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photo by Marcus Frazier
Bride-to-be Stephanie Swalm cheerfully waits for her cue to enter the Trinity Episcopal Church Saturday afternoon.
Swalm gets ready for life change
Published Monday, June 23, 2008
NATCHEZ — When The Dart landed near the corner of Orleans and South Commerce Street Saturday, Stephanie Swalm was getting ready for one of the biggest moments of her life — a moment that would change both her life and her name.
It was approximately 5:30 p.m., and Swalm was preparing for her wedding at 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church.
The wedding was exactly one year and one month after she and her husband-to-be, Will Jones, met, Swalm said.
“My sister arranged it,” Swalm said. “One day she asked Will during his lunch break if he wanted to hang out, and we met then and have pretty much been together since then.”
Stephanie Swalm waits for the wedding service to begin at Trinity Episcopal Church.
The two lived on the same street, but had not previously met, she said.
“We lived five houses down from each other, and Will did not even know it,” Swalm said. “My sister lived across the street from me, and he thought I was just always over there visiting her.”
The bride-to-be had not been so oblivious.
“I knew he lived there,” she said. “I would wave when I passed by and he was sitting on his porch every day.”
Despite the fact that he might not have been so aware of her residence, the two hit it off — which ultimately led to Saturday’s nuptials, followed by a reception at Monmouth.
Preparing for the wedding at 311 S. Commerce St., the home of David and Gwen Ball, was a family tradition for Swalm, because her two sisters had done the same thing.
But after a day of hair, dress and makeup preparation, and with less than two hours until the wedding, Swalm said she didn’t have even a hint of butterflies in her stomach.
“I’m not nervous at all,” she said. “I just wish it was seven.”
Comments
Posted by ntzmom (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow congrats Stephanie.
Posted by generoberts (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 7:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A pretty June Bride....nice story. Now that is how I remember Natchez.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrat's Mrs. Jones! You are beautiful. Hey, that's the color I want for my wedding, LOL!
I wish you all a successful marriage.
Posted by Negotiator (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cool story.
Posted by fred (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
great story!
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 9:08 a.m.
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Posted by cjc3 (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 10:05 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 10:28 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
50% divorce rate in this country, hope they make it.
Posted by KLJ07 (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 12:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats Stephanie, You looked beautiful!
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 3:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We will pray for the best for your new family.
Posted by young_in_natchez (anonymous) on June 23, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
obamayamama - There is 50 percent SUCCESS rate as well. On a young bride's wedding day, the last thing she should think about is divorce. I hope stephanie does read this and become as cynical as you. Maybe you should save your rude comments for the other ariticles.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 8:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Keep your head in the clouds and forget to pay attention to reality. If I were getting married, I would want to make sure I was getting married for the right reasons.
Posted by obamayamama (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
" I hope stephanie does read this and become as cynical as you." HUH? YOU DO?
Posted by waterbourne (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good Luck, Steph. Will is a good guy. Oh, Obamayamama, you need to shut your ugly pie hole!!! No one is interested in your crap!
Posted by young_in_natchez (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I meant NOT. No need for the rudeness. I only responded to your comments because stephanie is a good friend of mine. I have nothing else to say except congratulations to the happy couple.
Posted by Hey_Yall (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations, Will and Stephanie!
Don't pay any mind to that guy posting mean crap here.
Hiding under the cover of anonymity, truly unhappy people attempt to hurt your feelings without consequence. Shame on that guy.
On the otherhand, posts like that should make us chuckle as we get a peak in to his whacked out mind. Kinda like watching Jerry Springer. Thanks for the laugh, Angry Fella.
It's not Stephanie's fault you get no matches on match.com and the Girls in Woodville always promise to go out with you the NEXT time you come see them.
Anyhoo... The Wedding and Reception were awesome!!
Posted by dixiemama (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations Will & Stephenine, I hope you have many happy years ahead.
Today is my 42nd anniversary. My best advice is always be honest with each other & best friends.
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats... best wishes..... I just wonder why "this" wedding made the paper???
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on June 24, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
thetruthhurts - it's called the "Dart". Supposedly the reporter throws a dart at a map of Natchez. He then goes to the area it lands and finds a story. I know some people this has happened to in the past. It's great human interest, and I think it's fun!
Congrats to Stephanie and Will! May all your troubles be little ones!
Posted by KariGuido (Kari Guido) on June 25, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, I want to say congratulations to Stephanie and Will. Steph, you've always been a second sister to me and I can't be more happy for you! Second of all, I had no idea that people actually waste their time making assumptions of which they know nothing about. Obamayamama sounds like an insecure lost soul who has nothing better to do than make false accusations due to jealousy. He/She must be in that 50 percentile that didn't make it. :)
Hope the honeymoon was more than perfect! Love always, KP
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