Alex Esmon and Nichole Hardy were married at Snow Hill Methodist Church in Franklin Saturday afternoon before a crowd of more than 50 well-wishers.
Alex, the managing editor of the Western Carolinian, has worked in various roles in his four years at the paper, but he is perhaps best known as the Movie Guy. Nichole has been the copy editor and production manager and is now editor of the Western Carolinian Online.
The bride and groom met in the seventh grade, and began dating when they were sophomores at Franklin High School. They had been together for more than five years when Alex proposed to Nichole last Groundhog Day.
The groom’s sister, Phoebe Esmon Krauss, began the ceremony by singing “By Your Side.”
Maid of honor was Carrie Miller Hyatt, best friend of the bride. The bride’s attendants were Chloe Esmon Walker and Phoebe Esmon Krauss, sisters of the groom.
The best man was Donald Costello, best friend of the groom. The groom’s attendants were Mark Walker, brother-in-law of the groom; Aaron Krauss, brother-in-law of the groom; and Justin Hardy, brother of the bride.
The ceremony was followed by a reception at the church in which friends and family congratulated the newlyweds. After the reception, the pair dashed off to a honeymoon in Asheville.
The couple will reside in Sylva.