Melissa Young Bates and Michael Dale Maree were united in marriage in a candlelight ceremony on Oct. 2, 2010, at Sweethaven Church with the Rev. Mitchell Roller officiating as the couple exchanged their vows.

The bride is the daughter of Clyde and Karin Young of Laurel Hill. She was escorted to the alter by her son, Brandon Armstrong.

The groom is the son of Mary Lassiter and Ollie Maree of Rockingham.

Music for the wedding was presented by Barry Sellars and guitar soloist Chris Snead. The wedding was directed by Angel Patton of Hamlet.

The bridal bouquet was of cascading yellow roses and white daisies with ribbon. The wedding cake was three-tier trimmed with black ribbons and fall flowers.

The bride wore a floor length gown of ivory satin emphasizing the high empire waist and an open back with chapel train and spaghetti straps.

The Maids of Honor were Blair Armstrong, daughter of the bride, and Jenny Snead, along with Katrina Locklear and Michelle Coggins. The flower girl was Kara Riley Simmons, niece of the bride. The bridesmaids wore black floor length dresses with clear rhinestone straps webbed across the back and belted around the bodice. The flower girl’s dress was similar to the bridesmaids.

The bride grooms father was chosen as best man. The groomsmen were son of the groom, Josh Maree; son of the bride, Brandon Armstrong; and a very dear friend, Chris Snead. The ring bearer, son of the groom, was Brandon Maree. The groom wore a black tuxedo with long tails and a gray pinstriped vest and tie. The groomsmen were identical to the groom except they wore a black vest and tie.

A reception immediately followed the ceremony at the VFW in Hamlet. The couple will take their honeymoon to the Caribbean in the spring. The couple will make their home in Rockingham.