Mr & Mrs Robert Ballantine

On an amazing October afternoon, former Newtown resident Colleen Gibbons married Robert Ballantine on October 4, 2008, during a garden ceremony at Thorpewood in Thurmont, Md.

The ceremony took place outside, stream side. The groom and his best man, Robert Ballantine, Sr, were in a Scottish kilts. A bagpiper lead the wedding party down a hill and across a stone bridge to the altar. The Reverend Robert Dieffel performed the ceremony. A reception followed, also at Thorpewood.

The bride, who now lives in Hampstead, Md., is a daughter of Robert and Bonnie Gibbons of Newtown. She was given into marriage by her father. Kimberly Gibbons of Windsor, sister of the bride, was maid of honor.

Flower girls were Mallory Hanna of Loveland, Ohio, and Grace Gibbons of Newtown. Ring bearer was the groom’s niece, Danielle Mauk of Street, Md. Megan and Jessica Gibbons handed out programs, while Matthew Hanna and Jack Gibbons kept guest fed by sharing their goldfish crackers.

For their honeymoon, the Ballantines went antelope hunting in Wyoming for three days, then went to Vegas for three days, and then spent a week at El Salto Lake and Mazatlan, Mexico. Following that trip they returned to their home in Hampstead.

Colleen is a 1987 graduate of Newtown High School, and a graduate of Pennsylvania Institute of Technology and Art, in Williamsport, Penn. She is employed by Affinion Group, based in Norwalk.

Rob, who attended Frostburg (Md.) University, is a scientist/aquatic biologist for EA Engineering, Science, and Technology Inc. He is the son of Robert and Carol Ballantine of Bel Air, Md.