Brian Gupton Takes Tiffanie Hatley As His Bride

Saturday, October 17, 2009, was definitely one of the highlights of this ol' boy's life. Brian Leslie Gupton, the 27-year-old son of my wife Peggy and I, got married. And what a lovely, picture-perfect occasion his wedding turned out to be. Peggy and I now have a daughter-in-law. She is the highly educated and attractive (cute as a button, my old man would say if he were alive to see his grandson's new bride) Tiffanie Hatley Gupton. Hey everybody, there is a new "T. Gup" in the family! And she's a lot easier on the eyes than me.

I have to admit I got a little misty eyed during the ceremony this past Saturday while seated on the first row in front of the antebellum mansion at West Columbia's Varner-Hogg State Park. With my wife Peggy on one side of me and my sister-in-law Andrea and my brother Cody on the other, I was engrossed in the moment. Seated with my wife of 29-plus years beside me, and so many family members and friends scattered out around me among the more than 200 people who attended the ceremony, the event was simply one of those reasons every man and woman can be thankful that they lived long enough to witness it. I think very highly of my son's choice for a wife. She is a graduate of The University of Houston and Katy Taylor High School who currently works for the UofH sports information department. She is witty and charming, to go along with being a real knockout in the looks department. Good choice, Briano!

My wife and I and our other sons welcome Tiffanie into the family circle. Her parents, Joe and Tina Hatley, and younger sister Nicole are all welcome new in-laws that we look forward to spending several decades getting together with at family gatherings . . . and hopefully, one day in the not too distant future, sharing our grandchildren with. We're not rushing you, Brian and Tiff, but I'm just saying! I think the tumor has shifted, so don't wait forever, okay?

If you attended the wedding then we were thankful you made the effort and hopeful that each of you were entertained. We dined at El Toro Mexican Restaurant in Clute Friday night for the rehearsal dinner, and Brian's buddy Chris Maynard provided the wedding meal through the Lake Jackson restaurant that he is the manager of, Johnny Carino's Italian Restaurant. Many thanks to those who provided and served the food and drinks, and a very special thank you is extended from Joe and Tina, as well as Peggy and myself, to everyone who chipped in and helped us out with the planning, preparation, setup and the take-down and cleanup the following day. And if you missed it, we regret that you were unable to attend our son's wedding this past Saturday. The marriage ceremony itself went off without a hitch. It was a beautiful ceremony, and the reception and dance that followed at the West Columbia Civic Center and American Legion Hall Pavilion was just as memorable. Especially for a proud old papa like me.

Sarah Sedlacek read from the Book of Colossians (3:12-17) and Sunshine Farris sang a beautiful solo, "Better Hands Now," prior to Rev. Joshua Farris marrying my son and his gorgeous new bride. Once the "I Do's" were exchanged (which included Brian saying, "For poorer and poorer," instead of "For richer and poorer" as Josh had instructed him to say) and Brian and Tiffanie were introduced to the large gathering of guests and the rest of the wedding party as the new Mr. and Mrs. Brian Leslie Gupton, the newlyweds and their party exited to the sounds of The Black Eyed Peas' song, "I Gotta Feeling."

Serving as her sister's maid of honor was Nicole Hatley of Katy. The co-best men were the groom's two younger brothers, Bret and Blake Gupton of West Columbia.

The bridesmaids were Sarah Sedlacek, Jessica Bammel, Natalie Kuban (the groom's cousin), Jamie Zarda, Brandi Clark, Beth Autenrieth, Jill Hartman and Wendy Thoe.

The groomsmen were Bryn Caulkins, Dustin Mosteit (the groom's cousin), Chris Maynard, Josh Autenrieth, Matt Autenrieth, Desmond Early and Chad Thoe.

Ushers in Tiffanie and Brian's wedding were Brandon Kuehler, Courtney Johnson and the groom's cousins, Tommy Kuban and Rex Layne Gupton.

Tori Salyer and Gabi McClure helped with the wedding by signing in the guests. Among the honored guests were Katie Hatley Ward, the bride's grandmother.

The beautiful bride (and newest member of the Gupton family) is escorted by her father, Joe Hatley, to her waiting groom, Brian Gupton, at Saturday's wedding ceremony at Varner-Hogg State Park in West Columbia, Texas. Tiffanie and Joe made their grand entrance to the Jason Mraz tune, "I'm Yours."

That's me, the proud papa, trailing behind as my son Brian escorts the two moms to their seats prior to the beginning of his Saturday wedding to Tiffanie Hatley in front of the Varner-Hogg mansion in West Columbia. Brian's mother Peggy Gupton is pictured on the left and his new mother-in-law Tina Hatley is on the right.

His two younger brothers, Bret and Blake, served as best men at the October 17th wedding of my son Brian Gupton. Joshua Farris, a good friend of Brian and Tiffanie, is pictured conducting the nuptials and patiently waiting for the Gupton brothers to come up with the wedding ring while laughing at the scripted confusion. It was more like the Marx Brothers in action.