The Shadow
Jennifer Marie Hepler and John Michael Shaffer were joined in matrimony September 5, 2009 in an outdoor ceremony at the groom’s residence located by the Christmas Star on Frazier Hill in Clifton Forge.
The location was chosen by the bride and groom in memory of the groom’s mother, Violet Shaffer and the groom’s grandmother, Marie Hayslett.
The Rev. Dwight Ayers of Open Heart Ministries Christian Church performed the ceremony.
Jennifer is the daughter of Ronnie and Kyletha Hepler of Covington and Alan and Renee Caldwell of Union, W.Va. She is the granddaughter of Dorothy Hepler of Covington, Eulabelle White of Alvon, W.Va., and Agnes Caldwell of Union, W.Va.
John is the son of Theodore Shaffer Jr. and the late Violet Shaffer of Clifton Forge.
The bride was escorted to the altar by her father, Ronnie Hepler. He wore a black tuxedo with a silver vest and western tie.
The bride’s sister, Beth, was matron of honor. She wore a green gown with a scooping neckline.
The groom’s daughter, Hailey, was junior bridesmaid. The bride’s niece, Faith, was lead flower girl. Both Hailey and Faith wore matching gowns of white satin decorated with mint swirls and a mint sash with a white flower holding it in place.
The bride and groom’s daughter, Isabella, was junior flower girl. She wore a white satin gown decorated with light pink swirls and a light pink sash with a light pink flower holding it in place.
The groom’s father, Ted, wearing a black tuxedo with a silver vest and western tie, served as best man. The bride’s son, Taylor, and the groom’s son, Alex, both served as ushers.
The bride’s gown was a white satin, sleeveless, A-line design decorated with embroidered designs across the bodice and along the lower portion of the gown with a burgundy sash leading to the full train which was burgundy with embroidered designs along the hemline. She also wore a veil adorned with pearls and fingerless gloves adorned with lace. She carried a bouquet of three pink roses and two white roses representing each of the children and purity; surrounded sprigs of mint for virtue; sage for domestic virtue; forget-me-nots for true love; rosemary for remembrance and lavender for tranquility with a rim of ivy for fidelity.
The groom wore a black tuxedo with a burgundy vest and western tie.
Music for the ceremony was provided by Denny Fitzgerald on the banjo accompanied by Beth Ihme on keyboard.
Directors and decorators for the ceremony and reception were Lorrie Wilhelm-Ferguson and Melissa Hoke, friends of the bride.
Floral arrangements and bouquets were provided by Joan Akers, sister of the groom.
Following the ceremony, an outdoor reception and dinner was provided by the bride and groom’s family.
The wedding cake was provided by Divine by Design. It was a three-tier white cake with buttercream frosting adorned with burgundy fondant ribbon at the base of each layer to match the bride’s gown. The cake was also adorned with gumpaste pears, grapes, blueberries and apple blossoms. The leaves were mint to match the bridesmaids’ and lead flower girl’s dresses. There were also light pink roses to match the junior flower girl dress.
The tables were decorated with ivy bowls, candles, mint and pink flowers.
The groom constructed the arbors and both were decorated with burgundy satin, ivy, light pink flowers, burgundy and white bows with trailing burgundy and white tulle. The star was decorated with bows and burgundy and white trailing tulle as well.
The couple honeymooned in Seneca Rocks, W.Va. before returning home to reside at the groom’s residence. Jennifer is a stay-at-home mom and John works at Zachary Holdings Inc. in Covington as a millwright.
