Steve Payne, Michelle Durrett, Silvia Payne, Jeremy Whitlow enjoy the party. (Photo by David Faytinger).

 Silvia and Steve Payne honored engaged couple Michelle Durrett and Jeremy Whitlow at a couple’s miscellaneous shower and cocktail party.

Roses, lilies and hydrangeas were in the flower bouquets for the table.

Among the guests were Hilarie and Kevin Blaney, Carolyn and Matt Durrett, Barbara and Bill Durrett, Jenna Johnston, Jackie and Don Durrett, Addison Durrett, Druanne and David Durrett, Lyle Clark, Lou and Jim Morris, Parker Durrett, Lynn and Brad Fielding,  Brenda and Tom McDaniel, Suzie Hupfeld, Barbara Eskridge.

The wedding is this month.

Brenna See, Jessica Garoutte, Anne Heatly, Leigh Hefner, Kate Chapman, Erika Braver, Abby Lawrence, Kate Newman, Simone Taylor, front; Rachel Brown, Elaine Reneau, back, were at the party for Elaine Reneau. (Photos by David Faytinger).

A tabletop shower honored Elaine Reneau. She and Christopher Anderson will be married in October.

Hostesses were Lucinda Huffman, Nancy Law, Leslie Samara, Gayla Stapleton and Mary Kay Samis in the Samis home. They gave the bride-to-be a large salad bowl and serving piece.

Among the guests were Gloria Duffner, Ann Reneau Asbury, Danette McCorkle, Margo Ward and Avery Ward, Rachel and Tracey Brown, Anne and Cindy Heatly, Beth Hawkins, Donna Cornelison.

Mary Kay Samis, Gayla Stapleton, Mary Reneau, Nancy Law, Lucinda Huffman, Leslie Samara, Claire Anderson were in the hostess group for the party.

Clayton, Marnie, and Clay Taylor, Becky, Ginny, and Bob Stevenson enjoy the party. (Photo by David Faytinger).

Becky Stevenson and Clay Taylor were honorees at a couple’s shower given by Meg Salyer, Edie Roodman and Dr.Georgi Snowden and Porter Berry, Edie Roodman, Dr. Eli Reshef.

Theme for the party was a Mexican fiesta with hot and spicy Mexican food from Ted’s, along with frozen margaritas. Pinatas and outdoor lighting decorated the back yard and Mariachi music played.

Among the people at the party were Ginny and Bob Stevenson, Marnie and Clayton Taylor, Leslie and Cliff Hudson, Patti and Dr. Mark Mellow, Suzie and John Swinford, Marsha and John Funk, Olivia Hansen, Julie Richardson, Patsy Gaberino Carey, Terry Murray, Teresa Rose, James Pickel, Miki and Jim Farris.

Guests brought an assortment of items for their new home from Home Depot.

Nathan Huffman, Colin Hinkley, Charlotte and Ben Huffman were at the party. (Photos by David Faytinger).

Charlotte Huffman and Colin Hinkley, Raleigh, N.C., were honored at a cocktail buffet and miscellaneous shower in the home of Liz and Kent Hoffman. Co-hosts were Shirley and Pete Everest, Jean and Paul Head, Joanie and Blair Holmboe, Janie Law, Sarah and Paul Malloy, Pat Northwood, Sara and Rob Northwood, Penny Park, Lisa and Mark Pierce and Mary and Steve Sims.

The cocktail buffet and miscellaneous shower invitation featured an airplane with a breaking news headline banner and noted “This just in…Chic Carolina Reporter Falls for Handsome Flyboy.” Colin is an Air Force Captain and Charlotte is an investigative reporter and news anchor in Raleigh.

Gerber daisies, green mums, blue larkspur and roses in glass vases were on the tables and salmon, beef tenderloin, shrimp, lemon tarts and cranberry cookies were among the food items.

Among the guests were Karen and Mike Samis, Helen and Bob Sullivan, Patty and Tom Anthony, Susan and Ramsey Drake, Tracy and Rick Brown, Susan and Carl Edwards, Cindy and John Heatly, Burch Fryer, Katie Lampkin, Marcia and Mack Morgan, Susan and Tim Love, Leslie and Scott Samara, Juliana and Elizabeth Samara and Katharine and Kent Regens.

Hosts Liz and Kent Hoffman welcome Lucinda and David Huffman.

Nathan and Lucinda Huffman, Colin Hinkley, Charlotte, David and Ben Huffman enjoy the pre-wedding party.

