Ortman, Fullilove exchange vows

Christie Lynn Ortman and Seth Matthew Fullilove were united in marriage on June 4, 2011 at seven o’clock in the evening at the Culpepper Ranch in Smiley, Texas.

Christie is the daughter of Sue Culpepper Ortman of Gonzales and Dr. Chris Ortman of Smiley.  She is granddaughter of the late Dorothy and Slim Ortman and Alice and Andrew Culpepper. 

Seth is the son of Lu and David Fullilove of Cost and grandson of Gladys and Noel (Buster) Lindemann and the late Mozelle and Jack Fullilove, all of Cost.

An enchanting five-foot tall lighted burnished metal chandelier hung in an enormous oak tree at the entrance to the wedding grounds. Many smaller wrought iron chandeliers with lighted candles hung from other trees, as well as hundreds of votives in Mason jars suspended with monofilament.

Strings of twinkling lights enveloped the trunks and branches of several huge oak trees surrounding the wedding site as well as spot lights with a turquoise hue.

Attendees signed the guest book at the greeting table, framed by wrought iron chandeliers, as they arrived and were given paper fans printed with the order of the ceremony and names of wedding party members.  While mariachis played traditional instrumental music, guests entered through a wrought iron arch adorned with grapevine and berries and were seated for the ceremony in a shaded oak grove overlooking the lake. 

Jess Fullilove and Benjamin Hisey seated their grandmother Gladys Lindemann, who wore black slacks, a black lace shell and pink and black silk jacket.  Jess and Seth Fullilove escorted their mother, who wore a royal blue Donna Rico Grecian-style silk chiffon formal with a rhinestone waist brooch and side drape. 

Chris Sciba, cousin of the bride, seated the bride’s mother, who wore an Alex Evenings dusty grape-colored jacketed sheath with rhinestone trim along the neckline, jacket front and sleeves.  Both mothers carried small bouquets  of yellow roses, green coffee beans, and yellow saladago. 

Maids of honor Carly Reiley and Kristen Bird, as well as Jill Fullilove, sister of the groom, friends Emily Barnett, Amanda Crozier, Angelica Raley and junior bridesmaid Madison Culpepper, cousin of the bride, wore matching iridescent turquoise taffeta A-line gowns with rhinestone details at the hip that held side sash in place. 

Each bridesmaid wore tan cowboy boots with turquoise inlays and crystal chandelier earrings, gifts from the bride.  They carried rustic bouquets of yellow roses, berries, seeded eucalyptus, bear grass, and curly willow tied with turquoise satin ribbon. 

Morgan Culpepper, the bride’s cousin and flower girl, wore a white full-skirted tea-length tulle dress, embellished with a satin flower and ribbon sash at the waist, and carried a basket of yellow rose petals.

Seth’s best men included lifelong friend Lance Corporal Britt Hindman, who wore his United States Marines dress blues, and brother Jess Fullilove.  Groomsmen were cousins Benjamin Hisey and Dennis Hausler, and friends Kody Lester and Dustin Lester. 

Seth was dressed in a black-on-black pinstriped tuxedo with pewter gray vest and paisley tie.  Groomsmen were dressed in traditional black tuxedos with turquoise vests and paisley ties. 

Ushers Chris Sciba, cousin of the bride, Travis Keck and Rutledge High, friends of the bride, and The Pale Horses band members Eric Connor, Matt Easley and Derek Schaefer wore black tuxedo jackets, white long-sleeved shirts, jeans and boots.  They all wore yellow rose and seeded eucalyptus boutonnieres. 

When the Mariachis trumpets sounded, Chris Sciba and Travis Keck assisted the bride as she made her entrance down the steps of the large wooden deck and entered through a wrought iron arch embellished with honeysuckle vines and moss.   Dr. Chris Ortman escorted his daughter down the aisle to the traditional “Bridal Chorus”.

The aisle was decorated with rose petals and mason jars on Sheppard hooks filled with yellow roses, hydrangeas, dendrobium orchids,  bells of Ireland, seeded eucalyptus, bear grass, green coffee beans, berries and curly willow. 

Christie wore a stunningly beautiful Maggie Sottero ivory corseted ballgown. The dipped neckline bodice had gathered frills along the top edge with beaded embellishments that framed the ruched tulle corset bodice and encircled the empire waist.  The full skirt consisted of flowing layers of tulle that ended in a train. 

