Emily Armstrong Ayer and John Alexander Thomas exchanged wedding vows under a perfect blue sky on Sept. 15, 2012, at the United States Coast Guard Memorial Chapel in New London. The couples' pastor from the First United Methodist Church of Cary, the Rev. Dr. R. Carl Frazier, officiated. Readings were given by Amanda Fagan, Jackie Phillips and Alyssa Sands, friends of the couple.

Emily is the daughter of Rob and Beth Ayer of Gales Ferry and the granddaughter of Peg Ayer of Franklin. The bridesmaids included Kate Seely and Kimberly Ayer, sisters of the bride, and Marget Thomas Fishman and Natalie Thomas, sisters of the groom.

John is the son of John and Jean Thomas of Gales Ferry. Dan Swann, friend of the groom, was best man. Jeremy Slonski and Eric Wester, also friends of the groom, were groomsmen. Seth Fishman, brother in law of the groom, Cormac Seely, brother in law of the bride, and Joe Van Tassel, friend of the couple, were ushers.

A reception was held under a tent in the sunken garden of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford.

The bride and groom are both 2005 graduates of Ledyard High School and 2009 graduates of Wheaton College in Massachusetts. The bride received a bachelor's degree in English and is the creative director at Southern Weddings magazine. The groom received a bachelor's degree in economics and is a guidance consultant with Fidelity Investments.

The couple planned a honeymoon in Nevis during the spring 2013.

They currently reside in Morrisville, N.C.