Zion Lutheran Church in Dallas was the setting at 6 p.m. Saturday, March 1, for the marriage of Tarabeth Echols and Michael Alan Gertsch. Officiating were the Rev. Robert Preece of Zion and the Rev. Kory Janneke of Faith Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, S.D.
The bride is the daughter of Heather and John Echols of Midland, Texas. She is the granddaughter of Mary Lou and the late Mark Wilson, also of Midland, and Eddie Juan and the late Ray Echols of Big Spring, Texas.
Lisa and Steve Gertsch of Cabot are the parents of the groom. His grandparents are Modean and the late Alfred Gertsch of North Little Rock, Violet and Col. Jack Powers of Sierra Vista, Ariz., and the late Christine E. Powers of Jacksonville.
The altar held two large white arrangements of Casablanca lilies, hybrid delphinium, roses, stock and hydrangeas. Music was by Brittany Brown of Dallas, who sang “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” and “He’s Always Been Faithful to Me,” accompanied by Jody Lindh on the organ and Matthew Otte on trumpet.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a strapless satin ball gown. The ruched sweetheart bodice was encrusted with Swarovski crystals, and the cathedral-length veil was embellished with a wide border of crystals and scattered miniature crystals. She carried a brooch bouquet in emerald green.
Matron of honor was Darby Brown of Midland. Bridesmaids were Heidi Janneke of Sioux Falls, sister of the groom; Briana Echols of Midland; Katherine Aaron of Novato, Calif.; Erin Davidson of Memphis; and Mattison Torres of Gardendale, Texas. They wore floor-length black gowns in the style of their choice with custom peacock feather hairpieces. They carried bouquets of white roses, hydrangeas, miniature gardenias and stephanotis.
Flower girls were Kiernan Janneke of Sioux Falls, niece of the groom, and Baryn Brown of Midland. Ring bearers were Rowan Janneke and Henry Janneke, also of Sioux Falls, nephews of the groom.
Serving as best man was Ryan Driggers of Little Rock. Groomsmen were John-Mark Echols and Wilson Echols, both of Midland and brothers of the bride; Andrew Gertsch of Little Rock, cousin of the groom; Keith Schmidt of Ward; and Dino Livakovic of Mahwah, N.J.
Guests were seated by Ryan O’Neal of Hot Springs, Evan Kuburich of Springdale, Kyle Unser of Fayetteville and Mark Powers of Colorado Springs, Colo.
A reception in the Atrium and the Stemmons Ballroom at The Hilton Anatole in Dallas followed the ceremony. Guest tables were centered with varied tall and short flower arrangements that included white hydrangeas, white and ivory stock, white phalaeonopsis orchids and roses. Music was by Center Stage Band of Dallas.
The bride is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and has a bachelor’s degree in interior design from the E. Fay Jones School of Architecture. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi and a Razorbacks majorette. She is a design consultant with Porcelanosa.
The groom has a bachelor’s degree in German from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the university, where he was a member of Sigma Pi. He is an investment banker with USAA in Addison, Texas.
The couple will make their home in Dallas.
High Profile, Pages 42 on 03/09/2014