Watkins ~ Andrews

Jessica Leigh Watkins and Brian Eric Andrews were united in marriage Saturday, May 19, 2012, in an outdoor vintage ceremony at the home of the groom’s parents in Salisbury. The Rev. Sherm McElwain, uncle of the bride of Harpursville, N.Y., officiated the 2 p.m. ceremony, which was followed by a reception.
The bride was escorted by her father, Gary Watkins, and attended by her sister, Katie Watkins of Woodleaf, as maid of honor. Her bridesmaids were college friends Mary Beth Cerone and Diane Bunn of Durham and sister of the groom Cheryl Andrews of Winston-Salem.
Father of the groom Ken Andrews stood as best man. Serving as groomsmen were cousins of the groom Daniel Sharrett and Thomas Sharrett of Lakeland, Fla., and Patrick Harwick of Salisbury.
Wedding director was Cindy McCulloch of Woodleaf, and aunt and uncle of the bride Art and Robin Hill of Wilmington prepared the reception food. The bride’s stepmother, Diane Watkins of Woodleaf, created the four-tier wedding cake especially for the couple.
Music for the ceremony and reception included some of the couple’s favorites from musicals, Big Band and swing orchestras. Mother/son and father/daughter danced to Louis Armstrong’s version of “Sunrise, Sunset,” from “Fiddler on the Roof,” and the bride and groom’s First Dance was to “At Last,” by Etta James.
Special guests in attendance included the bride’s paternal grandfather, Jesse James “J.J.” Watkins of Woodleaf and the groom’s maternal grandfather, Clifford L. Pickett of Lakeland, Fla.
The bride is the daughter of Julie Shrauger of Salisbury and Gary Watkins of Woodleaf and the stepdaughter of Diane Watkins of Woodleaf. She is the granddaughter of J.J. Watkins of Woodleaf. A 2005 graduate of West Rowan High School, Jessica received a Bachelor of Science in Textile Technology in 2009 and a Master’s degree in Textile Engineering in 2011, both from North Carolina State University. She is employed by Underwriters Laboratories at Research Triangle Park, Durham.
The groom is the son of Ken and Sylvia Andrews of Salisbury and the grandson of Clifford L. Pickett of Lakeland, Fla. A 1994 graduate of Lyman High School in Longwood, Fla., Brian earned an Associate degree in Computer Programming in 2002 from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Following a wedding trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico, the couple are living in Durham.