Bride-to- be Lauren Steakley, left, with Linda Roberts, Susan Sadler and Libby Steakley, was honoree at a tabletop shower and luncheon in the home of Linda James. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).

Bride-to- be Lauren Steakley was honoree at a tabletop shower and luncheon in the home of Linda James.

Co-hostesses were Georgene Blaschke, Barbie Borlaug, Timi Burch, Patty Cohenour, Dee Harris, Susan Hoffman, Sue Homsey, Kathy Loggie, Grenda Moss and Nancy Rowntree.

Steakley and Tucker Brollier will be married in September.

Among the guests at the party were Cheryl Browne, Laura Kirkpatrick, Sarah Pruellage, Barbara Beeler, Whitney Moss, Emily Blaschke, Judy Lehmbeck, Libby Steakley, Linda Roberts, Candy Ainsworth, Mary Sue Shelley, Connie Givens, Kanela Huff and Helen Sullivan.

The menu included Larry Brannon’s chicken salad, rolls and a huge fruit tray and vegetable tray and flower-bedecked petit fours.

The hostesses gave the honoree a Simon Pearce crystal bowl filled with various colors of stock.

Sarah Pruellage, Barbie Borlaug and Whitney Moss talk at the party.

Laura Kirkpatrick and Emily Blaschke are in the line for party food during the luncheon honoring their friend, Lauren Steakley.

Linda Roberts is greeted by party hostess, Linda James.

Mother of the bride, Libby Steakley, is surrounded by her friends.

Lauren Steakley gets in the lunch line.

Honorees Jason Yarbrough and Leslie Kearns pose for a photo during a  shower . (Photos by Sarah Phipps.)

A “Tacky” shower and dinner honored engaged couple Leslie Kearns and Jason Yarbrough.

Hostesses have been friends for many years and they call themselves the “Tacky Yackies.” Leslie Kearns’ mother is a member. They are Linda Garrett, Joanie Holmboe, Mary Sims, Suzanne Leggett, Penny Park, Jana Reynolds and Patsy Hunzicker Homsey. Assisting them were Kingsley Holmboe Burke, Peggy Duncan and Burke Duncan Beck.

The group of women have met through the years (not regularly) for dinner and about 15 years ago were at The Tack Room and stayed until closing time. Two of them were talking and got locked in the building. After they set off the alarm and the police and owners arrived, they continued their conversations at the nearest home….thus the “Tacky Yackies” (the Tack Room was where it began and ‘Yacking’ was the catalyst).

One of the members of the group noted: “we just hope the future bride does not burst into tears when she arrives.”  (Editor’s note: The bride did not cry….it was a great and fun and loving party!)

For this party, the invitations were created out of yellow and pink construction paper. It stated that the attire would be “Tacky, of course” (bling, grunge, glitz, Goth, or Daisy Duke Trailer Park.) “The tackier the better.”

The invitation further stated: “The only thing NOT tacky about this party will be their presents.”

On the subject of RSVP….”Nah-Just Come!”

Card Tables were set up in the front yard with a plastic baby pool and trailer in the driveway for drinks. Canned bean dip and bags of Fritos and cheetos were centerpieces. In lieu of bistro tables, ironing boards were set up.

A tattoo parlor in the front yard was available for the guests. Hosts gave the couple a July 4^th picnic basket filled with picnic items, including fire crackers.

Food from the Big Truck Tacos and the ice cream truck was served.

Among the guests were Carol Sue Taylor, Kathy and Russ Walker, Mary and Bill Price, Sally and Klee Black, Margo Ward, Mary Reneau (with rollers in her hair ) Donna and Bill Bozalis, Tina Beal (in a Hooters tee shirt), Elby Beal, Dale Brown, Reistle and Chris Cohenour, Shelley and Bill Swisher, Steve Sims, Nick Duncan, Blair Holmboe, Steve Garrett, J R Homsey, Jeff Burke and Jon Beck.

The engaged couple will be married on July 24.

Mary Clough, Darrell Yarbrough, Jennifer Yarbrough, Jason Yarbrough, Kyla Alexander, Leslie Kearns, Gayle Kearns, Isabel Alexander and Glenna Lunday were at the party.

Patsy Homsey, Suzanne Leggett, Jason Yarbrough, Leslie Kearns, Penny Park, Peggy Duncan, Kingsley Burke, Joanie Holmboe and Mary Sims enjoy the event.

Barbara Simons, Lori Hill, Eve Patterson, Barbara Nichols and Priscilla McMillen were among the hostesses for the party. Photos provided.

