Caroline Saunders Cockerham met Patrick Ian Lawson while they were freshmen at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. During the summer between their junior and senior years, Caroline evacuated to North Carolina for a hurricane. Patrick was living there at the time and asked Caroline out for dinner as soon as he learned she was in town.
The romance began and seven years later, when Patrick and Caroline were living in Atlanta, Patrick took Caroline, who’s an artist, to lunch at the High Museum in the city.
The day was Twelfth Night – the official start of Mardi Gras – but it’s also Three Kings Day in the Mexican tradition, which has special significance for Patrick, who spent some of his childhood living in Mexico. Patrick proposed and the couple decided on a winter wedding in the bride’s hometown of New Orleans.
They also designed Caroline’s engagement ring together; it features a Harry Winston Ceylon sapphire, which Caroline’s maternal grandmother had left her.
Festivities began with a rehearsal dinner in the private room of the award-winning Cochon restaurant. Out of town guests were amazed to see a whole pig as part of the dinner!
The next day, Saturday, December 3, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. Caroline’s father, Walter Cockerham, walked his daughter down the aisle at Trinity Episcopal Church in the Garden District.
She wore a stunning lace dress designed by Allure from Bridals by Laurie in Atlanta, the store famous for being featured on the “Say Yes to the Dress” TV show.
The Reverend Winston Rice (husband of Caroline’s godmother) conducted the marriage ceremony with musical accompaniment by Albinas Prinzgintas on the harpsichord and organ, Maria Elliot on the oboe and Fitzgerald Barrau as trumpeter.
The happy couple led their wedding guests and a jazz band in a second line to Caroline’s parents’ house, which is only a block away from the church.
The Cockerhams’ house had been transformed into a “Winter Wonderland” filled with whites, silvers and a hint of blue.
Guests enjoyed a wonderful wedding supper catered by Patti Constantine. The wedding cake, made by Zoë’s Bakery in Covington, featured pinecones from the bride’s family’s former home in Utah. The groom chose his favorite childhood dessert from Mexico, a tres leches cake.
When the dancing began, the bridesmaids changed into monogrammed Converse tennis shoes, gifted to them by the bride and groom.
The bridesmaids wore long chiffon gowns in a blue harbor color by Watters & Watters. Caroline’s twin sister, Martha, who served as maid of honor, wore a special snowflake pin.
The couple honeymooned in New York City before returning to Atlanta, Georgia, where they now live. Caroline is an Assistant Manager of Natural Body Buckhead, a luxury spa, and Patrick is an entrepreneur.
Bride’s Wedding Band: Custom-made diamond band from Cachet Fine Jewelry
Groom’s Wedding Band: rose gold Love Ring from Cartier
Groom’s and Groomsmen’s Attire: custom suits from international tailor Antar Levar
Wedding Coordinator: Elizabeth Kelleher of In Any Event
Flowers: Stephen Sonnier of Dunn & Sonnier Antiques • Florals • Gifts
Invitations: Scriptura
Photographer: Scott Myers
Hair: Charlotte Williamson
Makeup: Makeup by Tisa
Music: Billy Willams and BRW
TOP LEFT: Walter Cockerham, the Bride, Martha Cockerham and Sally Cockerham BOTTOM RIGHT: the Bride and Groom with Pat and Bill Lawson
