Nuptial Mass unites Robertson, Doise

Anne Elise Robertson and Michael Joseph Doise exchanged their wedding vows on Saturday, December 28, 2013, during an early afternoon Nuptial Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette. The Very Reverend Monsignor Richard Greene served as celebrant with Reverend Chester Arceneaux, Reverend Neil Pettit, and Deacon Patrick Broussard serving as concelebrants. 

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Adams Robertson of Lafayette; her mother is the former Rosalind Moody of Crowley. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Lee Doise of Lafayette; his mother is the former Mary Jane Marcello of Deridder. Mr. and Mrs. B. I. Moody III of Crowley, Mrs. Joe Lyle Jr. and the late Charles Wallace Robertson Sr. of Chattanooga, Tennessee, are the grandparents of the bride. Mrs. Luke Mancuso Marcello of Lake Charles and the late Dr. Marcello and the late Mr. and Mrs. Elery Lee Doise of Eunice are the grandparents of the groom.

In the vestibule of the Cathedral, Anna Kathryn Moody, Katherine Anna Hundley, Margaret Elizabeth Gielen, and Victoria Anne Laprairie, cousins of the bride, greeted guests with programs, the art for which was inspired by the stained glasswork of the Cathedral and designed by the bride’s sister, Rosalind Mary Robertson. John Barret Bertucci, Thomas Adam James and Dr. James Richard White, close friends of the groom, served as ushers.

Accompanied by Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” as a prelude, the bride’s mother was escorted by her son Samuel Andrew Moody Robertson while the groom escorted his mother to their respective family pews. Each mother carried a small nosegay of white roses and camellias in a silver holder.

The procession of the wedding party began with Pachelbel’s “Canon and Gigue in D” as the bridesmaids, Natalie Sue Gasmire, Natalie Kristine George, Alice Emling Johnson, and Lyndsey Miller Lofland, close friends of the bride, entered the Cathedral. 

They joined groomsmen Hab Matthew Barton, Seth Anthony Dejean, Jacob Elliot Favaron, Brett Whitfield Marks, Michael Joseph Saab and Kaliste Joseph Saloom IV, friends of the groom; Samuel Andrew Moody Robertson, brother of the bride; and Caleb Luke Doise, best man and brother of the groom.

Valerie Hensgens Lyons, cousin of the bride, and Dr. Elizabeth Bertucci Robertson, sister in law of the bride, served as matrons of honor. The maids of honor, Rosalind Mary Robertson and Elisabeth Kathryn-Teresa Robertson, sisters of the bride, followed in procession. Flower girls were Valerie Anne Lyons and Mary Ellen Trahan, and ring bearer was Bennett Coleman Murray, young cousins of the bride.

The bridal attendants wore day length dresses in soft hues of eucalyptus with ruffled necklines and gentle skirting of their choice. They carried satin ribbon tied bouquets of Chablis and Escimo roses, white stock, peach berries and eucalyptus. 

The flower girls wore winter white, silk shantung, tea length dresses with eucalyptus tinted sashes and trim. They held wedding pomanders of the bridal flowers at their wrists and wore flowered wreaths tied in satin on their heads. The ring bearer topped his white dress shirt, suspenders, and bow tie with a navy blazer and grey pants. The gentlemen of the wedding party were formally attired in black tuxedos with stephanotis boutonnières. 

Clarke’s “Prince of Denmark’s March” heralded the bride’s entrance on the arm of her father. She was radiant in her chosen gown of silk magnolia with a lace enhanced bodice and lace illusion neckline. The delicate back lines of the dress laced together and into the flowing cathedral length train. A veil of silk illusion in like shades of magnolia blended with the train. She carried a cascading bouquet of phaelonopsis and dendrobium orchids, hydrangea, freesia, stephanotis, stock, Escimo roses and ruscus. She wore as her only jewelry her mother’s earrings that had been a gift from the bride’s father.

Following the Celebrant’s welcome and opening prayers, Jill Lea Doise and Kathleen Doise Brennan, sisters of the groom, offered readings from scripture including Genesis 2:18-24, Psalm 128, and Colossians 3:12-17, while Deacon Broussard read the Gospel from John 2:1-11. Catherine Russo Hales and Katherine Alyse Prince, friends of the bride and groom, along with Mary Claire Lagroue and Ellen Charlotte Leonards, cousins of the bride, carried the offertory gifts.

The musicians for the wedding presented the “Mass for a Servant Church” by Michel Guimont. Assembled in the Cathedral’s choir loft were Jodi Bollich, soprano; Paul Baker, tenor; Lauren Baker, violin; Loren Laing, violin; Emil Ivanov, violin; Emma Guidry, cello; Charles Federle, string bass; Wilfred Green, trumpeter; Scott Walker, trumpeter; and Tom Niel, organist. Their program included “The Prayer,” “May the Lord Bless You,” “Psalm 128,” Handel’s “Aria,” Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” and Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” The recessional “Hornpipe” by Handel followed the final Nuptial blessings.

Christmas décor of poinsettias and greenery graced the Cathedral, with wedding foliage of magnolia leaves, cedar, seeded eucalyptus, berries and English ivy marking the center aisle. Pedestals of wedding flowers at the doors framed the entrance for the bride and her attendants.

Traditional Louisiana foliage highlighted with white camellias, Chablis roses, Escimo white roses and snowy hydrangeas set the staging for the reception immediately following the ceremony at the City Club River Ranch. Guests were received first to the music of pianist Shawn Roy and then invited into the ballroom for dancing to the music of Shaon and the Girls with Success Band from New Orleans. Tea girls with small dinner bells announced the cutting of the wedding cakes. The bride and groom first danced to “La Vie en Rose” and toasted with fifth generation family wedding goblets. Amidst well wishes and sparklers, the newlyweds drove away for their wedding trip with sunroof farewells and the bride in Minnie Mouse ears. They will be at home in Lafayette.

The groom’s parents honored their son and his bride-elect with their wedding party at dinner on the eve of their marriage at Mazen’s Grill in Lafayette.