April Dawn Pratt and Kevin Hunter Swain were united in marriage May 22, 2010, on the Valley Gem sternwheeler during a private cruise with family and friends. The double-ring ceremony was performed by the paddle wheel of the sternwheeler and was officiated by the Rev. Donald Jester.
The bride is the daughter of Jeffrey C. Pratt and Vicki L. Pratt of Walker, W.Va. She is granddaughter of Lucille M. Baker of Mineral Wells, W.Va., and William Coss of Belleville, W.Va.
The bridegroom is the son of David H. Swain of Belleville, W.Va., and the late DeLeena M. Swain of Parkersburg. He is the grandson of Pearl H. Swain Jr. and Fanchon M. Swain of Belpre.
The bride wore a formal strapless gown of white regal satin. The gown was embellished with hand sewn seed pearls and iridescent crystals. The corsette back fell into a chapel length train accented with a line of crystal buttons. She carried a bouquet of silk blue hydrangeas and white roses accented with crystals along with the bridegroom's great-grandmother's wedding ring.
The reception was held on the lower deck of the Valley Gem immediately following the ceremony. The bride and bridegroom's white chocolate star cake and cupcakes were made by the bride's mother and grandmother.
The bride is a 2002 graduate of Parkersburg High School. In 2006, she graduated magna cum laude from Ohio Valley University with a bachelor's degree in science. She is employed at the Bureau of Public Debt.
The bridegroom is a 1999 graduate of Parkersburg South High School. In 2002, he graduated from Mountain State Community College with an associate's degree in business. He is employed in the electronics department at Vienna Wal-Mart.
Following their honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas, the couple resides in Parkersburg.
