Mrs. Jason Blake Cunningham Emily Catherine Swantner of Corpus Christi, Tex., and Jason Blake Cunningham of San Francisco, Calif., were married in an impressive ceremony Saturday, March 21, at seven o'clock in the evening at the First United Methodist Church in Corpus Christi. Senior Associate Pastor Rev. Gloria Lear of Corpus Christi officiated.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Justus Swantner of Corpus Christi. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Ray McAvoy of Washington, Mrs. Gloria Swantner of Corpus Christi, and Mr. and Mrs. John Richard Swantner of Portland, Tex.

The bridegroom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Jay Cunningham of Edmond, Okla., and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. James Deason Cunningham of Shawnee, Okla., and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ronald Bassett of Anadarko, Okla.

Upon entering the church guests were presented programs by Elizabeth Moses Caddell of Dallas, Tex., and Kim Langley Merrick of The Woodlands, Tex. The guest register was tended by Andrea Corina Berrera of Corpus Christi and Lindsey Amanda Douglas of New York City, N. Y.

The aisles were marked by shepherd's hooks each with a hanging votive candle along with white hydrangeas, greenery and white dendrobium orchids. The altar held a large all-white arrangement of hydrangeas, lilies, tuberoses, dendrobium orchids, gladioli and stock flanked by candelabra.

Organist Brad Kisner of Corpus Christi presented the wedding music. Family members were seated to "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach. Pachelbel's "Canon in D" was the processional and the bride entered to Wagner's "Bridal Chorus." "Prelude in Classical Style" by Young was the processional. During the ceremony the congregation sang "Be Thou My Vision" and soloist, Gerri Elliff of Corpus Christi, offered "Surely the Presence" and "How Beautiful."

Scripture was read by the bride's godfather, George Robert Swantner of Brownville, Tex., and Molly Fisher Johnson of Austin, Tex.

Tyler Daniel Cunningham of Oklahoma City, Okla., was his brother's best man. Usher-groomsmen were Matthew Justus Swantner of San Antonio, Tex., and Daniel Joseph Swantner of Corpus Christi, brothers of the bride; Christopher Bowden Davis of New York, Royce Warner Sharp and Tyler Scott Clinton of Oklahoma City.

Bess Collier Swantner of San Antonio, sister-in-law of the bride, served as matron of honor. Maid of honor was Renee Elizabeth Francese of Austin. Claire Louise Fields and Elizabeth Turner Swantner, cousin of the bride, of Austin, Caitlin Marie Ryan of New York, and Cara Riefler Wright of Dallas, Tex., served as bridesmaids. They wore rose silk taffeta strapless knee-length dresses complemented by strands of pearls and pearl earrings. Their hand-tied bouquets were of pink roses and oriental lilies finished with pink ribbon.

Flower girls Abigail Francis Ball of Grapevine, Tex., and Katherine Grace Veltman of Corpus Christi, wore ivory silk dupioni dresses with pale pink satin sashes. They carried pomanders of pink miniature roses and wore flower rings of pink miniature roses and tuberoses in their hair. Their pearl bracelets were gifts from the bride.

The bride was escorted by her father and given in marriage by her parents. She was stunning in a couture satin with an organza lace overlay gown by La Sposa. The gown was a strapless design with a slight sweetheart neckline and trumpet skirt. Covered buttons adorned the back.

Her cathedral-length veil was edged in Mantilla lace.

She wore a strand of pearls and diamond and pearl-drop earrings that were a wedding gift from her parents.

Her all-white bouquet held hydrangeas, lilies, dendrobium and phalaenopsis orchids.

Reception

Following the ceremony the bride's parents hosted a receptiondinner and dance at the Corpus Christi Yacht Club.

For this occasion the bride wore a comb of white orchids in her hair.

A wedding portrait was placed on an easel at the foot of the stairs. The stairwell was decorated with a garland of Italian ruscus, lemon leaf and ming fern adorned with white sailor bows, white orchids and miniature lights.

