St. John’s Chapel by the Creek in Benton was the setting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, for the marriage of Lauren Ashley Nelms and Jeffrey James Byers. The Rev. Keaton Harper of Holland Chapel Baptist Church in Benton officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Gail and Tip C. Nelms III of Maumelle. She is the granddaughter of Dr. Tip C. and the late Josephine Nelms of Little Rock and the late Virginia and Robert Gruby of Forrest City.
The groom is the son of Betsy and Larry W. Byers of Mount Ida. His grandparents are Shirley and the late Delbert Byers and the late Marceline and James V. McMahen, all also of Mount Ida.
Pews were decorated with roses, hydrangeas, blush ranunculus, natural pine and blush stock. Music was by vocalist and guitarist Sean Michel of Bryant.
The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a vintage ivory gown. The lace Empire bodice had cap sleeves and a gray satin sash embellished with beading. She carried a bouquet of garden roses, hydrangeas, ranunculus, stock and pine along with her grandmother’s handkerchief.
Serving as her sister’s maid of honor was Kristen Nelms of Little Rock. Bridesmaid was Beky Olson, also of Little Rock. They wore blush pink gowns with Empire waistlines and pearl- and jewel-beaded necklines and carried smaller versions of the bridal bouquet.
Nicolas Byers of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, was his brother’s best man. Groomsman was Elliott Carr of Little Rock. Guests were seated by Landon Eddleman of Little Rock and Frank Smith of Jacksonville.
A reception at the chapel’s Oakwood Terrace followed the ceremony. Tables held mercury glass vases filled with wedding flowers along with tall glass cylinders filled with long white birch branches with hanging tea lights. Music was by Sean Michel.
The bride graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing at UAMS, where she is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International and is on schedule to graduate in May, with plans to be a family nurse practitioner. She is a registered nurse at UAMS.
The groom is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas in Conway with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. He was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. He is owner of Fixed Rate Moving Inc. and co-owner of Go Green Box LLC.
After a honeymoon, the couple will live in Little Rock.
High Profile, Pages 47 on 12/22/2013