Taylor, Duckworth nuptials

Special to the Herald

Brooke Diane Taylor and Michael David Duckworth were married on July 10, 2004, at the United Methodist Church in Nevada, Mo. The Rev. Ralph Clark officiated. The bride is the daughter of Tom and Caroline Taylor, Nevada. The groom is the son of Connie and Dave Lee, Hutchinson, Kan., and Joe Duckworth, Seymore, Mo. Grandparents of the bride are Roy and Joy Taylor, Nevada, and William Vance, Webster City, Iowa. Grandparents of the groom are Gene and Peggy Whillock, Hollister, Mo., Lawrence and Alta Duckworth, Seymore, Mo., and Mary Lee, Hutchinson, Kan.

The 7 p.m. ceremony began with a chorus of chimes and hand bells played by the bride's aunt, Terri Webber and cousin, Bradley Webber of Millington, Tenn. The bride was escorted by her father to "Trumpet Voluntary," a piano and French horn duet played by Karen Hertzberg, Nevada, and Erin Hillier, Columbia, Mo. The bride was given in marriage by her mother and father.

The ceremony included liturgical readings by Erin Hillier, and vocal selections by Wes Morton, Nevada, and Elisha Ellis, Nevada.

A floral arrangement of bright pink tulips, roses and asters surrounded the unity candle on the church altar. Pink tulip arrangements stood near the altar.

The bride wore a gown from the Casablanca collection. It was a full-length princess-style satin gown with a dropped waist. The straight-cut bodice was adorned with crystal beading at the neckline and waistline and accented with crystal beaded straps of chiffon. The bride also wore an elbow-length veil trimmed with matching crystal beading and a tiara with crystals and pearls. Her garter was fashioned by her mother with lace from her mother's wedding gown. The bride carried a handkerchief with tatting made by her maternal great-grandmother. She wore a strand of pearls that had belonged to her maternal grandmother and a silver bracelet that was a gift from the groom. Her bouquet was composed of white tulips and spray roses.

Jamie Richey, St Louis, Mo., and Monica Compton, Nevada, friends of the bride, shared duties as maids of honor. Bridesmaids were Brandi Beach, Nevada, cousin of the bride, and Natalie DeBoer, Sweet Springs, Md., friend of the bride. Beth Gruber, St Louis, friend of the bride, was the bride's personal attendant.

The bride's attendants wore tea-length strapless black satin dresses with a bright pink band at the hem and pink trim at the bodice. Their dresses were fashioned by the bride's mother. They carried bouquets of bright pink tulips. Brecken Lee, Lawrence, Kan., cousin of the groom, and Erika Duckworth, Springfield, Mo., sister of the groom, served as guestbook attendants.

Dwight Ipock, Springfield, Mo., cousin of the groom, served as best man. Groomsmen were Dennis Banks, Kansas City, Mo., Tom Colvin, Springfield, Mo., and Luke Raya, Hutchinson, Kan., all friends of the groom. Ushers were Brandon Taylor, Austin, Texas, brother of the bride, Jonathan Lee, Inman, Kan., and Dewayne Ipock, Springfield, Mo., both cousins of the groom.

The groom wore a three button black tuxedo with a white vest and white Windsor tie. Groomsmen and ring bearer wore matching tuxedos with black vests and black Windsor ties. Ringbearer was Brendon Peed, Fort Dodge, Iowa, cousin of the bride. Bradley Webber, cousin of the bride, rang the church bell at the close of the wedding ceremony.

The wedding party was transported by limousine, courtesy of David Ferry, to a reception at the 3M Clubhouse. The wedding couple arrived in a restored 1963 mustang convertible owned and driven by the groom's grandfather, Gene Whillock. Guests were treated to drinks and a variety of hors d'oeuvres catered by Kelly Ast, of Greenfield's restaurant. David Badgley served as DJ for the evening's dancing. Toasts were given by Monica Compton and Dwight Ipock. A multi-tiered white cake decorated with fresh flowers was baked by Ann Ast. She also decorated a cookie cake as a baseball for the groom's cake.

Prior to the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was held Friday evening, hosted by Dave and Connie Lee at Casa Azteca. Friday morning, Caroline Taylor hosted a bridesmaids' brunch. Prior to the wedding, Tammi and Brandi Beach, and Jamie Goins; Candice Moore and Jan Thompson; and Jamie Richey and Monica Compton gave showers for the bride.

After a honeymoon trip to the Caribbean island of Antigua, the couple is at home in St. Louis. The bride is a 1998 graduate of Nevada High School and a 2002 graduate of Columbia College, Columbia, Mo. She is currently a doctorate candidate in English Literature at Washington University, St. Louis. The groom is a 1995 graduate of Nickerson High School, Nickerson, Kan., and a 2000 graduate of Washburn University, Topeka, Kan. He is employed as a teacher in the Affton, Mo., school district.