Harry Fries III and Bonnie Brunette will be tying the knot this Thurs., May 13, 2010, at 6 o’clock in the evening in Andalusia.  The charming backyard ceremony and reception will take place at the “Easley Plantation,” Thomas Easley’s organic farm located at 1887 Easley Drive.  For those living nearby, please refrain from phoning the authorities should you hear the joy and merriment of the event lasting until the wee hours of the night.

The couple announced their engagement this past March after dating for one year. Fries, ever the romantic, sent Burnette on a scavenger hunt to various locations that held significance in their relationship.  The hunt ended at the location where they shared their first kiss and Bonnie found Harry waiting on bended knee to ask for her hand in marriage.

The bride is the daughter of Kyra and Clyde Brunette of Crystal Lake, Ill.  She holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Illinois at Chicago and currently is the program supervisor at the Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County in Hoffman Estates, Ill.  The center serves a community resource to facilitate the identification, intervention and prevention of child abuse.

The groom is the son of Karen Lopez and Harry Fries II, formerly of Berkley, Ill. Harry Fries II currently resides in Opp, with his wife Kelly Fries; Karen Lopez lives in Lombard, Ill., with her husband, Robert Lopez. The groom earned his bachelor’s degree from Troy University in communication arts (Theatre) after transferring from Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. He currently works as a sales coordinator for AMI/Merit Corp., a global provider of out-of-home digital entertainment, out of the couple’s home in Wheaton, Ill.  Before moving to Illinois, the groom attended school and worked in various Alabama locations, including Troy, Montgomery and Andalusia.

The happy couple will exchange vows at dusk while close to 100 of their closest friends and family look on. The ceremony site, surrounded by trees and flanked by a pond, will sparkle with hundreds of white lights. Guests will be encouraged to light a floating candle that was hand-poured by the couple, and then set it afloat on the pond while making a wish for the newlyweds’ future together.

The couple is to be wed by officiant Lance Eiland, senior pastor of Seale-Alexandria United Methodist Churches. Pastor Eiland is a close friend of the groom, and while at Troy University was his “big brother” in the social fraternity Delta Chi.

The bride will look stunning in a champagne colored A-line gown with a sweetheart neckline and handmade birdcage veil. The groom will sport a perfectly tailored tan three-piece linen suit with silk striped suspenders. The bouquet and boutonniere flowers for the bridal party will be a lovely spring medley of sunflowers, peonies, hydrangeas and wildflowers grown in local Andalusia gardens.

The couple is honored to have so many of their closest friends and family in the bridal party. The bride’s sister, Annie Steele, will be the matron of honor, with bridesmaids Heidi Dunderdale, Anjali Palondikar-Holmes, Jane Corneilius, Sarah Davis, Gina Arneiri and Amber Lopez.  Rounding out the bride’s attendants will be the bride’s brother, Ben Brunette, acting as “bridesman.”

Serving as the best man is the groom’s best friend, Thomas Easley, along with groomsmen Matt Partridge, Kevin O’Leary, Nick Rentmeester, Joe Geiger, Rich Stark, Logan Ganey and Nick Lopez.  Ring bearer will be the groom’s godson, Brandt Jones.

Served at the reception will be delicious home cooked smoked pork, accompanied by other wonderful Southern delights. Flavorful signature drinks have been selected by the couple, including wines, sweet tea and honey wheat beer, artfully home-brewed by groomsmen Matt Partridge and Thomas Easley.

After heartfelt toasts by close family members and friends, the couple and guests will take to the dance floor as the “Kenny Heard and Friends” band rock the night away.  For guests not wanting the night to end, a midnight bonfire is planned so they may celebrate as night sleepily creeps into dawn.

The couple would like to thank everyone who will be attending their special day, especially those traveling many miles to be here with them.  Also, the couple would like to express their deep and eternal gratitude to Thomas Easley, the man that made their dream-wedding day possible.