Area seniors go for royal treatment at mock wedding

JACKSON -- Area seniors had a dress rehearsal Thursday for the British Royal Family's upcoming nuptials.

Hannah Key and Alva Fellow stood in for bride-to-be Kate Middleton and groom-to-be Prince William on Thursday in a mock royal wedding ceremony at the J. Roland Smith Senior Center. The mock wedding was attended by a bevy of the Center's senior clients in formal wear and snappy haberdashery.

"Everybody's had a good time, especially the bride," said wedding director Janie Sims. "Hannah was so excited, she borrowed a wedding dress - we were having to hold it up off the floor so it wouldn't get dirty - and she went out and bought herself a veil."

Added guest Joyce Creamer, "She was late getting here. I was afraid we'd have a runaway bride!"

"It was wonderful," said Key. "My favorite part was coming in that door and seeing everything all done up. I'm bashful, but I got over that."

Key's husband Ernest Key stood in for the father of the bride on the long walk down the aisle, where Leola Ford portrayed the officiating minister.

Les Sims took the role of Prince Charles, and Mary Lou Howard and Don Franklin played Queen Elizabeth and her consort Philip. Clayton Stalling was Wills' best man, and Willis Witt and Gene Mann were groomsmen. Pansy Witt was maid of honor. Serving as ring bearer was Emma Simmons, and Joyce Pebworth was flower girl. Joann Farr was the soloist.

Key did the bouquet toss and the garter toss after the mock wedding, and wedding cake and punch were served to all after the ceremony.

"We'll be watching the royal wedding on TV," Sims said. "It might be better than ours. But it's going to run a close race."

Contact Suzanne Stone at sstone@aikenstandard.com.