Corsicana —



On May 8, 2010 the Pape Gardens gracing the Earl Harrison House in Waco, Texas provided the setting that marked the beginning of a new life as husband and wife for Aaron and Elizabeth Acker of Corsicana. The couple celebrated their first day of marriage with the late afternoon wedding ceremony and reception attended by family and friends from Texas, Oklahoma, and Colorado.

Twin gazebos situated underneath huge Oak trees in the gardens created the scene for the double-ring ceremony performed by the Rev. Ricky Woodall, former pastor of the couple. Nephew of the bride, Ken Harms, served as reader for the wedding ceremony and presented passages from the book of Ruth and from I Corinthians 13.

Father of the bride, Raymond Lewis, beginning with the familiar, “Her mother and I ...,” gave her away in marriage followed by words expressing his desire to receive Aaron into the family as a son, a proclamation that demonstrated the message of the unity candle lit during the ceremony by the couple as Elizabeth Burleson sang, “Love Never Fails.” The opening song, “Holy Ground,” was sung by Rebecca Woodal who also sang, “Inside Your Heaven.”

To present herself in marriage to Aaron, Elizabeth selected a floor length bridal gown with princess lines of white satin overlaid with chiffon, which also trailed the dress from cross straps in the back tied in the waist to form an intrinsical train flowing softly from an ornamental cluster of jewels that embellished the straps just beneath the neckline. Elizabeth’s tiara was “the something old,” a gift to her mother when she was very young. She wore a white-gold necklace and cross given to her from the groom. The bride’s mother hand sewed a blue bow into the train of the dress, and keeping with tradition, Elizabeth had a penny in her shoe. Accentuating her attire, the bride carried a clutch of pink hydrangeas and carousel roses, highlighted with hot pink spray roses, and punctuated with peonies and monkey’s tails. The arrangement was enveloped in bear grass and gathered with chocolate tulle ribbons to complete the creation.

Matron of honor, Lori Rodriquez, wore a formal dress of latte taffeta. The strapless bodice was defined by vertical pleats enfolded above the waist by a cummerbund that gave way to a knee length gathered skirt. Bridesmaids, Joanie Brown, friend of the bride and Emily Ward, niece of the bride, also wore knee length dresses of latte taffeta with pleated skirts. A cummerbund set off the unique neckline that linked the bodice at the shoulders with straps from the back, that entwined through loops made from the bodice fabric gathered at the top of the dress. They wore matching ballet slippers and carried roses dotted with crystals tucked in them by the bride. Completing their attire, the attendants wore pink crystal necklaces and rings, gifts from the bride. Five year old Sophia Rodriquez, paving a path with petals of roses for the bride, was donned an ankle length white satin dress with puffed sleeves sprinkled with crystals to reflect the bride’s gown. Her head piece was a wreathed band of satin roses with white ribbons fashioned to lay over dark curls.

The groom wore a chocolate colored tuxedo with a cream colored vest and tie, while the groomsmen wore chocolate colored vests and ties. Aaron’s best man was his brother, Wes Acker, and groomsmen were friends, Miles Keller and Justin Garretson. The ring bearer, six year old Kort Harms, nephew of the bride, wore a chocolate suit with a cream colored vest and tie corresponding with the groom’s attire.

Mothers of the bride and groom chose dresses to complement the bride’s chosen colors. Ann Lewis, mother of the bride, wore a two piece tea length pink dress of layered taffeta and chiffon with slippers to match. Mother of the groom, George Ann Deweese, wore a knee length taupe dress.

Jack Ward, nephew of the bride and Clayton Acker, cousin of the groom, served as ushers for the wedding. The recessional music for the newlyweds and their wedding party was a recording of Roy Rodgers singing “Happy Trails to You.”

Beneath elegant white tents studded with Chinese lanterns, glimmered over tables clustered with roses and hydrangeas of pink, the bride and groom danced to the music “Lake Elizabeth,” and the father of the bride danced with his daughter to a song that symbolized the sentiment of his heart, “I Loved Her First.” Afterwards, guests of the bride and groom enjoyed a buffet of barbecue with all the trimmings and the three tiered brides cake was crowned with fresh pink flowers, and distinguished by scrolling twists of brown icing embedded with edible pearls, linking the inscription on two sides of the cake with the letter — “A.” The grooms cake was his favorite, a yellow cake made in the shape of a monster truck complete with a blue flame confectionery replica of Aaron’s treasured hobby — his prize winning, 1200 HP Dodge diesel. Sisters of the bride, Heide Hars and Hope Edwards, served the cakes. Favors of oriental fans created by the bride were presented to the gathering of well-wishers, and instead of a signature book, the wedding guests left advice and messages along with their names on river rocks placed in a glass vase. A “photo tree” was placed in the reception area decorated with picture memories of the bride and groom, captured by cameras of parents and friends through the years.

Grandparents of the groom are Jim and Elizabeth Acker, Jim and Pat Dealy, and the late Jerry Bonner. Elizabeth’s grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. Chester Prater of Dawson, and the late Pete Lewis and the late Velma Lewis Curington.

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Acker will honeymoon in the Texas hill country, a trip that will include an excursion of bow hunting for exotic animals — a wedding gift from the groom’s parents.