Sydney Louise Shell and Eric Michael Tasler took their vows in the sacrament of holy matrimony at seven in the evening on December 17, 2011 at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Monsignor Warren Wall and Father James F. Zoghby officiated.
The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lockley Shell Jr., of Mobile. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. John Ethan Bonds, the late Mr. Bonds and the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lockley Shell Sr. The groom’s parents are Mr. and Mrs. Michael Anthony Tasler of New Braunfels, Texas. He is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Edgar James Tasler and the late Betty Lloyd McGee and the late George Clayton McGee.
On Friday evening, as the wedding festivities began, the parents of the groom entertained the wedding party and close family and friends for an after-rehearsal dinner at Spot of Tea. Many out of town guests were introduced to the historically rich downtown Mobile.
On Saturday morning, her maternal aunts hosted a bridal brunch in Sydney’s honor at the historic Richards D.A.R. House Museum.
The bride and groom saw each other for the first time as Sydney’s father walked her down the aisle. Sydney’s empire waist lace gown by Allure included a deep V back, sweetheart neckline and chapel-length train with custom pearl designs. Her cathedral length veil was custom made to match the gown. Her bouquet was a hand clutch of pure white peonies, surrounded by folded variegated aspidistra, wrapped in antique lace with her late grandmother’s rosary intertwined. Louise Coleman Crow attended the bride as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Anne Adams Shell, Emily Hamilton Shell, Courtney Mason Davis, Brandee Nicole Moore, Jill Carter McGahee, Christine Virginia Maclay, Suzanne Kearney Donaghey and Kurry Lynn McElveen. The attendants wore one-shoulder formal emerald green gowns and carried white garden roses with miniature calla lilies. Wedding professional, Jason Chambers, provided beautiful hair and makeup.
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The groom chose his brother, Austin James Lee Tasler, as best man. Groomsmen were Adam Blake Bosley, David Scott Hamlin, Michael Weldon McHugh, Brian Alan Ferguson, Donald Holmes McGahee Jr, Fred Lockley Shell III, John Ethan Bonds Shell Sr. and Grantham McAleer Shell. The groom and groomsmen wore traditional black tuxedoes with black bow ties and suspenders. Flower girls and nieces of the bride were Catherine Farrington Shell and Margaret Anne Shell. Ring bearers, nephews of the bride, were John Ethan Bonds Shell, Jr. and Grantham Whitaker Shell.
Alli Noelle Beach and Sarah Garland Forbis served as lectors. Prayers of the faithful were offered by Catherine Elizabeth Hamlin and Katherine Ann Manas. Gift bearers were Victoria Anne Blount, Catherine Paige Largue and Sarah Elizabeth Rehm. Alter servers were John Collin Cooper and Eleanor Catherine Wetzel, cousins of the bride. Program attendants, also cousins of the bride, were Caroline Louise Kostamo, Zachery Austin Kostomo and John Riley Bonds.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Ezell House. Lush greenery with gold magnolia leaves and white poinsettias graced the guests throughout the house. Lace tablecloths from the bride’s grandmothers were used on the tables in the dining room and parlors. Anita Motykiewicz, of All A Bloom Florist, created
Flower designs, decorations and bouquets. The bride had a traditional, four-tiered white cake with an antique topper. The groom had a chocolate peanut butter ganache cake. Both cakes were created by Pollman’s Bake Shop. All bridal photos, ceremony, and wedding celebration were beautifully captured by Wendy Wilson Photography.
Guests danced the night away to the fantastic ’80s inspired band, The M80s, from Birmingham, Ala. The couple left under a shower of rose petals and were chauffeured by Jim Rackard in his 1927 Mercedes Benz Roadster convertible. The couple honeymooned in Jamaica and currently resides in Fort Worth, Texas.
