Mary Elaine Williamson, Ben Mims marry

Mary Elaine Williamson of Decatur, Alabama, and Benjamin Lovick Mims IV of Edgefield were united in marriage June 25 at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama. The Rev. Robert J. Sullivan officiated the 6:30 p.m. ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Craig Alan Williamson of Decatur, Alabama. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Merrill Dean Arrington and the late Mr. Arrington and Mrs. George McHutchinson Williamson and the late Mr. Williamson, all of Birmingham, Alabama. She earned a Bachelor of Science in collaborative education from Birmingham-Southern College and a Master of Education in library media from the University of West Alabama. She is employed as an elementary school teacher.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lovick Mims III of Edgefield. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Lovick Mims Jr. of Edgefield and the late Mr. and Mrs. Julian Hall Burns of Camden. He earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from The Citadel and a Master of Science in construction and engineering management from the University of Alabama. He is employed with Brasfield and Gorrie General Contractors.

The bride was escorted by her father. Organist Molly Knerl and soloist Joy Baker provided music.

Matron of honor was Janie Williamson Langdale of Columbia. Bridesmaids were Marilyn Patricia Brice and Claire Ward Hubbs, both of Birmingham, Alabama; Meghan Hawkins Golson and Mary Margaret Adams Ingram, both of Decatur, Alabama; Courtenay Brailsford Mims of Edgefield; and Emily Yarbrough Moore of Mobile, Alabama. Katherine Rush Hook and Sadie Brailsford Hook of Mount Pleasant were flower girls.

Best man was the groom’s father. Groomsmen were John Moultrie Burns Jr., of Camden; Jonathon Wayne Cantrell and Briggs Rutledge Dorn of Edgefield; Caleb Joseph Hund of Charleston; Daniel Louis Viegas of Sparta, New Jersey; and Christopher Aaron Williamson of Birmingham, Alabama. Luke Jacob Arrington of Orange Park, Florida, was ring bearer.

Readers were John Reed Kramer of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Hillary Paige Papich and Anna Elizabeth Curl, both of Decatur, Alabama. Michael Wade Arrington of Orange Park, Florida, was cross bearer.

A reception followed at Iron City in Birmingham.

The couple honeymooned in St. Kitts and Nevis and reside in Atlanta.

In their own words

Q. How did you meet?

A. The bride and groom met when Ben came to Alabama for grad school. A mutual friend introduced them, and they quickly enjoyed getting to know each other.

Q. When did you know your spouse was “the one”?

A. Ben and Mary Elaine dated long-distance for a few years as Ben traveled around the Southeast for work. It was during this time that they really cherished their time together and knew they wanted a future with each other.

Q. Tell us about the proposal.

A. It was Labor Day weekend of 2015, and Ben and Mary Elaine were looking forward to spending the weekend at the bride’s family’s lake house on Lake Martin in Alabama. Ben got down on one knee and proposed the night they arrived. The rest of the weekend was spent sharing the news with friends and family and soaking up the sun.

Q. What was your favorite part of the wedding day?

A. The couple’s favorite part of the day was dancing with each other and their friends and family at the reception. The band and venue made the night extra memorable.

Q. How did you choose the church where you were married?

A. Mary Elaine attended this church in Birmingham since she arrived there for college. Ben often attended church there, too, when he was living in or visiting Birmingham.