Courtney Walshak and Rochard Welfel wed

Courtney Nicole Walshak and Richard Thomas Welfel exchanged vows at a double-ring ceremony June 21, 2014 at St. Ferdinand’s Catholic Church in Blanco with Father Justin Udomah officiating.

The bride is the daughter of Sheila and Keith Elstner and Mike Walshak and the groom is the son of Margaret and Larry Welfel. Courtney is the granddaughter of James Fehner and the late Dolores Fehner and Joan Walshak and the late Doug Walshak and step-granddaughter of Sally and John Elstner. Richard is the grandson of Leona Welfel and the late Henry Welfel and the late Don and Eula Barnett.

Courtney was escorted down the aisle by her father Mike Walshak and her stepfather Keith Elstner. The bride wore an elegant couture silk satin ball gown by Argentinian designer Eve of Milady. The strapless gown featured a sweetheart neckline delicately beaded with Swarovski crystals and scalloped edge back.  A beautiful silver thread embroidered pattern, the designer’s elegant signature scroll work, on both the dropped waist bodice and full skirt was embellished with beads and Swarovski crystals, the design pattern flowed into a cathedral train and ended with delicate lace scalloped edges. 

A matching Swarovski crystal embroidered intermission length veil and pearl and Swarovski crystal tiara completed her wedding day look. She carried a naturally rounded bouquet composed of deep blue hydrangea, deep blue anemones, cascading white phalaenopsis orchids, blue muscari, blue roses and rhinestone pinned stephanotis. The bouquet was wrapped in rhinestone ribbon and draped with a blue rosary that belonged to her late grandmother Dolores Fehner, in remembrance of her.

Matron of honor was Bethany King; bridesmaids were Stephanie Walshak, Rebekah Fees, Christen Ince, Sara Riojas, Alecia Bartel, Leslie Day, Stephanie Fehner, Amberleigh Watson, Brianna Vinklarek, Sherrie Henke and Hannah Fees. The flower girls were Lailah Day, Selah Fees and Lilah Day.

 The bridesmaids wore Belsoie by Jasmine strapless floor-length gowns of cobalt blue madelyn silk chiffon with a sweetheart neckline and ruched bodice and were accented at the hip with a flourish of chiffon draped from a silver crystal broach.

They wore crystal necklaces with matching earrings, a gift from the bride and groom and flower hair clips of orange spray rose blooms accented with crystals. The bridesmaids carried rounded bouquets composed of orange tulips, orange roses, orange calendula and orange pincushion proteas wrapped in cobalt blue satin ribbon.

The flower girls wore Jessica Lynn white floor-length organza dresses with ruffled pick-ups in the skirt and delicate crystal beading on the neckline. The flower girls carried floral pomanders composed of blue hydrangea secured with white satin ribbon and on their head wore halos made of white dendrobium orchids and blue rhinestones.

The best man was Chris Welfel. Groomsmen were Shane Walshak, Brian Fees, Michael Ince, Chris Riojas, Ryan Whitely, Chris Day, Brandon Fehner, Mike Tumlinson, Bradley Fehner, H.C. Schmidt and Brayden Watson. Ring bearers were Taber Shelton, Noah Riojas and Levi Riojas.

The groom wore a black tuxedo with a white vest, tie and pocket square. Groomsmen wore black tuxedos with a cobalt blue vest, tie and pocket square. The ring bear bears wore black tuxedos with a white vest, tie and pocket square.

The groom wore a boutonniere composed of white stephanotis accented with crystals and blue muscari.  The groomsmen’s boutonniere was composed of small clusters of orange calendula wrapped in satin ribbon. The ring bearers wore a mini boutonniere composed of white dendrobium orchid blooms accented with blue crystals and wrapped in satin ribbon.

The mother of the bride wore a couture floor length gown by Mon Cheri in light mocha featuring a sweetheart neckline and allover elegant embroidered lace appliqué accented with scattered glittering hand-beaded stones, dropped waistline and tulle flared skirt, with a coordinating shimmering bolero  three-quarter length lace sleeve jacket. She carried a bouquet of delicate posies composed of white phalenopsis blooms and blue muscari wrapped in white satin ribbon.

