Page 86 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2018

ROMANCE & WEDDING at last
Off to a Good Start
long engagement traditional wedding
story by Lynn Lofton photo courtesy of Danielle and Mitch Owens
M
for dinner.”
At that point the couple had known each other four and a half years
and felt the time was right. After a 13-month engagement, they were married at Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral last December 9
and had a festive reception at the Slavonian Lodge. It was a traditional ceremony with 12 bridesmaids and 12 groomsmen wearing black and decorations of white flowers and greenery.
“I was really relaxed before the wedding, but the day before the wedding the planner called to
say the band might not get out
of Atlanta because of the cold weather,” Danielle said. “I freaked out because that was the one thing Mitch really wanted, but they made it on time.”
Mitch and Danielle ignored the outdated tradition of not seeing each other on the day of the wedding. “We did a first look and that soothed everyone’s nerves,” she said.
Mitch grew up in Gulfport and Danielle in Biloxi. Although their paths had crossed a few times
itch Owens’ wedding proposal to Danielle Parsons was low key but memorable. “We
were at the house he bought, which is now our home, and he acted really normal,” Danielle
recalls. “He made dinner reservations, which he never does, and then he proposed when we were ready to leave
through the years, they took real notice of each other about six years ago at a Mardi Gras ball. “That’s when we officially met and it was a pretty instant attraction,” Danielle says. “I was still in college and he had just finished law school.”
Both are Mississippi State University graduates. Mitch earned a law degree at Mississippi College School of Law and Danielle went
on to get a Master’s degree from William Carey University. Currently, Mitch is assistant district attorney for Harrison County and Danielle is a realtor with Sherry Owens Realty.
They share an interest in MSU
and love to go to sporting events together. They also enjoy exercising and traveling together. However, they believe a few separate interests are healthy. Mitch likes to be outdoors, especially fishing with friends. “I let them go and do their thing,” Danielle says, “and I like to get together with some of my high school friends who are back here. We go to dinner once a month and catch up.”
86 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2018 FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net