Miss Bacon, Mr. Jackson marry in June wedding at Epworth by the Sea

Waycross couple Kelli Bacon and Noah Jackson tied the knot June 21, 2025, after a three-month engagement.

The ceremony took place at Lovely Lane Chapel, which is part of Epworth by the Sea on St. Simon’s Island.

“We were trying to decide between a traditional wedding and just eloping,” said the newlywed Kelli Jackson. “The thing is, with Lovely Lane Chapel, they are always booked. Noah had a day off from school.

“I was like, ‘Call them and see if they have anything open this summer, and if not, then we’ll elope. And if they do, then we’ll have a wedding.’ He called, and sure enough, they had June 21 open.”

When asked why the couple was willing to make an exception to their elopement plans for this location, Kelli said, “My husband is a band director. He has spent a lot of time at Epworth by the Sea throughout his life ... just that area was really special to him. And then I am a massive history nerd and the thought of possibly getting married in an 1800s chapel is right up my alley.”

Wanting to preserve their desire for an intimate ceremony, the Jacksons had a small guest list of around 90 close friends and family members.

The Rev. Dr. Bill Young officiated the event. He is the pastor at Sweat Memorial Baptist in Waycross, of which Kelli and Noah are both active members.

Amber King designed the bride’s makeup while Katie Burgess of Salon 1201 did her hair. The dress was an Ivory Lace and Tulle over Almond Gown by Stella York. J Green & Co. Jewelers in Waycross provided the rings.

A reception followed at Sea Palms Resort, where the wedding party indulged in a dinner spread of salad, chicken, braised short ribs and roasted vegetables by Chef John Gallion, followed by a delicious white cake with lemon raspberry filling and a side of ice cream (at the groom’s request).

After dinner, Kelli was in for a sweet surprise.

“Noah sang to me at the reception and it led into our first dance,” she said. “He sang ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ by Elvis Presley. I had no idea it was coming!”

For their honeymoon, the couple took a romantic tour of Ireland.

“Ireland is just one of those places we’ve always wanted to go, even before we knew each other,” said the bride. “I definitely wanted to go for the history and the culture and everything, and so did Noah who went for the Guinness. That was a big selling point for him.” Kelli reported experiencing pleasant weather during their week-long stay. They enjoyed many parts of their travels, including the Wicklow Mountains, Cliffs of Moher, and Titanic attractions in Belfast.

The couple would “highly recommend” Sea Palms Resort and Epworth by the Sea to anyone looking for a wedding or reception venue.