangeas and greenery. The aisle decorations were floating candles in glass vases, draped strands of pearls, and floral arrangements matching the altar flowers. A photograph of the bride’s grandfather, Glenn Percy, walking the bride’s mother down the aisle at her wedding was placed in his honor. A photograph of the groom’s grandmother, Marjorie Ensminger, at her daughter’s wedding was placed in her honor.
The officiant at the wedding was the Rev. Philip Honeycutt of Iola’s Covenant of Faith Christian Center.
The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a strapless Eve of Milady cappuccino ivory mermaid style fit and flare gown with a sweetheart neckline. The gown was covered in point d’Alencon lace with hand-beaded appliques, accents and embellishments of rhinestones, pearls, and iridescent and opalescent sequins at the bodice and around to the back. The circular many-layered tulle skirt fell into a cathedral train scattered with beaded lace appliques. She also wore a matching rhinestone piece of body jewelry across her shoulders and back, and vintage earrings with a spray of rhinestones. Her handcrafted chapel-length Juliet veil and blusher was made of imported French illusion with vintage Art Deco rhinestone barrettes at the sides. The barrettes were a gift from her bridesmaid Cara Lohkamp.
The bride’s bouquet held ivory and champagne roses and greenery and was wrapped in champagne satin ribbon with pearl attachments. She also carried a monogrammed handkerchief which belonged to her grandfather, Glenn Percy.
The bridal attendants each wore different styles of evening gowns of their choice in shades of gold, rose gold, champagne or blush. The bride and all of her attendants and flower girls wore handmade gold ankle bracelets, a gift from the bride and made by her mother. Mallory Michelle Melvin Watkins, sister of the bride, was matron of honor, and Marielie Maureen Melvin, sister of the bride, was maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Megan “Meggie” Maureen Carroll, cousin of the bride, Molly Kathleen Carroll, cousin of the bride, Maggie Jo Stevens Schmidt, cousin of the bride, Lisa Nicole McFadden, sister of the groom, Cara Lohkamp, Aubrey Jean Near and Natalie Paige King. The bride’s attendants also carried fresh flower clutch bouquets similar to the bride’s with ivory, champagne, and blush pink roses and greenery tied in champagne satin ribbon. Chosen to be the flower girls were Klaira Gayle Hayes, niece of the bride, Gracie Kathryn Snethen, cousin of the bride, and Kennady Shaughnessy, cousin of the groom. They wore ivory gowns featuring bodices with flower and jewel embellishments and many-layered full-length tulle skirts. They wore rhinestone and flowered ribbon headbands and carried lace and jewel enhanced baskets full of gold and glittered rose petals.
The bridal attendants were the vocalists for the wedding and sang the song “Because” by Guy d’Hardelot, which was sung at the bride’s maternal grandparents’ wedding by her great-uncle Eugene Mack Percy on June 12, 1954.
The groom was attended by his best man, Greg Hayes, and groomsmen Luke McFadden, brother of the groom, Mark McFadden, brother of the groom, Mack Joseph Melvin, brother of the bride, Adam Eisenbart, Luke Fangman, Christian Jackson, Daniel Domsch and Chris Tipton. The ring bearer was River Glenn Watkins, nephew of the bride. Ushers were Jared Glen Watkins, brother-in-law of the bride, and Colby Hundley.
The wedding music before and during the ceremony was performed by the Kansas City string quartet “Juniper.” The wedding processional music for the bride was “Clair de lune” by Claude Debussy and was chosen to honor the bride’s grandmother, Jeanne Ann Masterson Percy. Recessional music was “Rondeau” by Mouret.
Following the ceremony, the cocktail hour was held on the mezzanine. The plated dinner was next served in the ballroom. All of the reception and table decorations were put together by the bride and her mother and consisted of antique gold vanity mirrors upon which were placed hand-styled collections of crystal, gold and pearl accent pieces, candelabras and antique pitchers full of fresh flower arrangements matching the altar flowers. The reception also featured a candy bar with gold and silver wrapped candies and chocolates. The cake-cutting then preceded the wedding dance. The heart-shaped cake topper which accented the five-tiered wedding cake was handmade by the bride and her bridesmaid, Cara Lohkamp, out of heirloom vintage jeweled brooches, buttons and earrings.
The couple’s first dance was to Nat King Cole singing “Unforgettable.” The bride and groom then each danced with their mother to the song “My Mother’s Eyes” as sung by Ella Fitzgerald.
They danced until midnight and the music for the wedding dance was provided by PartyRockerz DJ Service which is operated out of Ottawa by Chuck Johnson, uncle of the bride, and Scott Snethen, cousin of the bride. Many others also contributed to the couple’s happy day. Guest book attendants were Kylie Geiman and Rylie Albert. Handing out wedding programs were Alex Trinkle, Austin Trinkle, Charlie Finch and Griffin Snethen, cousins of the bride. The bride’s stylist was her aunt Maureen Ann Percy Carroll. Katie DelaCruz assisted the bride and the bridal party. The wedding reception dinner and open bar at the President and the rehearsal dinner at Buca di Beppo on the Kansas City Country Club Plaza were hosted by the family of the groom. The bride wore her mother Mona Percy Melvin’s wedding gown and veil at the wedding ceremony rehearsal and had photographs made wearing her grandmother’s, her mother’s and her mother-in-law’s wedding dresses and veils.
The bride was feted at a bridal shower tea party hosted by the mothers of the couple and held at the home of the groom’s mother, Jacque Ensminger. Entertainment at the shower was provided by the bride’s grandmother, Jeanne Ann Percy, playing on the grand piano.
The bachelorette party was hosted by Marielle Melvin, the sister of the bride and maid of honor, in Kansas City at the Power and light District. The bachelor party was held at the McFadden’s family cabin at Grand Lake.
The couple spent their honeymoon at Sandals Grande Antigua Resort, and returned to their home in New York City.
Wedding — McFadden-Melvin
