St. Andrew's Church was the setting at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 28, for the marriage of Sarah Elizabeth Shafer and Patrick Anderson Sells. The Rev. Robert Cook officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Mary Maude and Robert Stephen Shafer, 82 Carmel Drive. Her grandparents are Sharon and Dr. Ted Bailey and the late Virginia Bailey, all of Little Rock; Lillie Shafer of Concord, N.C., and the late Philip Shafer of Fayetteville, N.C.
Parents of the groom are Lisa Ann and Ben Raymond Sells of Upland, Ind. His grandparents are Charlie Marie and Dennis Thomas and the late Jimmie Mullen Jr., all of Miami, Okla., and the late Joyce and James Sells of Bolivar, Mo.
A large arrangement of white hydrangeas, roses and orchids was placed under the cross in the church sanctuary. Music was by guitarist and vocalist Michael Brymer, pianist Annabel Stavey and the University of Central Arkansas String Quartet.
The bride, given in marriage by her father, wore a strapless ivory silk-organza gown with a pleated skirt and chapel train. The embroidered bodice was embellished with crystal beading. She carried a cascade of peonies, garden roses, orchids, sweet peas and clematis in shades of white, soft pink and lavender.
Maid of honor was Melissa McCray of Little Rock, cousin of bride. Bridesmaids were Laura Shafer Sanders of London and Mary Catherine Paulus of Palo Alto, Calif., sisters of the bride; Ellianna McCray of Little Rock, cousin of the bride; and Abigail Southerland of Fayetteville. They wore strapless larkspur chiffon gowns with sweetheart necklines and carried bouquets of peonies, roses, hydrangeas and freesia in shades of white, pink and lavender.
Reid Hutchison of Chicago was best man. Groomsmen were Dan Miller and Benjamin Kenney, both of Indianapolis; Tim Miller of Muncie, Ind.; and Tyler Sells of Upland, brother of the groom. Guests were seated by Paul Sanders of London, Stephen Paulus of Palo Alto, Mark Muselman of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Scott Collins of Columbus, Ohio.
A reception at The Country Club of Little Rock followed the ceremony. The buffet held a towering arrangement of mock orange, hybrid delphinium and garden roses. Guest tables were decorated with a mix of antique family silver and mercury glass containers filled with peonies, sweet peas and David Austin roses. Music was by Brenda and Ellis.
The bride graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Taylor University in Upland. She is employed in marketing.
The groom graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science from the university. He is owner and founder of Sells Group, an Indianapolis-based marketing agency.
The couple will make their home in Upland.
High Profile on 07/06/2014