Christie followed the tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” by wearing a gold bracelet from family friend Mary Menking, carrying Seth’s great-grandmother Lindemann’s  hankie in the bouquet, wearing her new wedding gown and earrings, and wearing turquoise blue cowboy boots. 

Her bouquet consisted of two dozen yellow roses, hydrangea blossoms, seeded eucalyptus, bear grass, turquoise berries, green coffee beans, dendrobium orchids, and  white lantana.  Incorporated in the bouquet was a frog charm given to Christie by Mary Menking, representing that she found her prince.  The stems were wrapped in white satin ribbon. 

The lakeside ceremony was officiated by the Rev. Paul Smith, pastor of Monthalia United Methodist Church.  An enchanting grapevine arch, adorned with passion flower vines, moss and flowers, was flanked by six rustic metal candelabras.  A small table under the arch held a flower arrangement in honor of deceased grandparents. 

Christie and Seth repeated their wedding vows and exchanged rings under the arch.  Then, they proceeded down the aisle while mariachis sang “Stand by Me.”

While the wedding party took photos, guests seated themselves at round tables covered with ivory cloths under a large tent lighted with a turquoise hue or under the strands of large blub lights on the lawn surrounding a wood parquet dance floor.  A gobo light design on the dance floor incorporated the couples monogram.

Guests enjoyed appetizers of chips, veggies, fruits, cheese, crackers, dips and punch.  An assortment of Spain glass vases and wrought iron candelabras were decorated with yellow roses, hydrangeas, dendrobium orchids, green coffee beans, bells of Ireland, seeded eucalyptus, Italian ruscus, yellow saladago, bear grass, artichokes, berries, and curly willow.

The bride’s cake was a five-tiered Italian Cream confection decorated with cream cheese frosting and fresh yellow and ivory roses, yellow saladago, and small curly willow, each layer having a different rustic design. 

The groom’s carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting were served on mesquite wood circles of varying heights.  A turquoise metal guitar and musical note decorated the table, representing Seth’s passion for playing lead guitar for The Pale Horses, a local Texas country band. 

Before dinner, Christie’s dad, maid of honor Kristen Bird and best man Jess Fullilove made touching and humorous toasts to the couple.

Christie and Seth’s first dance was to Tracy Byrd’s “The Keeper of the Stars.” Christie and her dad danced to “Drive” by Alan Jackson. Seth and his mom danced to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man.”  Lorena Reyna, cousin of the groom, caught the bride’s bouquet and Dustin Lester caught the garter.

Guests enjoyed listening to music, dancing and visiting for several hours until Christie and Seth left under a shower of yellow rose petals in a Cadillac Escalade limousine. 

Christie was dressed for the departure in a Muse white floral lace peasant-style dress with her turquoise boots. They honeymooned in Breckenridge, Colo. 

Christie and Seth will reside in Gonzales, where Seth is employed at Gonzales First Shot Surveying, LLC and Christie at Burchard Abstract Company.  Christie will begin St. Mary’s School of Law in San Antonio in August.

Rehearsal

Lu and David Fullilove hosted a wedding rehearsal dinner for their son, Seth, and bride Christie Ortman on Friday, June 3 at the Culpepper Ranch in Smiley, Texas. 

Guests were seated at round tables near the lake and oak trees trimmed with strings of twinkling lights. Each table held a centerpiece of tiny yellow, orange, blue and white country flowers in Mason jars surrounded by jam jars with turquoise stones and votive candles. 

The barbeque dinner was catered by John Fullilove, the groom’s cousin, owner of Smitty’s Barbeque in Lockhart Texas.  Beef brisket, prime rib, pork ribs, sausage, potato salad, cole slaw, brown beans, pickles, onions, jalapenos, cheese and bread were enjoyed by all. 

Seth’s aunt, Donna Hisey, baked delicious peach, blackberry and cherry cobblers for dessert.

After dinner, Christie and Seth presented gifts to their attendants.  Bridesmaids received tan cowboy boots with turquoise inlays and crystal chandelier earrings.  The Junior bridesmaid received boots and a set of sliver rhinestone bracelets while the flower girl was given a silver engraved bracelet. 

Seth gave his groomsmen glass beer steins with pewter monogrammed plaques.