Hermansen & Swanson recite vows

MR. AND MRS. CHRISTOPHER BLAKE SWANSON SUSAN ELAINE HERMANSEN

Susan Elaine Hermansen and Christopher Blake Swanson were united in marriage at 7 p.m., April 12, 2008 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church. Father Gary W. Janak performed the double ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ellwood H. Hermansen of El Campo. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. J. I. Holt and the late Harry Hermansen and J. I. Holt and the late Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Kainer, all of El Campo. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Swanson of Houston and the grandson of Mrs. J. Robert Moffett of Houston and the late J. Robert Moffett and the late Mr. and Mrs. John Swanson.

The simplicity of pristine white calla lilies and white hydrangea blooms arranged in clear glass vases decorated the church.

Music was provided by the pianist and organist, Janice Kram Cox. Selections were "Canon in D," "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring," "Trumpet Voluntary," "Sound the Trumpet" (St. Anthony's Choral) and "Trumpet Tune." Soloist and cantor Becky Boyer Byers, family of the bride, sang "Wherever You Go" and "How Beautiful." A duet by Byers and husband Scott Anthony Byers, cousin of the bride, was "I Can Only Imagine" and "We Give You Thanks."

The bride was escorted by her father. For her wedding the bride wore a Vera Wang ivory crepe back satin gown. The strapless mermaid gown featured a drape bodice with a natural waist and tiered ruffled godet train. She chose a chapellength veil of ivory illusion tulle. The bride's bouquet consisted of snowy white calla lilies, white roses and underskirted with lemon leaves.

Maid of honor was Shelley Patricia Batten of Atlanta, Ga., friend from Texas A&M University. Bridesmaids were Candice Bouton Hermansen of Houston, sister-in-law of the bride; Melissa Kainer Erwin of El Campo, cousin of the bride; Melissa Jensen Oatman of Houston, friend from Texas A&M University; Heather Neel Smith of Bexley, Ohio, life-long friend of the bride; Melanie Jane Oatman of San Francisco, Calif., friend from Texas A&M University; and Ginger Duncan Harris of Houston, cousin of the bride.

The bridesmaids wore spicecolored taffeta trumpet gowns with a scoop neckline and a cummerbund at the waist. Their flowers were a classicstyle round bouquet with white lilacs, soft pink "Crystal Blush" calla lilies, rose-like lisianthus and pink bouvardia.

Flower girls were Caroline Louise Swanson of Houston, niece of the groom; Daphne Clay Nicol of Lexington, Kn., cousin of the bride; and Kylee Faith Budd of Corpus Christi, cousin of the bride.

Ring bearer was Kade Grant Budd of Corpus Christi, cousin of the bride.

Best man was William Eric Swanson of Houston, Texas, brother of the groom.

Groomsmen were Charles Ellwood Hermansen of Houston, brother of the bride; Kristofer Michael Muller of San Francisco, Calif., friend from Colgate University; Adam Ezra Olshanksy from Boston, Mass., friend from Colgate University; Howard Russell Graham of Lawrence, Kan., friend from Colgate University; John Marshall Stevens of Sugar Land, friend from Rice University; and Michael David Battaglia of New York, N.Y., friend from Colgate University.

Ushers were John Garner Moffett of Houston, cousin of the groom; Tyson Kainer Duncan of Houston, cousin of the bride; and Clayton Neale Harris of Houston, family of the bride.

A reception was held at Greek Brothers Restaurant immediately following the ceremony. Members of the house party were Amy Byers Budd, Hilary Nicole Duncan, Katherine Jean Kainer, Natalie Evelyn Kainer, Sarah Elizabeth Kainer, Kely Kuykendall Nicol and Ashley Hitzfeld Walker, cousins of the bride; Adelina Rosenthal Kainer, Rebecca Straub Kainer and Shawna Fisher Kuykendall, family members of the bride; Jenny Lea Lang, friend of the bride from Texas A&M University; and Dawn Wade Swanson, sister-in-law of the groom.

The bride is a 1994 graduate of El Campo High School and a 1998 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in business analysis where she was affiliated with the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She graduated in 2004 from South Texas College of Law with a doctor of juris prudence degree. She is currently employed with the law firm of Hays, McConn, Rice, Pickering P.C. in Houston.

The groom graduated in 1995 from The Kinkaid School in Houston and in 1999 with a degree in economics from Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. He graduated in 2004 with a master's degree in business from Rice University. He is director in the finance department of Waste Management.

After a wedding trip to Hawaii the couple will reside in Houston.

Rehearsal dinner was held at Damian's Cucina Italiana in Houston and was given by Mr. and Mrs. Bill Swanson, parents of the groom.