The Shadow
Rachel Elaine Goings and Richard Benjamin (Jamie) Talbot were married Saturday June 27, 2009, at the Chapel on the University of Virginia grounds. The Rev. Robert Sherrod officiated. A reception followed the ceremony at Alumni Hall in Charlottesville with a formal dinner and dancing.
The bride is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Goings of Clifton Forge and the granddaughter of Mrs. Faye McCoy Simmons of Millboro, and the late Mr. Kenneth Lee Simmons as well as Mrs. Juanita Burnette Goings and the late Mr. Lewis Burdett Goings of Nashua, Iowa.
Rachel is a graduate of Alleghany High School in Covington and a 2006 graduate of the University of Virginia, where she received a B.A. in biology. She is also a 2008 graduate of the Jefferson College of Health Sciences in Roanoke where she received a degree in nursing. She currently attends Radford University and is employed full time in the intensive care unit at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Talbot of Blacksburg and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. William Lansing Ayres of Christiansburg and the late Mrs. Anne Mitchum Ayres, as well as Mrs. Mary Jane Talbot of Blacksburg, and the late Dr. Richard Burritt Talbot.
Jamie is a graduate of Blacksburg High School in Blacksburg and a 2007 graduate of the University of Virginia, where he received a Master of Teaching degree in secondary science education. He is currently employed by the Salem Public School System as a teacher and Apex learning site coordinator at the AIIMS Center in Salem. He also teaches homebound instruction as well as two Adult GED classes for Salem.
The bride was escorted by her father, and given in marriage by her parents. She wore a Maggie Sottero haute couture gown imported from Australia. The sweetheart neckline was embellished with seed pearls, Swarovski crystals, bugle beads, and lace accents. The full a-line gown was of rich Bordeauz Taffeta, featuring cascading bustles draped asymmetrically over an embellished lace shirt. Handmade flowers were nestled within the bustles of the skirt. The extra length chapel train featured handmade roses embellished with Swarovski crystals and pearls. She carried a hand-tied tailored nosegay of purple blossoms containing hydrangea, lisianthus, veronica, asters and carnations.
She was attended by Meghan Heffron of Beltsville, Md., as maid of honor, who was college friend of both the bride and groom. Bridesmaids were Jocelyn Soto of Arlington, Jennifer Haller of Centreville, both college friends of the bride, and Katie Cosby of Richmond and Laura Bounds of Centreville, both cousins of the bride. The girls wore lilac strapless A-line dresses in Iridescent Taffeta.
The groom wore a Calvin Klein black tuxedo with grey pinstripes and an ivory vest. His boutonniere was a purple lisianthus and hydrangea. Jonathan Talbot of Blacksburg, brother of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen were Eric Battino of Jericho, N.Y., college friend of the groom, Joseph Goings of Lancaster, Calif., Samuel Goings of Richmond, and Peter Goings of Iowa City, Iowa, all brothers of the bride. The groomsmen wore Calvin Klein black suits with grey pinstripes and a cypress green vest.
The bride and groom allowed a special time in their ceremony to light a memorial candle in remembrance of their grandparents; Kenneth L. Simmons, Lewis B. Goings, Richard B. Talbot and Ann M. Ayres. A special prayer was read by the Rev. William Ayres, grandfather of the groom. Benjamin Wilkins of Herndon gave a special reading he had prepared for the couple.
Amy and Anna Cockerham of Mount Airy, N.C., cousins of the groom, served as flower girls. The ring bearer was William Goings of O’Fallon, Mo., cousin of the bride. Guest register attendants, all college suitemates of the bride were Amy Duncan of Herndon, Kelly Duncan of Springfield, Heather Jablonski of Newport News, Alisha LaRoche of Centreville, and Erin Kastrup of Gainesville.
Cindy Cosby of Richmond, aunt of the bride, served as director of the wedding. The wedding reception director was Mrs. Cris Bounds of Centreville, aunt of the bride. Gail Wallace of Clifton Forge served as coordinator of wedding guests and events. Flowers for the ceremony and reception were provided by Country Garden Florist, Clifton Forge.
Rachel and Jamie spent their honeymoon in St. Lucia. They currently reside in Roanoke.
