Menard and Courvelle exchange vows

Amy Renee Menard and Aaron Bernard Courvelle, III were united in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony on Saturday, November 22, 2008, at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas. Reverend Timothy Richard officiated the 6:30pm nuptial mass. The bride is the daughter of Ms. Donna Janak Menard of Lafayette and Mr. Terran Menard of Erath. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Carrie Ann Menard, the late Mr. Alton Menard, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Jimmie Janak, Sr. all of Erath.

The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Courvelle, Jr. of Opelousas. He is the grandson of Mrs. Maryina Courvelle, the late Mr. A.B. Courvelle, Sr., the late Mrs. Gertrude Andrepont Marks, and the late Mr. Willard Andrepont all of Opelousas.

Escorted by her father, the bride wore an elegant one-piece, full caught-up skirt with corset closure gown. This diamond white, Vintage taffeta gown featured a strapless neckline with a richly beaded trim and an inset panel of rhinestone and crystals. The bodice of the gown was ruched and ended in a diagonal drop waist design. The caught-up skirt was accented with sparkling beaded embellishments and cascaded into a bubble hem and was finished with a stunning semi-cathedral train. The bride’s dress was completed by a classic, two tiered, diamond white veil with a satin corded edge. She carried a French style bouquet of vendela and miracle roses and green cymbidium orchids adorned with Swarovski crystals and roundel jewels. The stems were wrapped in white double faced satin and French knotted. In keeping with tradition, the bridal bouquet featured an old rosary given to the bride by her paternal grandmother, a borrowed memory frame with a picture of her late maternal grandmother, and a handkerchief embroidered in blue with the wedding date and the bride’s new monogram, given by her maid of honor, were all entwined in her bouquet. Her “something new” was her gown, and she wore her mother’s sixpence in her shoe.

The bride’s sister, Sadie Menard Suire of Erath, served as Matron of Honor and Ali Rose Taylor of Hollywood, FL, longtime friend of the bride, was Maid of Honor. Bridesmaids were Rebecca Courvelle Stanley of Opelousas, sister of the groom, Cassey Cornner of Erath, cousin of the bride, Tarrah Comeaux Davis of Erath, Bethany Hebert of Knoxville, TN, and Paige S. Soileau of Lafayette, all friends of the bride. The bridesmaids wore seven different styles of toffee satin-faced taffeta floor length gowns. They carried French style bouquets of miracle roses, rust orange calla lilies, and hypercum berries with stems wrapped in the same fabric as their dresses and accented with antique gold rhinestones. Wendy Sibille, wedding consultant and florist, designed all of the bouquets.

Serving as best man was A.B. Courvelle, Jr. father of the groom. Groomsmen were Chad Stanley of Opelousas, brother-in-law of the groom, Blair Daly of Nashville, TN, Craig Morrow of Opelousas, John Michael Morrow, Jr. of Opelousas, Brandt Soileau of Lafayette, and Jeffrey Weinstein of Broussard, all friends of the groom. Ushers were Tony Foret of Houston, TX, L.J. Meynard of Lafayette, and Grant Mistric of Baton Rouge all friends of the groom. Sage Michael Suire, godchild and nephew of the bride, served as the ring bearer. Ella Elizabeth Stanley, niece of the groom, served as the flower girl. She wore a pearl white silk tea length dress and carried a ring of flowers consisting of vendella and miracle roses finished with ivory double faced satin.

The Mother of the Bride chose a chocolate and bronze silk embroidered paisley design two piece suit with lurex thread and sequined embellishments. The Mother of the Groom wore a quartz-colored iridescent taffeta dress accompanied with a wing-collar short jacket and rhinestone closure. French cuffs finished the three-quarter length sleeves.

Scripture readings were given by Laura Gaudet Guerin and Teilla Shiner friends of the bride. Nancy Fawcett, friend of the bride, led the Prayer of the Faithful. Thom Daly, friend of the groom, served as the Eucharistic Minister. Sharon Thibodeaux, aunt of the bride, and Ardel Courvelle, cousin of the groom, presented the offertory gifts. Program Attendants were Penny Bennett, friend of the bride, and Karen Simon, godmother of the bride. Musical selections were provided by vocalists Jodi Bollich and Marcus Hebert, organist Tom Niel, trumpeter Will Green, and timpani Ray Theaux.

On the night prior to the wedding, the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Courvelle, Jr., hosted a rehearsal dinner at Catahoula’s in Grand Coteau.

Following the wedding ceremony, a reception was held at the Hilton Grand Ballroom in Lafayette. The four-tiered bride’s cake consisted of alternating square and round layers and was decorated with fresh flowers and silver beaded pearls. The appearance of the top tier was white, the second ivory, the third caramel, and the bottom layer chocolate. The groom’s cake was two-tiered and featured fondant shaped blades of grass set in front of a bamboo backdrop to represent the groom’s love of the outdoors.

Guests were entertained by The Andy Smith Band. Special guests came from Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington.

Upon returning from their honeymoon to Costa Rica, the couple will reside in Lafayette, Louisiana.