From Rhinestones to Diamonds Part II
By Kay Gerfers

We last left Sandra Hagee and Ryan Parker in the garden behind the Alamo contemplating a new chapter in their lives: preparing for their wedding. After the October wedding of her brother, Matt, Sandra realized that her day would be here soon. She wrote a chapter quickly getting the major decisions out of the way: the place, the band, the dress. Since her graduation from Trinity University in December, she has had more time to devote to the plans.

Ryan and Sandra have definite ideas about the wedding they want to design for themselves and their guests. Parkers and Hagees, Tennessee and Texas, Christian and Jewish will blend in a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds creating new relationships and memories. Knowing that their guests will have experienced lots of weddings, their goal is to create events that are different and fun, unexpected. “Buck tradition. Do something different,” states Sandra. “Don’t give them Canon in D coming down the aisle.”

No where is the blending of the families more evident than in the wedding party. Ryan’s father, Ivan, will stand as his Best Man. His brother, Josh, will be a groomsman along with Sandra’s brothers, Chris and Matt. Rounding out the men’s side will be three dear friends of both bride and groom. To the left of the aisle, the bride’s sisters, Tina Ketterling and Tish Tucker, will stand as co-Matrons of Honor. A cousin and an exchange student, both of whom Sandra considers to be like sisters, will be bridesmaids along with her sister-in-law, Kendal Hagee. Another cousin and one of her friends will complete her entourage.

Sandra’s rules for wedding attire do not leave room for the usual. No white. No black. No tuxes. The bridesmaids will wear one of two dresses selected from Lillie Rubin. Both styles are cocktail length. Platinum marquisate beading lends a vintage look. The first is an antique rose pink, v-neck dress with spaghetti straps. The dropped waist ends in an asymmetrical hemline. The second style is a two piece design the color of caramel ice cream. The top is a spaghetti-strapped tank: the skirt has a trumpet silhouette, fitted at the hips, flared at the knees.

The groom and his attendants will wear Bachrach suits. This designer was chosen because when Ivan Parker performs either as solo gospel vocalist or as a member of the Gaither Homecoming, he wears these suits. However, on a recent buying trip to Italy, Bachrach was unable to find the café au lait color Sandra envisioned. Therefore, the “no black” rule will be broken. The men will wear black suits, not tuxedos. To ensure a perfect fit, they will be purchased and tailored for each individual man. Ryan will wear a rum pink tie and his groomsmen off-white.

Sandra’s first choice was an outdoor wedding. But late May in Texas can be hot, or wet, or both. Therefore, the ceremony will be held at Cornerstone Church in the Vada Hagee Chapel which is named for Sandra’s grandmother. Mrs. Hagee, who is ninety years old, will not be able to attend. To honor her, the wedding will take place on her birthday, May 29. The beautiful chapel will hold a springtime garden created with antique-white hydrangeas and rose petals, and lace and tulle in ice cream colors. A painted runner designed by the detailed-oriented bride will bedeck the flower-lined aisle.

No garden would be complete without a bevy of fairies. Sandra has invited four children, three nieces and a cousin, to be fairy-like flower girls. Their little bare feet, adorned with ankle ribbons, will peek out from under yards and yards of tulle embellished with glittering fairy wings. After frolicking down the aisle scattering rose petals, they will sit with the congregation. “I don’t want them to steal my thunder,” Sandra laughs.

One of the first decisions Sandra made was selecting her bridal gown. Working with the Bridal Salon of San Antonio, she chose a design by Tomasina who is internationally known for her sense of sculptural beauty and exquisite embroideries. The gown was almost perfect. Sandra suggested a change to the neckline which the designer liked and agreed to make. Now the dress will be absolutely perfect. The gown is…well, that’s a secret. The couple is sticking with tradition on this point. No peeking. You’ll have to wait until she walks down the aisle just like he will. One hint: her bouquet will be off-white hydrangeas, tied with pink ribbons to match her shoes.

Two Jewish traditions will blend with the Christian ceremony: the khupa and the ktubba. The chuppah is a tent that symbolizes the family being created by the joining of the bride and groom. It can be the shawl of the rabbi, or a soft construction held up by the groomsmen. But in this case, it is constructed with pillars, frame, and covering. The chuppah has significance for the groomsmen as well. If anything threatens the stability of the marriage, it is their responsibility to remind the couple of the covenant they entered into on this day.

The ketuba is a marriage contract that uses words of the Bible in both Hebrew and English to describe the covenant and the responsibilities of the husband and wife. Before the ceremony it is signed by the officiate, the witnesses, and the bride and groom. It will also be embellished by a painting depicting the story of the couple. Sandra and Ryan will hang their ketuba in their home as a daily reminder of their vows.

One thing that concerns Sandra is that she will cry and ruin her makeup. She doesn’t have to be concerned because a touch of Tennessee, Philip Ivey, known as Mr. P, will be there to help her. A mutual friend, recording star, Randy Travis, introduced Sandra to the artist who won an Oscar for his work on the makeup team of the hit movie Driving Miss Daisy. He has already informed her that the reception is act two and for that, “You’ll have to give the people something new.” Not only will she be fresh for the ceremony, but she’ll be ready for the celebration afterward. “I want Ryan to cry,” Sandra teases. “I will, too,” says Ryan with a shrug. “I’m a softy. So, yeah, I’ll probably end up bawling my eyes out.”

When Sandra’s brother was married in October, the pre-ceremony photos took over an hour. They were in their wedding attire for nine hours; it was the least enjoyable aspect of the day. To make this activity as painless as possible they will get help from another Tennessean, photographer Paul Wharton. “He is very good and very quick. We want as little stress as possible. But we don’t want chaos. We want structure, but not military school,” explains Sandra. Ryan adds, “We want it to be a fun event like the reception, laid back and fun.”

The details for the ceremony are almost complete. There are still some blanks to fill in. Now it’s time to design the reception. With a clean sheet of paper, ready to start the next chapter, Sandra and Ryan are on their way. There is a meeting with the decorator, food to taste, and flowers to choose. “We’ll see how it plays out,” she nonchalantly comments. Ryan grins, “She’s always a step ahead. You have to stay a step behind to keep your eye on her.”