Leslie Nicole Ross and Lt. Richard Henry Esham II were united in marriage Sept. 20, 2008 at the waterfront home of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Henry Esham in Mobile. The Rev. Jeff Spiller officiated at the 4 p.m. ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John and Sandi Stanard of Foley. The bridegroom is the son of Dr. Richard Esham of Mobile and Nancy Esham of Fairhope.
The bride is a 1996 graduate of McGill-Toolen High School. She graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in radiologic sciences. She is employed as an MRI technologist at the Mobile Infirmary Medical Center.
The bridegroom is a 1994 graduate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School. He graduated from the University of South Alabama in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences. He has completed service in the Army National Guard and is currently employed as an instructor pilot for the U.S. Navy. He is stationed at NAS Pensacola.
Given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore a mermaid style wedding gown by designer Maggie Sottero. It was made of almond french taffeta with a corset lace up back and a sweetheart neckline. The dress was embellished at the bust and waistline with crystals and pearls. The bride wore a matching veil etched in crystals and pearls. Belle Bouquet of Saraland created the bride’s bouquet which was made of hydrangeas and roses that was wrapped with satin ribbon and accented with pearl pins.
Danielle Marsh Weiskopf of Mobile served as matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Amy Rettig, Jamie Marston, Kellie Wiseman, Ashley Prati, Heather Ewert, Christi Williams, Leigh Bearden and Lori McInvale. The bridesmaids wore satin gowns from the Alfred Angelo collection that were turquoise blue with chocolate brown sashes. They carried bouquets of electra pink roses tied with matching turquoise satin ribbon.
Dr. Richard Henry Esham of Mobile served as best man. Groomsmen were Greg Weiskopf, Malcolm Lightfoot, Nathan Irby, Joe Prati, Clay Esham, Ryan Clark, Tim Hawkins, and Jon Grubbs. The groomsmen wore traditional black tuxedos with a silver designed vest.
The bridegroom wore his Mess Dress Blues. The swordsmen included Mike Anderson, Doug Howard, Kevin Johnston, Andy Guise, Bill Pritchett, Dan Maltby, Josh Saunders, Tracey White, Tom Gallagher, and Ryan Donohue. They wore Service Dress Blues and performed the traditional arch of swords that the newlyweds walked through at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Flower girls were Mia McInvale and Sophia Marston. Jacob Prati and Addison Weiskopf were the ring bearers.
Faith Esham of New York was the soloist. The soprano sang to the beautiful music of “The Lord’s Prayer” and "Ave Maria." The bridesmaids processed to “Canon in D” while the bride entered with “Here Comes the Bride.” The bridal party recessed to the traditional “Wedding March.”
The garden wedding reception immediately followed the ceremony. The lawn was decorated with white tents, paper lanterns, glass candles, blue and clear Italian lights that were strung from trees. The reception included the viewing of the Auburn and LSU football game on the pier. Chef Rob of Mobile catered the delicious wedding food, which included Southern foods such as a tasty grit station, brisket, ham and a wonderful hors d’oeuvre station that included salmon and imported cheeses.
The bride’s cake by Pollman’s was a three-tier vanilla cake with different levels of raspberry, strawberry, and lemon fruit filling. A monogram of the bride and groom’s initials were etched in icing on the cake with decorative artwork. The groom’s cake was a chocolate dobage with the AU monogram in orange and blue. Both cakes were cut with the Groom’s sword. The couple toasted the occasion with antique champagne goblets engraved with their names and wedding date that was given to them by the bride's parents.
The guests and wedding party danced to the music of Low Down Throw Down of Mobile. The bride and groom danced their first dance as husband and wife to Jack Johnson’s “Better Together” performed by the band. The band played on after the sunset and into the evening as everyone danced to southern rock music by the water.
Out of town family members and guests stayed at the historic Battlehouse hotel in downtown Mobile.
The bridal couple was given a Luau in July by the bride's aunts, Jo Pennington and Pat Barfield, at the Point Clear home of John and Christine Kramer. The groom's mother, Nancy Esham, and sister, Ashley Prati, hosted a wine tasting party at the Prati home in Mobile. The couples close friends gave them a “Honey Do” themed shower at the home of Ralph and Linda Patrick. The bride’s attendants honored the bride with a lingerie shower in Gulf Shores.
The wedding festivities began with a bridesmaid’s champagne brunch at Café 615 in downtown Mobile hosted by the bride's parents. Dr. and Mrs. Dick and Tamela Esham hosted the rehearsal dinner on the eve of the wedding at the Bluegill Restaurant on the causeway in Mobile. The guests enjoyed wonderful seafood prepared by the restaurant on the outside deck. The night was filled with laughter, memories and a few tears as those gathered toasted the soon to-be-wed couple.
As the wedding day and evening came to a close, Lt. and Mrs. Richard Henry Esham II spent their first night in the bridal suite at The Battlehouse Hotel. After a relaxing and enjoyable weeklong honeymoon to St. Lucia, the couple will reside in Mobile.
