SubmittedMegan Dowdy (from left) of Lexington poses with Kasey Joyner and Katie Williams, both of Bowling Green, and Scarlett Parsley. Parsley was killed Sunday in a plane crash on her way to her honeymoon. Joyner and Williams were bridesmaids in the wedding.

Two Bowling Green women were bridesmaids in Saturday’s wedding for the newlyweds aboard Sunday’s commuter jet crash in Lexington that killed everyone but the co-pilot.

Kasey Joyner and Katie Williams, both 24, reflected on the life of the bride, Scarlett Parsley, 23, on Monday.

They knew Parsley from their days as Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sisters at Centre College in Danville. All three graduated in 2004.

&#8220One of the best days of their lives was followed by one of the worst,” said Williams of Bowling Green, who is a graduate student at the University of Louisville.

Joyner, who works at ConnectKentucky in Bowling Green, concurred.

&#8220It’s just the extremes. We went from having so much fun to just devastation for everybody,” she said.

Joyner and Williams were two of nine bridesmaids at Parsley’s wedding to Jon Hooker, 27, a former University of Kentucky baseball player, attended by about 300 people at the Headley Whitney Museum in Lexington. After exchanging vows Saturday night, the newlyweds boarded Comair Flight 5191 Sunday morning at Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. The plane crashed just beyond the runway, killing them and 47 others. The flight was bound for Atlanta, but the newlyweds’ eventual destination was Laguna Beach, Calif., for their honeymoon.

The crash was the worst American plane disaster in nearly five years.

Williams said she heard the bad news after returning to Louisville. It was announced on television that newlyweds from London were on the plane – dashing her hope that they were on another flight.

Joyner learned the tragic news while still in Lexington. She said she broke down at a McDonald’s because it triggered memories of the trio’s friendship. They met freshmen year at Centre.

&#8220We would always get a Coke at McDonald’s,” she said.

&#8220(Parsley) lived in the same building we did and we were friends ever since,” added Williams.

Parsley and Williams majored in anthropology; Joyner double majored in anthropology and English.

Both bridesmaids said Parsley loved her family dearly. She wanted to be like her two older sisters, Beth Bruner of Somerset and Johnna Stallo of Cincinnati, in different ways, Joyner said.

Parsley was remembered for her perfectionism, spontaneity and endless enthusiasm.

&#8220She was always choreographing dances for the sorority,” Williams said, noting Parsley’s penchant for critiquing the dancers individually during rehearsal.

&#8220It was so much for us to watch,” Joyner said. &#8220She had an excessive amount of energy.”

&#8220American Idol” was Parsley’s favorite show, although she stopped watching it religiously after the exit of her favorite contestant, Diana DiGarmo, she said.

&#8220In fact, Jon (Hooker) proposed and then they watched ‘American Idol’ ” afterward to celebrate, Joyner said.

Disney World was Parsley’s favorite place in the world, Williams said.

However, &#8220(Hooker) had never been to Disney World,” Joyner said.

To rectify that, the newlyweds, who both grew up in London, planned to visit Disneyland in California while honeymooning, she said.

Their wedding ceremony included nine bridesmaids, nine groomsmen and nine children, with a green and off-white theme. Parsley, a tall, &#8220beautiful,” sandy blonde, wore a Vera Wang dress, Joyner said.

The reception was under a big tent, she said, and &#8220it seemed like all 300 people in that place were all family.”

&#8220It was (Parsley’s) dream wedding,” Joyner said. &#8220It was gorgeous; they spared no expense.”

Parsley’s sisters were maids of honor and four of her nieces and nephews were in the wedding. Hooker’s sister, brother and brother-in-law were also in it. Hooker had lost his father when he was younger, so he honored him with a wreath of roses. The couple chose the museum site because Parsley thought it was the prettiest drive in Kentucky, Williams said.

&#8220(Parsley) cried the whole way down the aisle,” Joyner said, &#8220but then she smiled the rest of the way. They were just so happy.”

She said Parsley couldn’t wait to get married life started.

Williams said December would’ve marked the couple’s second anniversary of their time together.

Their first date, at Outback Steakhouse, was set up by a cheerleader Parsley used to coach, Joyner said.

Hooker was a strong Christian who influenced Parsley to become more vibrant in her faith, she said.

&#8220Their faith was such an important part of who they were as a couple,” Joyner said. &#8220We know they’re together in heaven.”

She said she recalls giving both the newlyweds hugs and talking to their parents. They had told Parsley’s mom that Saturday was the happiest day of their lives.

Joyner said Parsley told her she planned to wear a &#8220just married” T-shirt on the plane, given to her by Joyner at the wedding.

The newlyweds left the wedding in a beautiful, antique car, Williams said.

&#8220I’ll always picture her waving goodbye in that car,” she said.

Joyner said she and Williams have &#8220absolutely gorgeous memories” of Parsley and consider themselves fortunate to have been part of Parsley’s life and her special day.

&#8220It might have been only 12 hours” together as husband and wife, Joyner said, &#8220but they were all happy. I’m sure they were able to say ‘I love you’ before (the crash) happened.”

– Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.