KELSEY MARIE BACKUS BRANDON THOMAS FRIEDEL
Kelsey Marie Backus and Brandon Thomas Friedel were united in marriage at 6 p.m. Saturday, May 12, in St. James United Methodist Church with the Rev. Greg Schick officiating.
Priscilla and Kim Backus of Little Rock are the parents of the bride. She is the granddaughter of the late Loraine and Howard Backus of Springdale, the late Sylvia Pickering of Lakeland, Fla., and Micky and the late Dr. Michael Pickering of Tampa, Fla.
The groom is the son of Jill and Tom Friedel and the grandson of Helen and James Friedel, Esterleen and Raymond Spann and the late Maynard Janecka, all of Victoria, Texas.
The altar held an arrangement of mock orange, blue delphinium and white hydrangeas. Music was by organist Robert Lindley. Lauren Nicole Parker read Scripture.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a gown of ivory lace and tulle with a strapless scalloped sweetheart bodice and full skirt. She carried a white bouquet of peonies, ranunculus and baby’s breath.
Serving as the bride’s honor attendants were her sisters, Courtney Michelle Backus Norton of Fayetteville and Jacquelyn Nicole Harrison of Little Rock. Bridesmaids were Whitney Campbell, Laura Gowan, Abby Talley, Chelsea Wright and Molly Keith, all of Little Rock; Elizabeth Hackett of Chicago; Mary “Evie” Inboden, Jennifer Mattone and Sara Kate Moery, all of Fayetteville; Corinne Skarda of Hazen; and Madison Strode of Dallas. They wore mineral gray gowns in a variety of styles and carried bouquets of white hydrangeas, roses and baby’s breath.
Flower girls were Lawson Norton of Fayetteville and Harper Harrison of Little Rock. Ring bearers were Nash Norton of Fayetteville and Holt Harrison of Little Rock. All are nieces and nephews of the bride.
Tyler James Friedel of Springdale was his brother’s best man. Groomsmen were Josh Danner of Rogers; Dexter Hendrix of Benton; Irvin Humphrey III of Russellville; Joseph Keith, Brian Harrison, Dr. Tyler King, Marco Rodriquez and Micah Marsh, all of Little Rock; James Norton and Creighton Parker, both of Fayetteville; and Enrique Ruiz of Sherwood. Guests were seated by Ernest Bartlett and David Camp, both of Dallas, and Nathan Talley and Alex Bennett, both of Little Rock.
Guest tables at a reception at Pleasant Valley Country Club held a variety of arrangements of blue and white hydrangeas in cube vases, ginger jars and tall hour-glass vases. Music was by The Party Jammers from Memphis.
The bride has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta. She is an elementary school teacher at Episcopal Collegiate School.
The groom has a bachelor’s degree in professional studies and a master’s degree of health and physical education from Arkansas Tech University at Russellville where he was a member of the basketball team and was named 2010 ATU Student Athlete of the Year and 2010 Gulf South Conference Player of the Year. He is a physical education teacher at Episcopal and serves as head coach of the boys’ varsity basketball team and the boys’ and girls’ varsity golf teams.
After a wedding trip to Negril, Jamaica, the couple will live in Little Rock.