Colton and Jillian

A Token of Love

Photos by Rheagan Ryleigh Photography

Although wearing “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” on your wedding day dates back to the late 1800s, brides of the 21^st century still enjoy making the tradition part of their wedding.

For Jillian Hearn, her something old took on a whole new meaning when she married Colton Norris on Sept. 7, 2024, at the CountrySide Venue in Braxton. Her something old was a family heirloom ring.

“My something old was my (engage- ment) ring. Colton’s grandmother had given the ring to his dad and his dad proposed to Colton’s mom with it. So, when Colton mentioned to his mom he had started looking for rings, his mom wanted him to keep the tradition go- ing,” Jillian said. “So Colton proposed to me with the same ring his father gave his mother when he proposed to her over 30 years ago.”

As for her something new, it was her wedding dress, she said.

“My something borrowed was the pearl dangle earrings from my bridesmaid, Mallory Hoffman, and my something blue was the blue ribbon my bridesmaids tied around my bridal bouquet,” Jillian said.

FALLING FOR LOVE

When a fellow decides to propose to a young lady it can be quite a surprise, which it was for Jillian. Initially when Colton was preparing to ask her to marry him, she thought he had just fallen.

“Colton and I had planned to hunt at my dad’s deer camp and when we pulled in, he asked if I would get out and unlock the gate,” Jillian said. But in doing so she failed to see the sign Colton had hung on the fence that read, “Will you marry me.”

After she unlocked the gate, she turned back around to get in the truck and Colton was on the ground.

“I thought he had fallen, but then he said, ‘Jill…look’ and he pointed to the sign and then I realized he had not fallen… he was on one knee.”

HELPING HANDS

Thanks to friends and family, Jillian said her wedding day was all she had hoped for.

“My parents really went above and beyond. My dad and stepmother did all the decorating. From building a background for pictures down to the mini salt and pepper shakers. She did a wonderful job,” Jillian said. “My bridesmaids, who are my closest group of girls who have been by my side for years, were so supportive of the whole process and helped me bring my vision to life. And my maid of honor, Ann Michael Jordan, even did my makeup. Her mother, Angela Presley, did my hair.”

When the two women were done with her hair, Jillian slipped into the wedding gown of her dreams.

“I chose my dress and veil because as soon as I tried them on it was the perfect timeless and classic look I envisioned for this day. And it was also incredibly comfortable which never hurts,” she laughed.

Colton, too, was looking like a sharp-dressed man — that was, of course, after he located his jacket.

“It was hilarious when I saw him in his suit for the first time,” Jillian said. “His jacket was huge. I started panicking and asking myself, ‘Why did he leave the suit place with that?’”

Fortunately, it was just a mix up.

“He had accidentally grabbed my dad’s suit jacket from the groom’s room,” Jillian said. Switching jackets solved the dilemma.

Also lending a hand for the couple’s big day was their friend, Michael Hedrick.

“He was ordained just for this,” Jillian said.

Hedrick also took Colton and Jillian seriously when they asked for a “brief ceremony.”

“I think all of our guests appreciated this, too, in the heat of September. Short and sweet, and definitely the most memorable 45 seconds!” she said.

Colton and Jillian are at home with their son, James, in Edwards. Jillian works for The Vicksburg Post in the advertising department and Colton works for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Hydraulics department.