A “ Christmas in June” shower honored Brenna Wells. It was in the home of Barbara Simons. Co-hostesses were Lori Hill, Priscilla McMillen, Barbara Nichols and Eve Patterson.

Among the food items were red and green frosted cookies with the couple’s names on them, fruit and cheese and tea sandwiches  served on Spode Christmas plates.

A large Michael Aram blue glass tray was the gift from the hostesses.

Among the guests were Beth Wells, Marsha See, Sara See, Gennie Johnson, Sara Northwood, Barbara Batchelor, Leslie Samara, Laurie Givens, Whitney Jones.

Brenna and Ross See will be married in September in Vail, Colo.

Marjorie Wetwiska and son Jack, Jordan Kelley, Brenna Wells, Kacky Shelly were at the party.

Betsy Thorpe, Susan Hoffman, Marilyn Balyeat enjoy the party.

Charles Bethea, Meredith Brown, Rand Wrighton, Marilyn Bethea were at the wedding shower and dinner for Brown and Wrighton in the home of Johnel and Frank Harrison. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace).

A tabletop shower and seated dinner honored Meredith Brown and Rand Wrighton. It was in the home of Johnel and Frank Harrison. Co-hosts were Christa and John Chain, Paula and Neil Glass, Barbara and Alan Hollingsworth, Nancy and Kim Kimberling, Tom Knott, Jamie and Dan Reineke, Margaret and Fred Ringwald, Debbie and Bubba Symes, Betty and Bud Townsend, Sandy and Jon Trudgeon, Chris and Jidge Verity and Harriet Weirich.

A big tent housed the tables set in the backyard.  Heaters were set up and the trees sparked with twinkling lights.

Hosts cooked the dinner, served it and were bartenders for the wines. Eight of the couples brought their china and silver to set the tables. Jeff Woods sang during the party.

A note card was at each place with questions to add for a collection of with and wisdom for the engaged couple including “ A perfect weekend is…”; The best part of marriage is…”; “ a decidedly dumb thing to is….”, and “a genius romantic idea is…”

When the dessert was served, chocolate mousse and champagne, a  fireworks display went off on the grounds beyond the tented area.

Among the guests were Ranell and Steve Brown, Marty and Robert Margo, Ann and Burns Hargis, Jane and Sandy Elliott, Marilyn and Charles Bethea, Becky and Brad Johnston, Mary and Bill Price, Nancy and Tim Leonard, Ann and Zane Fleming, Nancy and Joe Bradley, Sandy and Eddie Shapard, Virginia and Barney Brown, Dianne and Denver Meacham and Susie and Matt Wilson.

Burns and Ann Hargis were at the dinner party and couple’s shower.

Sandy Elliott and Ranell Brown talk at the party.

Shower gifts were set on the stairs.

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Marsha and Ross See, Brenna, Beth, and Ed Wells, Courtney and James Dunavant enjoy the party honoring Brenna Wells and Ross See. (Photo by David Faytinger).

A couple’s shower and cocktails and hors d’oeuvres party honored Brenna Wells and Ross See in the home of Jamie and Mike Taylor. Co-hostesses were Jessica Taylor, Kylee Belflower, Carly Gustafson, Liz Humble, Annie Portman and Ashley Stark.

Hosts decorated with brightly- colored paper lanterns on the food tables, and outdoor patio and on the big oak tree in the front yard. They  gave the engaged couple a Juliska glass pitcher filled with spring flowers as their shower gift.

Among the guests were  Brian Garoutte, Beth and Chris Richards, Kacky and Michael Shelley, Charlie Givens, Greg Pierce, Johnson Edwards, Katharine and Kent Regens, Mollie Bennett, Tallie Triska and Anne Heatly

If you saw this lighted -up tree in Nichols Hills Saturday night, just know Terry and Hank Bradley were having a Mexican Fiesta. The tree, in the front yard, was bedecked with brightly- colored strings of lights and festive ribbons and streamers. A mariachi band played outside too. It was a beautiful evening and beautiful party.   The event, dinner and a shower,  honored engaged couple Katie Griffin and Luke Cunningham.

Co-hosts were Candy and Chuck Ainsworth, Barbara and Bud Beeler, Diana and Jeff Beeler, Carole and Boots Hall, Linda and Ron James, Linda and Tom Klos, Marty and Robert Margo, Barbara and Jay Quillian, Jann and Blaine Schwabe, Carol and Steve Solomon and Jane and Jim White.