Smith/Barnhart Wedding
Held At Heritage Village.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008, friends and families of Erin Lynn Smith and
William Clayton Barnhart stepped back in time at Calhoun County Park,
when the two were united in marriage at Heritage Village. The wedding
was held at 12:15 p.m.,
followed by a reception. Approximately 100 people witnessed the
ceremony. The couple was married in front of the one-room schoolhouse,
with Rev. Greg Swisher officiating.
Guests were seated on straw bales, provided by David Cain, covered with
colorful quilts. Erin wore an antique white gown and a short veil. She
carried a bouquet of roses, Gerber daises, mums and goldenrods, created
by Charlie Whipkey. She was accompanied down the aisle by her father
Keith Smith. Procession music was provided by Evan Cunningham and
Michael Stewart, members of Ocean City Sky Line band, who also played
during the reception.
Following the ceremony, guests were ushered to the black
smith shop for a lunch of chili, potato soup and vegetable soup,
made by the couple’s mothers, and a variety of breads, dips and
sandwiches, made by family members. The wedding cake was an
untraditional variety of hummingbird, red velvet, carrot cake and
chocolate, made by the bride’s mother. Guests enjoyed punch, made by Bea
Robinson, and ice tea, made by the sister-in-law and sister of the
bride, along with coffee provided by Jim Bell, a member of the park
board.
The tables were adorned with brightly colored table clothes, made by the
bride, with natural crop centerpieces tied with ribbons. She honored the
memory of her late grandfather, Herb Smith, by providing each guest with
a jar of “Herbert’s High Quality Honey.” Herb was instrumental in the
growth of the park, the building of the barn, and the maintenance of the
park. In addition to harvesting honey from his bees, Herb enjoyed
playing bluegrass music with his friends or anywhere that a guitar
player was needed.
The wedding was a vision imagined by the bride. As soon as work at
Heritage ViI1age started, she knew this was where she wanted to be
married. Erin, Clayton and their families expressed thanks to all who
attended and helped prepare, set-up, participate and clean-up.
The newlyweds will reside in Wirtz, Va., where Clayton is a Virginia
Conservation officer and Erin is enrolled in graduate school studying
architecture at Virginia Tech.