LAURA ELIZABETH BURKETT RICHARD HARROD BLANK III
Laura Elizabeth Burkett and Richard Harrod Blank III exchanged marriage vows at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church. Officiating were the Rev. Jeffrey B. Hampton of the church and Bishop Philip Jones of All Saints, Dallas.
The bride is the daughter of Robin and Jerry Byron Burkett of Stuttgart and the granddaughter of the late Mary Louise and Harley Bledsoe of Benton and the late Bennie and Billy John Burkett of Stuttgart.
Pam and Richard Harrod Blank Jr. of Little Rock are the parents of the groom. He is the grandson of Dorothy and the late John David Jackson and the late Carrol and Dr. Richard Blank, all of Tampa, Fla.
Ceremony music was by organist Stanley Cox.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a sleeveless organza ballgown. The pleated cross-over bodice had a V-neckline and the full skirt extended to a court-train. She carried a bouquet of hydrangeas, Queen Anne’s lace, blush and white roses and ranunculus.
Caroline Cook Holt of Little Rock was her sister’s matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Erin Childress, Ellen MacMillan, Geri Bemberg, cousin of the bride, and Callie Gutierrez and Chandler Bailey, sisters of the groom, all of Little Rock; Abbey Atwill of Cleveland, Miss.; Taylor Richmond of Nashville, Tenn.; Mary Katherine Baldwin of Fayetteville; and Mollie Wildmann of Memphis. They wore champagne gowns of douppioni silk and carried bouquets similar to the bride’s.
Also assisting the bride were Cory Bolton of Boston and Julia Kyser and Maggie Turner, both of Little Rock. Flower girl was Eva Louis Gutierrez of Little Rock, niece of the groom.
The father of the groom served as best man. Groomsmen were Mark Holt, Michael Bailey, David Gutierrez, John Jones Jr. and Joseph Doramus, all of Little Rock; Jackson Reeves of Tampa, cousin of the groom; Talbot Quinn of Wilmington, N.C.; William Brown of Jackson, Miss.; and Morin Scott of Austin, Texas.
Guests were seated by Emmery Cary of Carrolton, Ga., and John Young Jr. of Salt Lake City, cousins of the groom.
A reception at the Clinton Presidential Center was held after the ceremony. Tables held arrangements of hydrangeas, blush and white roses, snapdragons and gladiolus. A handtied garland of greenery with hydrangeas and roses centered the head table. Music was by FunkyTown.
The bride has a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and restaurant management from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is an account executive at Magna IV.
The groom has a bachelor’s degree in management from UALR and is a bonds assistant at Stephens Inc.
The couple will live in Little Rock after a wedding trip to Pasitano and Florence, Italy.