Laura Beth Hermansen & Shawn Hickl recite vows

MR. AND MRS. SHAWN TRAVIS HICKL LAURA BETH HERMANSEN

Laura Beth Hermansen and Shawn Travis Hickl were united in marriage at 3 p.m., Feb. 23, 2008 at Christ Lutheran Church in El Campo. The Rev. Pete Lopez Jr. performed the double-ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Leslie and Donna Hermansen of El Campo. Parents of the groom are David and Sally Hickl of El Campo and Marilyn and Kerry Rutledge of Weimar. Laura is the granddaughter of Raymond and Marcel Howard, the late Harold and Eda Hermansen and the late Evelyn Howard. Shawn is the grandson of Joe and Albina Hickl of El Maton and the late Dean and Lois Morton.

Church decorations featured white taffeta to accent the pews and spiral candelabrum accented with white snapdragons and greenery on each side of the altar.

Music was provided by Carol Teague, organist; and Robert Baker, soloist. Selections included "Trumpet Tune in D," "Joyful, Joyful" and "Corteg."

The bride, escorted by her father, wore a strapless tissue taffeta gown by Allure. The bodice was enhanced with silver satin embroidery and beads that dripped down onto the pick-up gathered skirt and continued down the length of the cathedral-length train.

Laura wore diamond stud earrings made from her late grandmother Evelyn Howard's wedding band. For something blue, she wore a sapphire pendant that belonged to her late grandmother Eda Hermansen. Her tiara was embellished with beads and Swarovski crystals and attached to an elbowlength veil which was layered over a detachable cathedrallength veil. All three were decorated with crystal starbursts and sprinkled with Swarovski crystals. She carried a nosegay bouquet of green cymbidium orchids.

Stacey Cotton of New Waverly, sister of the bride, was matron of honor. Maid of honor was Stephanie Steelman of Austin, friend of the bride. Bridesmaids were Shawna Wied of El Campo, Ashley Bustamante of San Marcos, Veronica Dee of Lubbock, Amber Supak of Austin and Heather Kennedy of Austin, all friends of the bride; Melinda Rainer of King George, Va., sister of the groom; and Joan Swetlick of Houston and Katie Lowry of College Station, friends of the bride.

Flower girls were Riley and Claire Rainer, nieces of the groom.

From the Jasmine Collection, attendants wore black strapless iridescent taffeta gowns with platinum bands at the waist that formed a knot at the center.

Flower girls wore white organza and taffeta gowns with kiwi green sashes. Their Cinderella skirts were accented by pick-up gathers and rhinestones in the same fashion as the bride. Attendants carried bouquets of white Star of Bethlehem, white Gerber daisies and alstromeria accented with green coffee beans.

Chad Kight of Sugar Land, friend of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen were Keith Bodungen of Austin, Taylor Radley of El Campo, Jeremy Bubela of El Campo, Scott Krpec of Egypt and Trey Harton of Sugar Land, friends of the groom; Blair Pfardrescher of El Campo, cousin of the groom; Brian Rainer of King George, brother-in-law of the groom; and Charles Bard of Katy and Dustin Kight of El Campo, friends of the groom.

Ring bearer was Ty Morton, cousin of the groom.

Ushers were Charlie Morton, cousin of the groom; Trent Korenek, friend of the groom; and Jason Cotton, brother-inlaw of the bride.

Witnesses were Warren and Cody Morton, cousins of the groom. Readers were LeAnne Lundy, cousin of the bride; and Pam Lester, cousin of the groom.

A reception, dinner and dance followed at the Wharton Civic Center. Grand march leaders were Paul and Sonja Blinka, uncle and aunt of the bride. Members of the house party were Terry Rutherford, ceremony coordinator; Billie Jean Bram, reception coordinator; and Cori Bram, Janet Lesak, Meagan Lesak, Sarah Morton, Jennifer Morton and Cheyanne Morton.

Rehearsal dinner, held at Firehouse Bar & Grill Friday evening, was hosted by Marilyn and Kerry Rutledge.

The bride is a 2004 graduate of El Campo High School and a 2007 graduate of Texas A&M University with a bachelor of science degree in marketing and retail. She is employed by Prosperity Bank in El Campo.

The groom is a 2003 graduate of Texas A&M University where he received a bachelor of science degree in agronomy and soil crop management. He is employed by Wood Group Production Testing.

After a wedding trip to Guanacaste, Costa Rica, the couple will reside in El Campo.