Published: July 31, 2009 10:01 am      

Lawrence, Zanger wedding

BEDFORD, Pa. — Amanda Bryn Zanger and Jason Edward Lawrence were united in marriage on July 12, 2008, at Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford. The outdoor ceremony took place in the Wedding Grotto of the resort and was followed by a cocktail reception on the veranda and a seated dinner was served in the Colonnade Ballroom.

Amanda is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Marc E. Zanger and Jason is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Lawrence of Silver Spring.

The bridal party arrived via horse drawn surrey carriage from the bridal suite, circling under the footbridge and the porte-cochere at the main entrance of the hotel, stopping at the stairway leading to the bridge. The bride was escorted by her father across the foot bridge to the Magnesium Springs Pavilion which was the setting for the ceremony and exchange of vows. The pavilion was adorned with large Boston ferns, as well as columns topped with ferns.

The mother of the bride was escorted by her nephew, William “Ted” Hulbert, Palo Alto, Calif. Attending the bride were, maid of honor, Miss Maureen Tola, friend of the bride. Serving as bridesmaids were, Katharine Alvarez, Abigail Zanger, and Samantha Smith, sisters of the bride, Allyson Ruddell, Ann McGuire, friends of the bride, and Valerie Rauenzahn, sister of the groom. Attending the groom was his best man, Michael Swarthout, followed by his groomsmen, Kirk Gibson, Kevin Kessler, Michael Dorsey, Michael Harper, Gregory Pflaum and Nick Fullenkamp, all school chums of the groom. The bride’s niece, Madeline Smith, was a beautiful flower girl in her long white organza dress and her brother Benjamin Smith skillfully fulfilled his duty as ring bearer, carrying the rings upon a pillow cross stitched by his fraternal grandmother, Mrs. George Smith.

The bride was attired in a Nicole Miller designer dress. The strapless antique white dress of peau de soie, featured a sweetheart neckline with ruching, extending from the bodice to the waist. The back of the dress was styled with three open bands with bow accents, leading to a below the waist free flowing train accented with a large bow. She wore a bouffant elbow length veil of silk illusion, and carried a large bouquet of white hydrangeas, surrounded by hosta leaves. For something “old,” the bride wore her grandmother’s crystal necklace and earrings given to her by her parents upon her graduation from nursing school in 1933. Something “blue” was a beautiful garter, lovingly made by the bride’s aunt, Lin Hulbert. The garter was made from an initial handkerchief which also belonged to the bride’s grandmother, Mildred Ott.

The bridesmaids all wore short pale pink Isaach Mizrahi dresses with petal skirts and carried bouquets of green hydrangeas surrounded by hosta leaves. The bride’s mother wore a satin strapless dress in forest green with a lighter green leaf scroll design. She carried a nosegay of wildflowers which were picked at the site of the wedding and held in a silver Victorian tuzzy-muzzy, which was arranged by the mother of the bride’s sister, Lin Hulbert. Many thanks go out to Ted Henry, manager of Pharmacare Floral, for his many talents in transforming the wedding venue into a spectacular site as well as creating the bridal party bouquets.

The double ring ceremony was performed by the Rev. Dr. C. Scott Robinson, pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Oakland, Md. Scripture lessons were read by Tara Schartiger and Kristin Porter, friends of the bride. Following the ceremony, the wedding party recessed up a pathway leading to the wedding grotto where champagne and hors d’oeuvres were served. Afterward, the bride and groom had time to unwind as they enjoyed a carriage ride around the grounds of the resort.

Music during the wedding was provided by Fred Kesner and Tom Simpson on trumpet and Tom Harrison on keyboard. All are members of Queen City Funk and Soul who also provided the fabulous music for the reception. The bride and groom danced their first dance to “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” and the bride danced with her father to “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” which was played at her parents’ wedding.

The cake cutting ceremony took place at the beginning of the dinner with a beautiful four tier wedding cake created by the pastry chef at Bedford Springs. The cake topper was a Faberge-style egg which opened to a bride and groom inside and was attached to a music box which played “Somewhere My Love.” The cake topper was purchased as a gift to the couple by the parents of the bride, while in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The groom’s parents hosted an enjoyable rehearsal dinner at Jean Bonnet Tavern Bedford, Pa.

The bride was feted to a shower at the home of Mrs. Thomas B. Finan Jr., who hosted the shower along with Mrs. John Robb, and Mrs. Kim Leonard. A couples’ cocktail party was given by Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Scarpelli at their home.

Mandy and Jason enjoyed a weeklong honeymoon in Tulum, Mexico. The couple currently resides in Frederick where Mandy teaches Spanish at Clarksburg High School and Jason is Art Director for Red Hand LLC, Georgetown.