Miss Hailey Claire Gunter and Mr. Richard Austin Belaire United in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Miss Hailey Claire Gunter and Mr. Richard Austin Belaire were united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church on Friday, August 4th, 2023. Father Louis Richard officiated the Nuptial Mass.
Hailey is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Brett Scott Gunter of Abbeville, Louisiana. Grandparents of the bride are Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Morton and Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gunter. Austin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Scott Belaire of Abbeville, Louisiana. Grandparents of the groom are the late Mr. and Mrs. Richard Belaire and the late Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hebert.
The bride was escorted by her father wearing a gown from A-Net’s Bridal Boutique. This beautiful ivory gown was made up of comfortable stretch georgette with an additional slit on the side of the skirt that added the perfect amount of intrigue. The gown featured delicate beaded straps with a sweetheart neckline where floral lace appliques began blooming all over the fit-and-flare silhouette throughout the garnished lace train. The bride paired a simple ivory fingertip veil with her garnished gown. The bride carried an elegant nosegay bouquet that consisted of pale blue and white hydrangeas, blooming white garden roses, white orchids, and white larkspur handmade by the groom’s mother. The bouquet was wrapped in ivory silk to match the bride’s gown.
Austin wore a tailor-made slate blue suit from Pearce Bespoke. This personalized suit showcased meticulous hand-sewn stitching on the collar, functional sleeve buttonholes, a skillfully crafted buttonhole on the collar, and a custom interior liner adorned with his brand logo.
The bride chose her sister, Taylor Gunter, to be her Maid of Honor. Taylor wore an ice blue gown with a sweetheart neckline and spaghetti straps covered in stunning soutache lace. The Maid of Honor carried a smaller version of the bride’s bouquet; an elegant nosegay consisting of the same floral choices as the bride. Taylor was escorted by Ashton Belaire. Ashton Belaire, Austin’s younger brother, was chosen as the groom’s Best Man. The couple chose Hailey’s cousin, Brittlyn Theriot, to be their flower girl. The ring bearers were Hunter Hernandez, cousin of the bride, and Mason Meaux, cousin of the groom.
The mother of the bride, Laurie, was escorted by her husband Brett Gunter. Her dramatic navy sheath gown featured a straight-across neckline and beautifully draped detail across the bodice adorned with a floral pattern of pearls and rhinestones. The column dress was finished with a horsehair hemline further complementing this unique dress.
The mother of the groom was escorted by her husband, Scott Belaire and the groom. She wore an elegant, embroidered, off-the-shoulder, half-sleeve lace gown in the color navy. The gown included a broach worn by the groom’s maternal grandmother which she wore at the last family wedding prior to her passing.
Scriptures for the ceremony were read by Timothy Morton, grandfather of the bride, and Kimberly Potier, aunt of the groom. Music for the ceremony was provided by Tommy Guidry.
Following the ceremony, a reception took place at The Cajun Mansion in Youngsville, Louisiana where guests celebrated and danced the night away with the newlyweds.
The bride’s cake was a four-tier white almond cake with alternating fillings of white buttercream, chocolate buttercream, raspberry, and pecan praline. The cake was decorated with elegant swirl designs and sat atop a golden cake plateau.
The groom’s delicious red velvet cake from Gambino’s Bakery was decorated for a Louisiana hunter featuring two greenhead ducks, an antique duck call, and a display shelf of duck calls, all keepsakes in memory of his late grandfathers. The cake also featured a Golden Retriever dog to symbolize the couple’s dog, Whiskey. The antique family cake plateau was covered in burlap with the table featuring cypress wood, shotgun shells, and fresh Pecan Island Roseau cane.
The couple spent the night before the wedding at a rehearsal dinner hosted by the groom’s parents at Black’s Oyster Bar featuring a candlelit setting with fresh garden roses, white snapdragon, powder blue and white hydrangea, and seeded eucalyptus arrangements. For their honeymoon, the couple will celebrate their new marriage in St. George’s, Grenada.