By Amanda Byler and Ethan Roussin were married on June 15, 2019, at St. Thomas Moore Newman Center. The ceremony site held a special meaning for the couple. Both come from Catholic families and Newman Center served as their spiritual home when they were students at Mizzou. In fact, their first date as an official couple was attending Ash Wednesday Mass there.
It was very important to Amanda and Ethan to include their families in their big day. Both sides were involved in everything from bringing up the gifts to reading to distributing communion.
The ceremony decorations were kept relatively simple with aisle runners of eucalyptus, spray roses and ranunculus tied around the pews with sheer white ribbon. Amanda had always wanted a blue wedding and choosing navy allowed her to focus on incorporating bright colorful florals.
The bride wore a mermaid, floor-length ivory gown with lace from the Blue by Enzoani line. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline and tulle train that layered with the lace as it neared the bottom. It had slight beading throughout the entire bodice that added a shimmer when it moved. Amanda accessorized it with a beaded and pearl belt, a cathedral length tulle veil, teardrop earrings and white, bedazzled pointed flats from Blue by Betsey Johnson.
Her bouquet was made out of coral charm peonies, pink Juliet roses, coral hypericum berries, white wax flower, free spirit roses, hot pink ranunculus, mixed eucalyptus and nagi and bound a with white ribbon.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length navy, V-neck, chiffon dresses by Levkoff and carried free spirit roses, light pink spray roses, hot pink ranunculus, coral hypericum berries, white wax flower and mixed greenery.
The groom wore a light gray tux with brown dress shoes, a navy polka dot tie and white dress shirt. His boutonniere was made of a free spirit rose, a coral ranunculus, coral hypericum, wax flower and greens. The groomsmen also wore the light gray tux with brown dress shoes, navy silk ties and white dress shirts. Their boutonnieres were hot pink spray roses, coral hypericum and mixed greens.
For Amanda, the most memorable moment was the ceremony. “It doesn’t really hit you until the wedding weekend, but the fact that I got to marry my best friend and his reaction afterward when it hit him was magical,” she says.
The newlyweds wanted to continue their summer theme for their reception at Bur Oak Brewery. A fun touch included the guest book, where guests signed beer bottle caps that had been spray painted silver.
Guests dined on an inventive menu that was a Mediterranean/Southwest fusion. Late-night snacks of soft pretzels with different dipping sauces were also served. The cake was a three-tier marble cake with raspberry filling and ivory textured buttercream icing.
The bride’s mother is Kelleen Kennedy of Phoenix Arizona. The groom’s parents are Karen and Rick Roussin of Festus.
The couple honeymooned in Maui for a week and live in San Diego. Amanda works at the University of San Diego as an assistant director for strategic communications with the athletic department. Ethan works as a field installation technician for a biotech company.
Bridal gown: Weddings 826 (Chicago)
Bridesmaids’ gowns: Nordstrom
Hair styling: Salon Nefisa
Photography: Sharon Guillotte Photography
Tuxedos: The Black Tux (online)
Florist: Allen’s Flowers
DJ or Band: Around the Clock DJ
Cake(s): Spoil Me Sweetly (St. Louis)
Rings: Herteen and Stocker Jewelers (Iowa City, Iowa) and Shane Company (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Catering: Peachtree Catering
