Nuptial Mass unites Emily Gielen, Ross Cullen

During a lovely spring evening Nuptial Mass on Friday, April 4, 2014, Miss Emily Katherine Gielen and Mr. Ross Jordan Cullen were united in holy matrimony.

Fr. Gary Schexnayder officiated the 7 p.m. ceremony at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Crowley.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Bryant Gielen of Crowley. Mrs. Gielen is the former Elizabeth Anne Moody. Grandparents of the bride are Mr. and Mrs. B.I. Moody III  and Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Gielen, all of Crowley. She is a graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish and is currently pursuing a business degree at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Jon Cullen of Crowley. Mrs. Cullen is the former Lynn Barbara Faulk. Grandparents of the groom are the late Mrs. Theodora Heinen Faulk of Rayne and the late Kenneth Faulk of Lafayette, and the late Mrs. Joan Firmin of Bunkie and the late Mr. William Cullen of Evergreen. He is a graduate of Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish and is currently pursuing an accounting degree at Louisiana State University in Eunice. He is presently employed at Compass Health, LLC, in Crowley.

Ushering guests to their seats were Mr. Thomas Schummacher and Mr. Joel Guinn, friends of the groom. Readers of sacred scripture were Mrs. Kim Gielen Gattle, aunt of the bride, and Mrs. Jeanne Lambousy LeBeouf, godmother of the groom. Miss Alyssa Mitchell and Miss Katherine Cullen, sisters of the groom, and Miss Christina Hensgens and Miss Abigail Bacilla, cousins of the bride, served as gift bearers.

A program of traditional nuptial music enhanced the beauty of the ceremony and was provided by Jodi Bollich and Raymond Hebert, vocalists; Kevin Martin, organist; Yang-Yang Li, violinist; and Emma Guidry, cellist; along with Will Green trumpeter. The beautifully arranged selections included “Jesu, Joy of Man’s  Desiring,” which accompanied the seating of the grandmothers and mothers, and Pachelbel’s “Canon D,” which heralded the entrance of the bridesmaids. The Nuptial Mass included “Panis Angelicus”  and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” The bride and groom led the recessional from the church to the beautiful “Rondeau.”

The vintage stained glass windows of the church allowed the elegance of natural light to form a perfect setting for the ceremony. The gracious placement of  ribbon-tied wedding flowers accented the pews down the main aisle of the church. Special flowers from the bride’s collection highlighted by roses were placed at the altar of Our Lady. As the bride left the sanctuary, she first visited the altar of Our Lady escorted by her groom. The couple then presented bouquets similarly highlighted by ivory roses to their mothers.

To the strains of “Trumpet Voluntary,” the bride entered the church on the arm of her father, radiant in her wedding gown of embroidered lace and tulle. The strapless embroidered lace bodice featured delicate hand beaded detail and a scalloped sweetheart neckline. The full, gathered tulle skirt with embroidered lace appliqués cascaded down into a graceful scalloped train. Her single tiered veil of tulle flowed simply in chapel length with her gown.

The bride carried a beautiful nosegay of peonies, sweet peas and roses in hues of ivory and blush, wrapped together in ivory satin with French knotting. She wore a blue medal of Our Lady, given to her  by her godmother Charlotte Moody Leonards, pinned to her dress. Her pearl and diamond earrings were borrowed from her mother, and the pearl bracelet at her wrist had been given to her by her paternal grandparents. 

Preceding the bride in the processional was her sister, Miss Margaret Elizabeth Gielen, who served as maid of honor, followed by junior maid of honor, Miss Rosemary Moody Gielen. Wearing identical gowns of blush pink silk chiffon, Misses Caroline Theresa Gielen and Elizabeth Anne Gielen  honored their sister as bridesmaids. Miss Jane Margaret Leonards, cousin of the bride, and Misses Emma Louise Frank and Hannah Michelle Veillon, friends of the bride also served as bridesmaids. Their bouquets were small nosegays of the bridal flowers.

Little Miss Mary Elizabeth Gattle, niece of the bride, and little Miss Camille Adele LeBeouf, cousin of the groom,  were happily the flower girls. Looking angelic in ivory silk dresses with organdy overlays, the girls carried pomander bouquets of blush and ivory roses complimented with lovely satin ribbons and wore halos of delicate flowers.

Attending the groom as best man was Mr. Jon Austin Cullen, brother of the groom. Mr. Lazar John-Bryant Gielen, brother of the bride, and Mr. Matthew Venable, Mr. Sammy Graff,  Mr. Chad Gibson and Mr. Ben Arledge, friends of the groom, served as groomsmen. 

For her daughter’s wedding, Mrs. Gielen entered the church escorted by her son John Bryant Gielen in a classic formal design of champagne silk and lace.

The mother of the groom, escorted by her sons Ross and John Austin Cullen, chose a lovely golden taupe ensemble with a tonal lace overlay bodice and a full satin skirt.

Following the Nuptial Mass, family and friends joined the newlywed couple for a reception at Le Grand Hall. Guests were received through the main doors, which were marked by beautiful arrangements of roses and peonies. 

The dessert service was centered by a beautiful five-tiered wedding cake of delicate ivory fondant covered with intricate lace and pearls and adorned with fresh flowers from the bride’s selection. Sterling silver antique goblets that were a wedding gift to the late Mr. and Mrs. Braxton I. Moody Sr., were raised by the newlyweds in celebration with their attendants. 

The groom’s cake was chocolate buttercream, artfully fashioned into a whimsical display of a crawfish boil.

The newly wed Mr. and Mrs. Cullen led the dancing with their first dance to the classic lyrics of “The Way You Look Tonight.” Guests enjoyed the festive sounds of the brass band Compostionz, reminiscent of the days when music filled the rafters of the Grand’s historic halls. With the evening waning, the bride and groom left for a wedding trip to Destin, Florida. They will be at home in Crowley.