Samantha Nicole Ashcraft and Kenneth Michael Habetz, Jr. were united in marriage Friday, Nov. 16, 2018, at four o’clock in the afternoon at the Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church at Harbour Island, Bahamas.
The nuptial mass was celebrated by the Very Rev. Louis J. Richard, pastor of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Abbeville, with Fr. Mikel Polson, pastor of St. Michael Catholic Church in Crowley, as concelebrant.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm S. Ashcraft, III, of Ponchatoula, La. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm S. Ashcraft, Jr., of Lyon, and Mr. Edward L. St. Clair, Jr. of Denham Springs, La., and the late Ms. Bobbie Hill Barron.
The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth M. Habetz, Sr., of Crowley, La. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. H. Leo Habetz, Jr. and Mr. Earl Hargroder and the late Mrs. Janice St. Martin Hargroder.
The bride was escorted by her father. She was attended by her maid of honor and sister, Alexandra F. Ashcraft, and bridesmaid and sister of the groom, Ellen H. Fussell. Hans Habetz, brother of the groom, served as best man and Luke Habetz, brother of the groom, was a groomsman. Mary Ellen Fussell, niece of the groom, served as the flower girl.
Scripture readings for the mass were proclaimed by Stephanie Venable, friend of the bride, and Trevor Theunissen, friend of the groom. Offertory gifts were brought forward by Whitney Lyles Habetz, friend of the bride and sister-in-law of the groom, and Timothy Fussell, brother-in-law of the groom.
Music for the ceremony was provided by musician and vocalist John Angotti, of Nashville, Tenn., with a solo of the Lord’s Prayer that was sung by Dr. Malcolm Stubbs. Both are friends of the couple.
Following the ceremony, a seated dinner and reception was held at the Coral Sands Resort in the Bahamas. Music at the reception was provided by the High Rock Band from North Eleuthera, Bahamas. In addition, John Bukaty, live performance artist from New Orleans, painted the event to capture and preserve the celebration. The couple’s honeymoon trip included North Eleuthera and Staniel Cay, Bahamas.
The bride is a graduate of Ponchatoula High School, University of Louisiana Monroe and Our Lady of the Lake College physician assistant program in Baton Rouge, La. She is currently employed as a physician assistant for Dr. George Ray Williams, orthopedic spine and trauma surgeon in Opelousas, La.
The groom is a graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish, Louisiana State University and Southern University Law School. He is currently an attorney with Brandt & Sherman, LLP, in Lafayette, La., where the couple now resides.
