Carissa Marie Strimer and Casey James Western were united in marriage on March 12 at First Lutheran Church in Parkersburg. The bride's uncle, Pastor John Strimer of First Baptist Church in St. Marys, officiated the double-ring ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of C. Michael and Terri Strimer of Williamstown and granddaughter of the late Bob and Beulah Dunham and the late Albert and Orpha Strimer. She is a 2005 graduate of Williamstown High School and a December 2009 graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College with a degree in musical arts and minors in business, education and international studies. She is the loan review assistant for Grant County Bank in Petersburg.
The groom is the son of James and Lori Western of Maysville and the grandson of Lynn and Dorothy Harman of Maysville and the late Frederick C. and Virginia R. Western. He is a 2006 graduate of Petersburg High School and a 2010 graduate of Alderson-Broaddus College with a degree in software engineering. He is the assistant technical support specialist for American Woodmark in Moorefield.
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Escorted to the altar by her father and given in marriage by her parents, the bride wore an ivory satin chiffon gown with a chapel length train. To compliment the gown, she wore a pearl and crystal embellished headpiece and veil borrowed from her new sister-in-law, Lindsey Porter. The bride wore turquoise blue shoes and carried a silk bouquet of white day lilies and roses.
The bride's best friend, Kathryn Young of Liberty, served as maid of honor and the groom's sister, Lindsey Porter of Fairmont, served as matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Sarah Hicks, Celia Quin and Rachel Woolwine, friends of the bride. Jalyn Western, sister of the groom, served as junior bridesmaid. The bride's cousins of Belleville, Ohio, Maddie and Cael Clark, were the flower girl and ring bearer. The attendants wore black satin dresses of their choice in varying styles and carried silk bouquets of white day lilies . The bride's nephews, Joseph and Anthony Chilleo of Bridgeville, Pa., served as ushers and acolytes for the ceremony.
Jesse Sites of Petersburg, friend of the groom, and Mike Porter of Fairmont, brother-in-law of the groom, served as best men. Groomsmen were Corey Strimer, brother of the bride, and Brian Shirak and Jamie VanMeter, friends of the groom. Micah Western, brother of the groom, served as junior groomsman. The groom's cousin, Danielle Ketterman, served as guest registrar.
The prelude music included prerecorded instrumental acoustic guitar by many of the groom's favorite guitarists. The music also included a guitar and vocal recording of "Your Love is Extravagant" by Casting Crowns as the bride and groom's mothers each brought a vase of sand to the altar to be used in the sand ceremony.
Andrew Ellison of Parkersburg, friend of the bride, provided the processional music for the bridal party and the bride's entrances. The bridal party entered to a piano arrangement of "Sweep Me Away" by Kari Jobe. The bride's entrance was also to a piano arrangement Kari Jobe's "My Beloved." After the unity sand ceremony was completed, the bride and groom took their integrated sand to the altar as those in attendance listened to "I Will Not Take My Love Away" by Matt Wertz.
Mike and Lindsey Porter, sister and brother-in-law of the groom, provided a guitar and vocal arrangement of "Captivate Us" by Watermark during the couple's communion.
The bride and groom were pronounced man and wife and walked down the aisle together to "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes.
Following the ceremony, a reception with dinner and dancing was held at Woodridge Golf Club in Mineral Wells.
After honeymooning in Nags Head, N.C., the couple resides in Petersburg, W.Va.
