Southerners have a way of finding each other in New York City, and despite a blizzard in late January 2005, Katherine Scott Magnuson and George Young Ragsdale II met at an engagement party he co-hosted for friends from North Carolina. Katherine’s friend Susan, who knew George from University of North Carolina Business School, introduced the duo. In December 2005, George took his first trip to New Orleans and fell in love with the city, especially the fried oysters at Casamento’s! He proposed to Katherine in the candlelit courtyard of Bayona restaurant, and they celebrated afterwards with her family over dinner and champagne.
The June 10 wedding was at noon at Trinity Episcopal Church. Her grandfather, Lee Francis Murphy, escorted Katherine down the aisle and
the ceremony was officiated by Fr. Michael Kuhn.
Katherine’s strapless floor-length Chantilly dress, designed by the Nicole Miller bridal salon in New York, was embroidered at the bust and train with baby seed pearls. She wore miniature green orchids in her hair and a simple organza waist-length veil. A best friend from college—University of Virginia—loaned her a pair of 1930s pearl drop earrings to complete the old-fashioned look. The bride carried a bouquet of hot pink and orange roses accented with lime-green berries. Katherine’s sister Margaret was the maid-of-honor and wore a flowing tropical pink chiffon dress by designer Nanette Lepore. The men wore navy blue blazers, natural-colored linen pants and lime-green Ferragamo ties with matching berries tucked into their lapels.
A jazz brunch reception immediately followed at Arnaud’s restaurant, where the main-floor dining room served as a timeless setting for the party. Tropical greenery such as ginger and palm, white and green hydrangea, and green orchids adorned the space. Light streamed in from the floor-to-ceiling cut-glass window and Katherine’s grandfather’s favorite band, the Last Straws, played New Orleans jazz favorites. Guests gathered in the main room for a traditional New Orleans brunch buffet and mingled in the side bar to enjoy Bloody Marys. The wedding cake from Zoë’s Bakery in Covington was a traditional almond cake with buttercream frosting topped with the couple’s initials.
After a brief stopover in Tokyo for sightseeing, the couple honeymooned for one week in Bali, Indonesia. They reside in New York where George is a managing director at Terrapin Partners, and Katherine is a senior vice president at Rubenstein Associates Public Relations.
Margaret Schully, Marky Murphy, Tee Murphy Sabalot, Anne Murphy Leche and Anne Carroll Vincent
Katherine with her sister and brother, Margaret Schully and Foerster Schully
Lee Francis Murphy, Paula Parker Murphy, Marky Murphy, George and Katherine, Foerster Schully and Margaret Schully
George Robinson Ragsdale, Dody Ragsdale, George Young Ragsdale II and Rob Ragsdale
Rowanne McIntyre McKnight, Ann Wailes Sinnot, Jean McCarthy, Mathilde Villere Currence, Katherine, Leslie Johnston Moore, Melissa Shon Mary and Jennifer Davidson Richardson—all Louise S. McGehee class of 1989.
