Emily Cooper Anders and Jonathan Donald Willard were married at 7 p.m., Saturday, May 5, 2012, at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’Conner, the Rev. Anthony Dhamaraj and the Rev. Louis Sklar III officiating.

Parents of the couple are Mr. and Mrs. John Felix Anders Jr. of Ferriday and Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ray Willard of Sterlington, La.

Grandparents of the bride are the late Mr. and Mrs. Russell Young Ratcliff and the late Mr. and Mrs. John Felix Anders Sr. Grandparents of the groom are Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Wilburn Willard of Monroe, La., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Henry Hollinger.

Music for the ceremony was provided by organist Dr. Patrick Doherty and vocalist Mrs. Becky Stephens.

The bride was given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father. The bride wore a gown of ivory Duchess silk with accents of ivory French Alencon lace. The gown featured a strapless sweetheart bust line, extended drop waistline, flared circle skirt and chapel-length train with an inverted pleat and covered buttons to the floor. Her veil of ivory silk was made by a close family friend using Alencon lace. The Alencon lace was taken from a family heirloom veil that was worn by her mother and three aunts. The lace was hand appliquéd in a scalloped pattern along the bottom edge of the cathedral-length veil.

The bride’s sisters, Rachel Anders Durel of Lafayette, La., and Bridget Anders Milliken of Ferriday, served as matrons of honor. Bridesmaids were Whitney Rose Bradford of Ferriday, Megan Ratcliff Evans of Baton Rouge, Jessica Katie Goldberg of New Orleans, Dana Waguespack Pinkstaff of Houston, Texas, Brittany Ratcliff Thomson of Franklin, La., Anna Elizabeth Wheeler of Houma, La., and Allison Kathryn Willard of Sterlington. The bridesmaids wore strapless, A-line, knee-length dresses in navy cotton silk.

Donald Keith Willard served as best man. Groomsmen were Andrew Joseph Andre of Shreveport, La., Bradley Chase Barrington of Brandon, Jonathan Hatten Jacobs, Justin Craig Jacobs and Clayton Cain Rhodes, all of Sterlington, Mark Calvin McLeod II of Mer Rouge, La., Matthew Dalton O’Neal of Houghton, La., and Edwin Nicholas Rowton of Minden, La.

David Dixon Davidge III of Hammond, La., Jason Joseph Durel of Lafayette, La., Tucker Lee Kifer of St. Joseph and Tom Terry Milliken of Ferriday served as ushers.

Elizabeth Hyde Murphy served as flower girl and Grant Ratcliff Murphy served as ring bearer.

Program attendants at the ceremony were Patrick Reily Murphy III and Aaron Matthew Miller. Readers at the nuptial mass were Mary Frances Ellis, Mary Elizabeth James and Holly Stewart Ratcliff. Eucharistic ministers were the celebrants.

Following the ceremony, a reception was at the Vidalia Conference and Convention Center. After a wedding trip to Saint Lucia, the couple will reside in Baton Rouge.