Bethany and Drew Liles

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Bethany Jill Balk and Drew Cotten Liles exchanged wedding vows on April 2, 2011, at the First Christian Church, in Rich Hill, Mo.

Parents of the couple are Larry and Debbie Balk, of Rich Hill; and Doris and Gregg Rice of Brownwood, Texas, and Jim and Vicky Liles, of Nevada, Mo.

Pastor Barrett Case solemnized the vows of the ceremony amid decorations of white candelabras entwined with greenery and stephanotis flanked by white, pink, lilac and yellow floral arrangements.

The altar table was covered with a crocheted tablecloth made by Mary Balk, the bride's grandmother.

Parents' pews were marked by pastel tulle bows.

Dixie Glynn, pianist, and Wes Morton and Anita Byers, vocalists, provided music.

Kori Lowery attended the bride as maid of honor. Kyle Forkner served the groom as best man. Bridesmaid was Kelsey Caldwell, the bride's cousin; flower girl, Raleigh Liles, the groom's niece; ring bearer, Garrett Johnson, the groom's nephew; candlelighters, Emma Adams, the bride's cousin, and Reagan Johnson, the groom's niece; groomsman, Shane Balk, the bride's brother; and ushers, William Rice, groom's brother, and Derik White, groom's cousin.

Everyone gathered at the 3M Clubhouse, in Nevada, for the wedding reception.

The couple honeymooned in Eureka Springs, Ark.

Bethany is a 2009 graduate of Nevada High School and received an Associate of Science from Fort Scott Community College in December 2010. She is pursuing a special education degree from Missouri State University through Crowder College in Nevada. She works part-time at the Shoe Department in Nevada.

Drew graduated from Nevada High School in 2002 and from Linn Technical College, Linn, Mo., in 2003. He is a substitute mail carrier and is employed by Midwest Feed, Nevada, and Klinksick Milk Hauling, Rockville, Mo.