Aryssa Laubach, Sweet exchange wedding vows

Aryssa Anne Laubach, daughter of Evan and Janine Laubach of Pullman, and Philip Arthur Sweet, son of Arthur and Nanci Sweet of Deer Trail, Colo., were married Aug. 13, 2011, at the rural residence of Jack and Barbara Lien east of Colfax.

Jason Iacovetto, youth pastor of the Evangelical Free Church of the Palouse, officiated. The bride was given in marriage by her parents.

A Western decoration theme was carried out with orange and yellow flowers in green and brown ceramic pots with wheat fields and Kamiak Butte as a backdrop.

Shade sails suspended by ropes between trees protected guests from the afternoon sun.

Emily Witthuhn played the violin, and Erin Witthuhn played the cello. They are friends of the bride, both from Palouse. They played Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Canon in D, Trumpet Voluntary and Wedding March & Four Seasons.

Melissa Aeschliman read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Caleb Conner read Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. “Always Forever” by Phil Wickham was played while the couple braided three cords of rope on a horseshoe to signify that husband, wife and God are tied together and not quickly torn apart.

The bride’s maternal grandfather, Charles Goemmer, gave a prayer of blessing for the new couple.

The bride wore a simple ivory strapless gown with a mock sweetheart bodice with a lace up back and tucks around the waist gathering to a silk flower at the hip. The waist length veil was ivory satin. She carried a handkerchief borrowed from her paternal grandmother, Marilyn Laubach. Her bouquet was made up of yellow sunflowers, white daisies, red Peruvian lilies and lime green mums.

Maid of honor was Melissa Aeschliman, friend of the bride from Colfax.

Best man was Caleb Conner, friend of the groom from Deer Trail, Colo., and groomsman was Arik Laubach, brother of the bride from Pullman.

Ushers were Kyle Goemmer, cousin of the bride, Bellevue, and David Li, friend of the bride and groom, Moscow.

Andrea Clauson and Sawyer Clauson, friends of the couple from Post Falls, Idaho, served as flowergirl and ring bearer.

The maid of honor wore a white with brown and olive green floral sundress. She carried a bouquet of white daisies and lime green mums. The flower girl wore a brown sundress with embroidered flowers along the edge. She scattered off-white rose petals.

All members of the wedding party wore cowboy boots.

The wedding cake for the reception that followed beneath the trees in the yard was a three-tiered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting made from a Sweet family recipe and decorated with sunflowers and a cowboy and bride on the top. Homemade pies made by the Onecho Bible Church ladies and family members and topped with Ferdinand’s vanilla ice cream were served. Tables were decorated with brown tablecloths with olive green bandannas and boots with sunflower bouquets in the center. Servers were members of the bride’s youth group from the Evangelical Free Church of the Palouse. Melissa Aeschliman played the guitar and sang “Love Like Crazy.”

Aryssa graduated from Colfax High School in 2010 and is attending Spokane Falls Community College where she is studying photography. Philip graduated from Deer Trail High School in 2008 and attended Moody Bible Institute Mission Aviation Mechanic program in Spokane. He is employed in food service at the Rockwood Retirement Community.

The newlyweds took a honeymoon trip to the area around Hamilton, Mont.

A barbecue reception for the couple was hosted by the groom’s parents in Colorado Aug. 20 at the Bijou Baptist Church in Agate, Colo.