Bride on a bike: Waynesburg couple get married their way
Newlyweds Lilly and Jay Leonard get ready to ride following their wedding ceremony at the Greene County Courthouse. (Photo by Harry Funk)
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk
Young Michael Anderson IV, with Jay Leonard, has a few years to go before riding Harleys for real.
Jay and Lilly hit the road on East High Street in Waynesburg. (Photo by Harry Funk)
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Mary Marion of Thomasville, N.C., Lilly Grooms鈥� mother, enjoys the ceremony.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk
Jay Leonard Jr. and Jay Leonard Sr.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Lilly celebrates after the ceremony with Faith Grooms
The new bride and groom get ready to kiss. (Photo by Harry Funk)
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk
Lilly Grooms and Jay Leonard say, 鈥淚 do,鈥� with Alma Gray officiating.
Harry Funk/Observer-Reporter
Harry Funk
Alma Gray and bride Lilly Grooms embrace after the ceremony.
Rather than ride off in, say, a stretch limousine, newlyweds Jay Leonard and Lilly Grooms did it their way:
Aboard Jay鈥檚 2008 Harley-Davidson Street Glide.
They decided on his Harley instead of hers, a 缅北禁地ter, as they pulled onto Waynesburg鈥檚 East High Street and turned at South Washington for their first ride as husband and wife.
Their own take on a dream wedding started promptly at 2 p.m. Saturday outside of the Greene County Courthouse, with Alma Gray, Jay鈥檚 sister, officiating. His father, Jay Sr., and Lilly鈥檚 mother, Mary Marion, stood by their side as they exchanged vows in front of an enthusiastic group of family members and friends, most of whom dressed for the occasion in gear representing the motorcycle that made Milwaukee famous.
One exception was the bride, who celebrated her nuptials in a traditional gown and veil, holding a neatly arranged bouquet and frequently flashing a scintillating smile as she and Jay Jr. tied the knot in an otherwise unconventional manner.
鈥淓verybody鈥檚 up for it,鈥� Jay Jr. said prior to ceremony. 鈥淓verybody鈥檚 always looking for a reason to ride.鈥�
The Waynesburg resident has been riding for 40 or so years, starting on a Honda Trail Z50.
On his Street Glide, he and Lilly led a procession that eventually led to a reception full of favorites for feasting and possibly a beverage or two.
Although the weather forecast leading up to Saturday was somewhat on the foreboding side, precipitation held off until well after the wedding.
Jay, though, said he wasn鈥檛 worried about possibilities along those lines.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 a 90% chance it鈥檚 going to rain,鈥� he observed, 鈥渢here鈥檚 a 10% chance it won鈥檛.鈥