LITTLE ROCK — The Cathedral of St. Andrew was the setting at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 30, for the marriage of Katharine Balch Ward and Aaron Perry Hargis. The Rev. John K. Antony of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fayetteville officiated.
Anne and Seth Ward II, 14 Glenleigh Drive, are the parents of the bride. She is the granddaughter of Yvonne and the late Seth Ward and the late Memory and Fred S. Balch Jr., all of Little Rock.
The groom is the son of Karen Hargis of Fayetteville and Jerry Hargis of Huntsville. His grandparents are Glenna Martin and the late Phil Martin, both of Fayetteville, and Beatrice and the late Willis Hargis of Huntsville.
The altar held two arrangements of pink and white peonies, roses, lilies and orchids. A small arrangement of the same flowers decorated a statue of Mary. Music was by organist Allan Pieroni and vocalists Ron and Jaimee Jensen McDaniel.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a strapless Empire gown with a sweetheart neckline. The fit and flare skirt of English net over satin was embellished with seed pearls, crystals, sequins, bugle beads and rhinestones. She carried pink and white peonies, roses and orchids.
Serving as the bride’s honor attendants were Staci Smith of Little Rock and Amy Hargis of Fayetteville, sister of the groom. Bridesmaids were Laura Filipek of New Orleans and Mary Cooper and Whitney Wellborn, both of Little Rock.
They wore strapless gowns of celadon chiffon with sweetheart necklines and carried smaller versions of the bridal bouquet.
Flower girl was Olivia Ann Ward and ring bearers were Phillip Ward and Seth Ward IV, niece and nephews of the bride, all of Little Rock.
Jerod Hargis of Springdale served as his twin brother’s best man. Groomsmen were Dustin Hargis of Elkins, brother of the groom; Dylan Ledbetter of Springdale, cousin of the groom; and James Ward and Seth Ward III, both of Little Rock and brothers of the bride.
Guests were seated by Craig Murr of Bella Vista; Heath Sunley of Knoxville, Tenn.; and Adam Curtis of Western Grove.
A reception at the Country Club of Little Rock followed the ceremony. Guest tables were decorated with arrangements of peonies, roses, orchids and stock in bark and moss containers. Over the dance floor hung baskets of greenery and dendrobium orchids interspersed with crystal-beaded chandeliers, which held votive candles. Music was by First Impressions.
The bride has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She is a crime reporter for the Northwest Arkansas Times.
The groom has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from the university. He is a circulation, promotions and retention manager for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Fayetteville.
After a wedding trip to Negril, Jamaica, the couple will make their home in Fayetteville.
High Profile, Pages 43 on 07/08/2012