The mother of the groom wore a couture floor length sleeveless Jovani gown, featuring a dropped waistline, in silver satin chiffon with a gray tulle overlay embellished with elegant beading, shimmering sequins, and jewels with a matching silver chiffon shawl. She carried a bouquet of delicate posies composed of white phalenopsis blooms and blue muscari wrapped in white satin ribbon.

The string quartet music at the church was beautifully played by StringMusic.net of Austin. The grandparents were seated and candles were presented by Hanan Day, Caleb Riojas and Landon Watson in remembrance of the deceased grandparents to the song of “Holes in the Floor of Heaven” by Steve Wariner. The parents were seated by “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, by Bach, the wedding party entered to “Air from Water Music” by Handel and the bride entered to “Bridal Chorus” by Wagner.

The Liturgy of the Word were read by Pam Walshak and Jasen Walshak and the Responsorial Psalm was read by Carrie Tinsley. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the presentation of the gifts were presented by the bride’s godparents, Jimmy and Betty Fehner, to the music “Love Never Fails” by Brandon Heath, and the communion song was “How Beautiful” by Lindsay Wallace.

Flowers in the church at the altar consisted of two large clear crystal footed pedestal vases arranged with deep blue hydrangea, white lilies, deep blue delphinium and white spray roses. Along the isle of the church, clusters of deep blue hydrangea and white lilies accented the pews.

After being introduced as Mr. and Mrs. Richard Welfel for the first time, the bride and groom left the church to the song “Be With Us Today” by Gia Publications.

The reception was held at The Lodge at Bridal Veil Falls, in Spring Branch. In the foyer of the venue was a large floral swan which consisted of white phalaenopsis orchids, white princess spray roses, white carnations, white cusion poms, white dendrobium orchids, crystals and rhinestones. Tables were decorated with cobalt blue satin, blue sequins, white sequin and white pin tuck linens.

The tables held various flower arrangements of assorted sizes and the flowers consisted of blue hydrangea, cascading white phalaenopsis orchids, blue roses, blue dendrobium orchids, blue anemones, white oriental lilies, white frizzle tulips, orange spray rose blooms, orange tulips and orange ranunculus and the arrangements were accented with silver mercury glass, crystal votives with rhinestone banding and candles.

The bride’s cake was a beautiful six layer white tier cake with blue roses spiraling down from top to bottom, and silver rhinestone bands on each layer.  The cake was displayed on a clear glass table top, with blue rose petals and candles peering below the cake. The cake was white with buttercream icing and the layers of the cake consisted of  white  with fresh  sliced strawberries and cream, chocolate with crushed Oreo’s and cream and white with chocolate buttercream.

The groom’s table had five assorted crystal tier pedestal stands displaying chocolate chip cookie cake cookies and pecan chocolate chip cookies. The table was covered with a blue stain table cloth with crystal votive candles and vases with rhinestone banding, orange tulips, blue roses, and blue orchid petals.

Mik’s Catering of Schulenburg catered the meal and guests were served beef tenderloin, chicken cordon bleu, garden rice pilaf, marbled rosemary potatoes, Key Largo vegetable blend with wine butter sauce and yeast clover rolls and homemade vanilla ice cream with various toppings finished the meal.

After the meal the guests enjoyed the grand march led by Ernestine and Kevin Sutherlin and Jay and Carrie Tinsley. Courtney and Richard’s first dance was  “For You I Do” by Roger Creager. Courtney’s dance with her father was to “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw and with her stepfather “Daddy Dance with Me” by Krystal Keith. Richard’s dance with his mother was “A Mother’s Song” by T. Carter Music.

After enjoying a night of visiting and dancing the couple made their exit to a lighted white horse drawn Cinderella carriage with guests holding sparklers to light their way.

The couple honeymooned in Turks and Caicos, part of the British West Indies. They have made their home in Kyle.

On the eve of the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s parents at St. Ferdinand’s Parish Hall in Blanco.