Carolyn Lucille Branton and Courtney Alphonzo Smith were married at 5 p.m. Friday, May 4, at Jellyfish Restaurant in Playa Bavaro, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The couple's friend Bianca Brown officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Stephanie and Circuit Court Judge Wiley Branton Jr. of Maumelle. She is the granddaughter of Carolyn and Ernest Gibson of Olympia Fields, Ill., and the late Lucille and Wiley Branton of Washington.
Parents of the groom are Alphonzo Smith of Crown Point, Ind., and the late Anita Smith. He is the grandson of Norma Jean Smith and Sam Jackson, and the late Caliena and Jesse Amos, all of Gary, Ind.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a blush floral embroidered gown of Italian lace with a V-neckline and a full skirt. She carried a bouquet of white and blush roses and hydrangeas.
Vows were exchanged on a private beach under a driftwood-and-flower canopy. Music was by a local violinist.
The bride's honor attendants were her cousins, Mackenzie Marie Capers of Chicago, and Mariah Cathryn Matthews of Oakland, Calif. They wore ivory gowns in the styles of their choice and carried tropical bouquets.
Immediately after the wedding, a cocktail hour and dinner were held at the restaurant. Guest tables were decorated with a variety of island greenery, flowers, lanterns and candles. Dancing followed on the beach under a canopy with a lighted dance floor.
The bride has a bachelor's degree from Millikin University, Decatur, Ill., and a master's degree from Columbia College, Chicago. She is the director of institutional advancement for Robert Morris University in Chicago.
The groom has a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in business administration from Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Fla. He is a vice-president of finance for Retail Properties of America in Oakbrook, Ill.
The couple plan a delayed wedding trip to Thailand, and will reside in Chicago.
High Profile on 05/13/2018