Wedding vows exchanged by Maddie, Bischoff

Lauren Elizabeth Maddie and Scott Joseph Bischoff, both of Lafayette, were joined in holy matrimony on the evening of Saturday, March 14, at First United Methodist Church in Crowley.

Rev. Charlie Crews officiated the lovely 5 p.m. candlelight ceremony. 

The bride is the daughter of Denise and Joseph Maddie of Crowley. She is the granddaughter of Violet Dugan of Crowley and the late Warren “Buddy” Dugan, and of Bernice Maddie of Melville and the late Joseph Maddie Sr.

Lauren graduated from Crowley High School in 2004 before attending McNeese State Univeristy, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology in 2008. She is presently employed at Kailo Behavioral as a mental health specialist.

The groom is the son of Faye and John Bischoff of Eunice. He is the grandson of the late Alice and Clements Sittig and the late Ola Mae and Bernard Bischoff, all of Eunice.

Scott is a 2003 graduate of Eunice High School and a 2011 graduate of Louisiana State University, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. He is currently employed as a field engineer with Baker Hughes.

Flickering candles in Mason jars lining the many steps at the front of the church, along with the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the church’s large stained glass windows, created a beautiful atmosphere.

Guests were ushered to their seats by Aaron Knight and Graham Muller, brothers-in-law of the groom; Breyden Maddie, nephew of the bride; and Ben Bischoff, godfather of the groom.

Music for the nuptial ceremony was provided by organist Judy Lejeune.

Selections for the prelude included “Airon G,” “Air” from “Water Music,” “Prelude in C,” “Nocturne in E Flat” and “Minuet in G.” The grandparents and parents of the bride and groom entered to “Lasia Ch’io Pianga,” followed by the entry of the bridal party to “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.” “How Great Thou Art” accompanied the couple’s lighting of the unity candle and presentation of flowers to their mothers, and “Allegro Maestro” from “Water Music” was played as the recessional for the wedding party.

Selected scriptures were recited by Matthew Sinclair, friend of the bride, who read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, and Brenda Manuel, aunt of the groom, who read Colossians 3:12-17.

The bride entered the church to the strains of “Canon in D” and was escorted to the altar by her father, who was clad in a charcoal gray suit with a jade vest and necktie.

Lauren was gorgeous in a champagne-colored Maggie Sottero ball gown. The dress, defined at the waist by a band of Mikado ribbon, featured a strapless sweetheart neckline, and the full scalloped-edge tulle skirt was embellished with delicately placed pewter appliques that sparkled with metallic thread and Swarovski crystals. The back of the gown was finished with a row of buttons down the bodice, with the skirt flowing into a cathedral length train.

For her headpiece, the bride selected a matching cathedral length tulle veil trimmed with scalloped lace that was embroidered with pewter appliques. She paired it with a Swarovski crystal headband loaned to her by her sister.

Lauren carried a semi-cascading bouquet of ivory ranunculus, peonies, tulips and hydrangeas interspersed with jade baby’s breath and greenery. The stems were hand-tied with ivory satin accented with hanging pearls, and the bottom was finished with pearl corsage pins.

In keeping with tradition, the bride wore her maternal grandmother’s opal ring as “something old,” while her wedding gown served as “something new.” The headband belonging to her sister was “something borrowed,” and the two blue sapphires, symbolizing faithfulness, in the bezel of her engagement ring were “something blue.”

Kimberly Knight, sister of the bride, served as matron of honor. Serving as bridesmaids were Rebecca Maddie, sister-in-law of the bride; Laura Guidry and Alisha Boulet, friends of the bride; and Kristen Bischoff, sister of the groom. Leah Bischoff, the groom’s niece and godchild, served as junior bridesmaid.

The matron of honor was clad in a floor length jade chiffon gown with a halter neckline.

The bridesmaids wore floor length navy chiffon gowns with necklines in varying styles that were individually selected by them.

Each attendant carried a bouquet of a dozen yellow tulips with the stems wrapped in ivory satin and accented with hanging pearls.

The groom honored the memory of his late brother Eric Bischoff by designating him as his best man. 

Standing as groomsmen were Rusty Maddie, brother of the bride; Julius Bischoff and Joe Bischoff, cousins of the groom; and Ross Aucoin, friend of the groom. Rhett Bischoff, nephew of the groom, served as junior groomsman.

The groom was handsome in a black suit paired with a champagne-colored vest and necktie. His lapel was adorned with a boutonniere of ivory flowers matching the bride’s bouquet.

The groom’s attendants and ushers wore charcoal gray suits with boutonnieres of yellow tulips and greenery.

Kennedy Knight, niece of the bride, served as flower girl. She looked beautiful in a floor length ivory ballgown featuring a scoop neckline, ruched jade sash and glittery tulle skirt.

The bride’s nephew, Landon Maddie, served as ring bearer and wore charcoal gray suit pants and an ivory shirt paired with a jade bowtie and suspenders.

For her daughter’s wedding, the mother of the bride, the former Denise Dugan, selected a soft tulle sapphire blue floor length gown featuring a lace illusion bateau neckline, three quarter length sleeves and a jewel-embellished sash.

The mother of the groom, the former Faye Sittig, selected an iron-colored lace and silky chiffon floor length gown with short sleeves and a V-neckline.

Following the wedding, the couple were joined by family and friends at a reception held at the Rice Festival Building in Crowley.

Following a “shabby chic” theme, the guest tables were covered with ivory cloths and topped with hydrangeas in hand-stained jade Mason jars that were tied with raffia and placed, along with candles, atop wooden slabs.

A memory table featured old photos of the couple’s loved ones for viewing by the guests.

A beautiful crystal chandelier hung over the dance floor, and the ceiling was hung with elegant ivory swag. The bar area was decorated with moss-hung tin panels.

The bride’s cake was made of three offset square tiers decorated with descending ivory ombre ruffles and adorned with ivory ranunculus and jade accents. The bottom two layers were made of almond-flavored cake and featured amaretto and Bavarian cream fillings. The top layer was chocolate filled with chocolate mousse. 

The confection was topped with two love birds nuzzling in a nest, and it was displayed in front of a background of wooden fence panels with an overhanging chandelier. It was served by Bridget Sylvester, godmother of the bride. 

The groom’s two-tiered round chocolate cake contained chocolate filling and was decorated with buttercream icing in a camouflage pattern. It was topped with drizzled chocolate and chocolate shavings and displayed on a table decorated in an LSU and camouflage theme and placed in front of wooden fence panels hung with moss. It was served by the groom’s godmother, Lisa Robbins.

Attendees also enjoyed a candy table offering homemade sweets and Mason jar mugs of lemonade and sweet tea.

They departed with pepper jelly favors.

Out-of-town guests at the wedding registered from California, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia and various points throughout Louisiana.

On the evening prior to the wedding, the groom’s parents hosted a reception dinner at Chef Roy’s restaurant in Rayne. The attendees at the 7:30 p.m. event were served their choice of a grilled chicken breast, fried catfish or ribeye entree served with a salad, stuffed potato and roll.

Following a wedding trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Grand Canyon, the couple will reside in Lafayette.