Guests continued upstairs where ivory-dressed tables inside and out had arrangements of alternating tall and short arrangements of white hydrangeas, pink oriental lilies, roses and rannunculus, casa blanca lilies, and green cymbidium orchids. The upper deck was lined with ferns, palms and other tropical plants.

A silver plateau showcased the four-tiered vanilla wedding cake iced in ivory buttercream and finished with cascading fresh pink roses and orchids.

The bridegroom's cake, atop a wooden plateau, was a two-tiered chocolate with chocolate frosting design accented with chocolate seashells.

Food stations were set around the dining area with crab cakes, pecancrusted oysters, jumbo shrimp, fresh fruit, cheese and vegetables, smoked salmon platter with accompaniments, and beef tenderloin with assorted rolls.

The band, Sophisticates, of Austin introduced the couple who celebrated their first dance to "You are the Sunshine of My Life." The bride and her father danced to "My Girl."

Guests showered the couple with rose petals as they left and boarded a family friend's boat, decorated with white ribbons and balloons, and sailed from Corpus Christi Bay.

Following a wedding trip to Victoria House, Ambergris Caye, Belize, they are making their home in San Francisco. The bridegroom is a 2008 graduate of the University of Texas Law School and is an associate at Weil, Gotshal Manges. The bride received her Masters in Speech Language Pathology at the University of Texas in 2008 and prior to the wedding was employed at Milestones Children's Therapy in Austin as a speech language pathologist.

Bridesmaids Luncheon

Emily Swantner was entertained at a bridesmaids luncheon Friday, March 20, at the Art Museum of South Texas Dobson Café overlooking the beautiful Corpus Christi Bay. Hostesses were her mother; aunt, Emily Swantner Haddad of Santa Fe, N. Mex.; and Rev. Gloria Lear.

White cloths, fuchsia napkins and arrangements of pink roses and snapdragons in vases tied with pink ribbons decorated the tables. Placecards in calligraphy and picture frames holding favorite pictures of the bride and each girl in the bridal party marked the seating.

After the salad luncheon, guests enjoyed a two-tiered charm cake with vanilla flavoring with raspberry curd and ivory buttercream frosting with pale pink sugar roses on the top tier. The bride's mother silver plateau held the cake.

The bride-elect presented cashmere pashminas to each girl. The hostesses, grandmothers and mothers were given 5x7 bridal portraits.

After the luncheon, the bride's grandmother, Mrs. Dick Swantner, hosted a manicure and pedicure party at Anthony's Aveda Salon and Spa.

Morning Brunch

Mrs. Jeff Shaw of Corpus Christi and Mrs. Robert Swantner hosted an early morning brunch and yoga party around the deck and pool area of the Omni Bayfront Hotel honoring Emily Swantner and her attendants.

Each girl was given a special t-shirt made to commemorate the occasion.

Mrs. Shaw offered a special prayer and devotional after the girls enjoyed a relaxing yoga class.

Rehearsal Dinner

Dr. and Mrs. J. D. Cunningham hosted a candlelight seated dinner at the Republic of Texas Restaurant in the Omni Bayfront Hotel Friday evening in honor of Emily Swantner and Blake Cunningham.

The prospective bridegroom's grandmother, J. D. Cunningham, offered the blessing.

Dinner included salad, filet mignon, grilled chicken and shrimp, roasted asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes and rolls. Vanilla cheesecake was served for dessert.

Toasts were given by family and friends.

Fishing Party

Dr. Jay Cunningham hosted a combination fly fishing or bait casting fishing trip in the Laguna Madre for the prospective bridegroom, groomsmen and men in the wedding party.

Each guest was given a Columbia fishing shirt.

Fresh Catch Lunch

Blake Cunningham hosted a Fresh Catch Lunch at The Laguna Reef Restaurant for the groomsmen and men in the wedding party.

Fish caught from Friday's fishing trip was served with all the trimmings.