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Mr. and Mrs. Blake Austin Gore
Kristan Michelle Balser and Blake Austin Gore were united in marriage at Bethany Lutheran Church in Austin on Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at 6 in the evening. Pastor Richard Cody of Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Monett, Missouri officiated the double-ring ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Max R. Balser of New Braunfels. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Balser of New Braunfels, and Mrs. Virginia Baker also of New Braunfels. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary J. Gore of Texarkana, Texas. He is the grandson of Mrs. Doris Hoback, also of Texarkana.
Given in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, the bride wore an ivory, hand-beaded and embroidered silk organza gown by Stephen Yearick. Intricate beading, embroidery, lace, and petite-pearl insets adorned the gown’s sweetheart bodice, sheath silhouette, and extended sweep train. Two thin, connected straps fell over each shoulder and were also accented with pearls and crystals. The dress was complemented by an ivory fingertip-length veil with crystal beading along the edge, while the bride also wore an ivory silk gardenia accented with a center of pearls, crystals, and rhinestones in her hair. The bride's bouquet was an arrangement of white gardenias, roses, and hydrangea. It was hand tied with ivory ribbon and pearls, with the bride’s grandmother’s handkerchief wrapped around it during the ceremony.
Matron of honor was Lindsay Howk, college friend of the bride, and maid of honor was Tracy Myers, a friend of the bride since the 7th grade. Serving as bridesmaids were Katie Davidson, cousin of the bride, Sarah Lenz, high school and college friend of the bride, Jamie Fletcher, college friend of the bride, and Kristi Balser, sister-in-law of the bride. Kristan's bridesmaids wore burgundy matte-satin strapless, tea-length dresses, accented by a draped bodice and sweetheart neckline, and whose full skirts had pockets at the side seams. They carried smaller versions of the bride’s bouquet, a hand tied arrangement of gardenias, roses, and hydrangea wrapped in champagne ribbon.
Serving the groom as his best man was college friend Matthew Fletcher. Groomsmen included Garrett Latham, Zachary Cook, Beau Watkins, and Kyle Bruno, all college friends of the groom, and Matthew Gore, brother of the groom.
The flower girls were Shelby Ackermann, daughter of Chris and Elissa Ackermann of New Braunfels, cousin of the bride, and Holland Scott, daughter of Charles and Natalie Scott of Texarkana, Ark., and niece of the groom. Hunter Balser, nephew of the bride and son of Bryan and Kristi Balser of New Braunfels, and Liam Scott, nephew of the groom and son of Charles and Natalie Scott, served as ring bearers. Ushers were Christian Dowell and Hector Estrada, both college friends of the groom, Bryan Balser, brother of the bride, and Matthew Davidson, cousin of the bride.
On the eve of the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom's parents at Thistle Café in downtown Austin. Guests enjoyed a lovely meal of passed appetizers, dinner, and dessert, as well as drinks and music.
Hyde Park Strings, a violin duet, performed ceremony music for the prelude, processions, and postlude. Scripture reading was done by Pastor Richard Cody, and the hymn “Gracious Savior" was led by Natalie Scott, the groom’s sister. Natalie also sang “This Day” as the couple lit the unity candle. Members of the Texas A&M Ross Volunteers formed a saber arch at the end of the ceremony for the wedding party to exit under. Serving the bride as house party were Cathy Ackermann and Louise Bell of New Braunfels and Patricia Marschall of Georgetown, all aunts of the bride.
A beautiful dinner and dance reception was held at Villa St. Clair in Austin immediately following the ceremony. The bride's cake was a five tiered, almond-flavored cake with passion fruit preserves as filling, white chocolate buttercream icing, and ivory fondant covering. The cake was decorated with off-white icing scrollwork, and the bottom of each layer was lined with an ivory satin ribbon and a strand of pearls connected with a gold clasp. The top layer of the cake was beautifully adorned with hand-crafted sugar flowers of magnolia, peonies, roses, burgundy hypericum berries, and sweet pea. The groom's cake was a 33 inch round Captain America shield of buttermilk chocolate cake and pistachio buttercream icing as filling. The couple left the reception to meet many family and friends waving gold sparklers, and departed in a black 1937 Cadillac Formal Limousine Series 75. Two weeks later, the couple traveled to Aruba for their honeymoon, and is now happily at home in Irving, Texas.
Published October 18, 2009
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