Wedding

Leslie Jeanne Arthur and Justin Adam Martens exchanged marriage vows on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Girard, Kan. The Rev. Donald Thissen officiated at the double- ring ceremony.

The bride is the daughter of Dail and Loretta Bailey, Girard, and the granddaughter of Evelyn Sevart, Greenbush, Kan., and the late Alban Sevart, and Wes and Marjory Bailey, of Hiattville, Kan. The groom is the son of Greg and Melinda May, of El Dorado, Kan., and Mark Martens, of Wichita, Kan. Groom's grandparents include Clarence and Wanda Mitchell, El Dorado, Kan., Ken and Betty Martens, Winfield, Kan., and Betty May of Marion, Kan.

The altar was adorned with red poinsettias, vases of white long stemmed roses, and an evergreen tree embellished with snowflakes. The pews and altar candles were decorated with white roses and white and pastel green flowing bows. The unity candle was adorned with a wedding verse, wedding lace and pearls.

Escorted to the altar by her dad, the bride wore a white off-the-shoulder intricately embroidered and beaded bodice topping an organza over satin full skirt and cathedral train. Her waist-length tulle veil was adorned with pearls and worn with a pearl tiara, necklace and earrings. She carried a bouquet of white roses and greenery with a white pearl rosary woven in that her grandmother, Evelyn Sevart, brought back from her recent travels to Portugal.

The groom wore a black tuxedo with silver vest and tie while his attendants and ushers wore black tuxedos and pastel green vests and ties. Groomsmen, best friends of the groom were Devin Ball and Mike Walz. Guests were escorted to their seats by Jacob May, brother of the groom, and Dustin Bailey, brother of the bride.

Laklyn Arthur, niece of the bride, was flower girl carrying a small bouquet of white roses while wearing a short, green party dress. Lanessa Arthur, sister of the bride, served as maid of honor, and Erica Martens, sister of the groom, served as bridesmaid. Both attendants wore full-length pastel green organza gowns.

Amy Mason, friend of the bride, provided the prelude and recessional music for the ceremony. During the ceremony Erica Martens sang "From This Moment On" while Jeff Short accompanied her on the guitar.

Handing out programs prior to the ceremony were Ashley and Morgan Little, friends of the bride. Savanna O'Toole, cousin of the bride, presided over the guestbook and placed gifts at the wedding reception. The reception was held at St. Michael's Church Hall immediately following the ceremony and consisted of a traditional wedding cake decorated with a sash of white roses and silk greenery with miniature white lights tucked inside the greenery topped with an engraved silver wedding bell. The bride and groom cut the cake in front of an arch decorated with white roses, tulle, greenery, white lights, and snowflakes. White rose and green leaf mints and green lime punch were served to the guests seated at tables featuring silver and frosted glass balls inside hurricane vases atop mirrors decorated with glass snowflakes. The groom's cake featured a photo of a Multiple Launch Rocket System.

Upon leaving the reception, the bride and groom were met with guests tossing artificial snow. Following the wedding the bride and groom enjoyed a week-long honeymoon cruise to Key West, Fla., and Cozumel, Mexico. They are now at home in Lawton, Okla., where Leslie is employed at City National Bank and Justin is a second lieutenant in the Army stationed at Fort Sill. Both bride and groom are Pittsburg State University graduates.