Miss Ivy Elizabeth Sparkman and Mr. Roger Ashley Black were united in marriage on Saturday, August 24th, 2013 at half past five o’clock at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Raleigh, NC. The Reverend Holly Moira Gloff and The Reverend Luther D. Kimrey officiated. A reception, hosted by the parents of the bride, followed at the North Carolina Museum of Art-West Building. A rehearsal dinner, hosted by the groom’s parents, was given at Carolina Country Club on the Eve of the wedding, followed by a Wedding Eve dance given by family and friends.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wayne Sparkman of Laurinburg, NC. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Thacker Bryant of Dunbar, SC and the late Mr. and Mrs. William Clyde Sparkman of Blenheim, SC.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Bell Black III of Raleigh. He is the grandson of the late Dr. and Mrs. Roger Irving Wall of Raleigh, NC, the late Dr. and Mrs. James Bell Black Jr. of Richmond, VA, and the late Ms. Anne Rudd Black of Richmond, VA.

The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents. Marisa Bryant Houser, sister of the bride of Durham, NC served as Matron of Honor. Bridesmaids were Ashleigh Elizabeth Black and Shanah Fuerst Black, sisters-in-law of the groom, both of Raleigh, NC. Avery Hartwell Houser, niece of the bride of Durham, NC, served as flower girl.

James Bell Black III, father of the groom of Raleigh, NC served as Best Man. Groomsmen were James Bell Black IV and Peyton Randolph Black, brothers of the groom, both of Raleigh, NC. Peyton Randolph Black Jr., nephew of the groom of Raleigh, NC and Luke Jackman Houser, nephew of the bride of Durham, NC served as ring bearers.

Ushers were Michael Anderson Blount, Charles Collier III, James Ryan Hawes, David McClure Rees, Eric Glen Sauls all of Raleigh, NC, Alexis Sunghi Elder of Hoboken, NJ, Edward Ross Houser II of Durham, NC, and Robert Johnson Stewart of New Haven, CT.

James Barney Bryant, uncle of the bride, of Lynn Haven, FL and Elizabeth Isley Riley, cousin of the groom, of Grand Cayman read scripture. Ronald Hunt Purdy, cousin of the groom, of Alpharetta, GA served as crucifer. Joseph Campbell Jenkins of Chapel Hill, NC and Michael Williams Thomas II of Raleigh, NC greeted the guests. Ashley Pennell Creech of Raleigh, NC and Copeley Elizabeth Hogan of Topsail Beach, NC served as program attendants.

The bride is a 2004 graduate of Meredith College where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design. She is a Senior Interior Designer at Model Home Interiors of Durham, NC. The groom is a 2004 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and was a member of Zeta Psi fraternity. He is Vice President of Commercial Printing of Raleigh, NC.

Following a honeymoon trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the couple resides in Raleigh.