Richard and Rhonda Smith of Monroe, La., announce the engagement of their daughter Emily Lacey Smith to Leighton Blake Byrd, son of Gwendolyn Arender of Monroe and Timothy Byrd of Denver.

The bride-to-be is a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe and is employed by Christus Health Hospital in Shreveport, La., as a registered nurse. She is the granddaughter of Ronald and Carol Ann Rushing and David R. Smith and the late Annette Smith, all of Natchez.

The groom-to-be is a graduate of St. Fredrick High School in Monroe and Bossier Parish Community College with a degree in communication media. He is employed by Southern Trace Country Club.

He is the grandson of Rex and Denese Byrd of Monroe and Herbert Byrd and Margaret Webb of Alexandria, La.

The wedding will be 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017, at Auburn Antebellum Home in Natchez.

A reception will immediately follow the ceremony.

Formal invitations will be sent to out-of-town guests only.