Elizabeth Marie Saunders and Theodore ‘Dory’ Freeland Fields exchanged wedding vows on May 17, 2014.

The candlelight, double-ring ceremony was held at West End Baptist Church, Suffolk. The Rev. Floyd T. Irby officiated the ceremony. The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents.

Parents of the bride are Phillip Lee and Judith Taylor Saunders of Suffolk. Grandparents of the bride are Mack Thomas and Ruth Saunders of Suffolk. Parents of the groom are Thomas and Carolyn Fields of Norfolk.

The bride wore a strapless, A-line ball gown featuring a sweetheart neckline by Spanish designer Pronovias. Her gown had a ruched bodice embellished with mini satin buttons down the back. The gown consisted of multiple layers of English lace with hand beadwork accentuating the lace and a beautiful flowing lace train. The cathedral-length veil was trimmed with satin.

The bride’s wedding jewelry consisted of pearl and diamond earrings belonging to her late maternal grandmother, Helen Rountree Taylor, and a pearl necklace belonging to her mother.

Her bridal bouquet was in hues of plum, purple, violet, white accentuated with shades of green. The flowers were primarily roses and hydrangeas, with a variety of flowers to create a naturally flowing bridal bouquet. The bridal party, church and reception flowers all coordinated with the bridal bouquet.

The bride was attended by her maid of honor, Mary Potter of Smithfield. Bridesmaids were her sister, Katherine Saunders of Virginia Beach, and two best friends, Ashleigh Kennedy of Suffolk and Kate Monn of Franklin.

The attendants wore plum-colored dresses, with pearl jewelry, that were adorned with a neckline of lace complimenting Elizabeth’s bridal gown.

Gillian Paige Saunders of Richmond was junior bridesmaid. She wore a lovely dress made of eyelet overlay. Oliviana Keddrell of Norfolk was the flower girl and wore a satin white dress, tied in the back in a bow.

The groom’s best man and groomsmen wore sand-toned three-piece tuxedos with coordinating plum colored bowties and handkerchiefs.

The best man was Josh Ambrose of Virginia Beach, and the groomsmen were brother of the bride, Phillip Lee Saunders, Jr. of Suffolk, Logan Spruill of Norfolk and Channing Connelly of Virginia Beach. Garett Brown of Smithfield was the junior groomsman. His brother, Justin Brown, also of Smithfield, was the ring bearer.

Musical selections were provided by Karey Sitzler of Portsmouth, who played both the viola, the guitar and also sang “Wedding Prayer.” Dean Kershaw of Newport News played the organ, and Dr. Robert Pipkin of Virginia Beach sang “The Lord’s Prayer” as the couple prayed on the kneeling bench.

Sister of the bride, Katherine, read the poem, “The Art of Marriage” and the best man, Josh, read scriptures from the Bible.

The celebration continued at the Hilton Garden Inn Riverfront. Immediately following the wedding ceremony, guests were invited to a cocktail hour on the veranda overlooking the scenic Nansemond River.

The reception was held in the Nansemond Ballroom. Guests waved sparklers festively as the newlyweds departed the reception by boat down the Nansemond River that evening.

Following their honeymoon on a cruise to the Bahamas, the couple plans to live in Suffolk.