Meagan Elizabeth McCalip and James Mims McLeod were united in marriage at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 16, 2015, at Routhland, antebellum home of Mr. and Mrs. Everette Ratcliffe.

The Honorable George M. Ward officiated at the double-ring ceremony under the 150-plus-year-old live oak tree decorated by nature in Spanish moss and resurrection fern. The branches were also hung with lanterns and orbs filled with moss and brightly-colored flowers, and two large urns filled with a variety of coordinating blooms completed the focal point for the ceremony.

During the wedding celebration, Miss Hannah Loy of Washington, D.C., and a long-time friend of the bride, did a reading from Corinthians.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Conn Kenneth McCalip of Natchez and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Rushing of Meadville and Mrs. Gwen S. McCalip and the late F. Kenneth McCalip of Natchez.

The groom is the son of Col. and Mrs. James Robby McLeod of Fannin and the grandson of Mr. Robert P. Mims and the late Mrs. Virginia Mims of Natchez and the late Mr. and Mrs. James Edward McLeod of Fannin.

Mr. David Troutman, violinist, performed for the gathering of guests and for the wedding party’s processional and recessional. Mrs. Jan Scarborough of Natchez served as the wedding coordinator and Mrs. Brenda Zerby was the floral designer.

The bride, given in marriage by her father, was lovely in a strapless creation of silk organza overlay accented with Alencon lace. The dress featured a sweep train, covered buttons and a satin sash adorned with an antique gold and diamond bar pin belonging to the bride’s great-great-grandmother, Mrs. Hattie Bass McCalip.

The bride carried a colorful bouquet of mixed spring blossoms.

Attending the bride as maid-of-honor was her sister, Catherine Pate McCalip of Natchez. Serving as honorary bridesmaids were Katherine Riddick of Atlanta, Hannah Hyatt of Houston, Anna Norris Stovall and Lauren Lemonis of Jackson, Giselle LeBlanc of Hammond, La., and Hannah Loy.

Little Miss Avery Smith, niece of the groom, of Fannin, was the flower girl and “scene stealer.” Favor girls were cousins of the bride, Ella and Macy McCalip of Baton Rouge, Caroline and Sydney Roberts of Meadville and Ryleigh Rushing of Brookhaven.

Serving as best man was the groom’s father and honorary groomsman was his grandfather.

Ushers were Fletcher Mims, cousin of the groom, Matthew Letard and Michael Adkinson, all of Natchez. Ryan Rushing, cousin of the bride, of Meadville, served as an usher and also serenaded the bride and groom at the reception.

Serving as junior attendants were cousins of the bride, Masters Daniel Chase McCalip of Baton Rouge and Tucker Roberts of Meadville. They carried miniature swords handcrafted by Mr. Walter Maier and monogrammed by Mrs. Mary Lees Wilson.

After the nuptials, a jazz brunch catered by Jim Anderson was served. Guests enjoyed Southern cuisine and cool drinks throughout the beautiful home, outside on the long veranda and on the breezeway where a jazz band performed for dancing and listening enjoyment.

The multi-tiered bride’s cake was created by Edna Welch and was decorated with fresh flowers. The groom’s cake was a two-tiered Boston cream pie also created by Edna Welch and surrounded by chocolate-dipped strawberries.

The bride and groom left the reception leading a second-line parade with guests waving monogrammed handkerchiefs.

The newlyweds spent their wedding night at Monmouth Plantation and then flew to Turks and Caicos for their honeymoon.