MELISSA STRICKLAND Melissa Lynn Merriman and David Kyle Strickland were united in marriage at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, in a double ring ceremony at the Lay Ornamental Gardens of the Dallas Arboretum.

Officiating the evening ceremony was the brother of the groom, Tim Strickland.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Michael Moore of Fairfield. The groom is the son of Ms. Jane Webb of Aledo and Mr. George Walton Strickland III of Waco.

Grandparents of the bride are Dr. and Mrs. Louis Harold Shaver of Fairfield, Mrs. Ken Edwards of Shreveport, Louisiana and the late Marvin Eugene Merriman.

The groom is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. George Walton Strickland, Jr. of Waco and the late Mr. and Mrs. George Edwin Webb.

The altar was centered before a natural waterfall atop a grassy hill, overlooking White Rock Lake.

Greenery behind the altar featured seasonal flowers and plants.

Music for the ceremony was provided by the European Ensemble String Quartet of Dallas which played "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by Bach, "Canon in D" by Pachabel, Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" and Vivaldi's "Spring."

The ensemble also accompanied the groom's sister-inlaw, Leslie Strickland, as she sang "The Prayer" and "Love of My Life."

During the Unity Candle Ceremony, cousin of the bride, Sarina Shaver of Fairfield, recited "Sonnets of the Portuguese" over an instrumental version of "How Beautiful," also played by the quartet.

Given in marriage by her mother and stepfather, the bride wore a formal length gown of candlelight imported Italian silk-tissue taffeta designed by Melissa Sweet.

The strapless silhouette featured a ruched bodice and asymmetrical train.

Layers of taffeta from the train gathered at the gown's side embellished with English lace.

The same English lace adorned the bride's nontraditional headpiece along with Swarovski crystals and ivoryhued tulle.

She carried a bouquet of flame calla lilies bound with chocolate and champagne ribbons.

The groom wore a custom tailored one-button, black tuxedo with a black vest and a classic black straight tie.

His boutonniere was fashioned from a miniature flame calla lily flanked with monkey tails, wrapped in ribbon of ivory and chocolate.

Serving the bride as matron of honor was Vanessa Roberts of Stuttgart, Arkansas. Bridesmaids included friends of the bride Sue Mirasol of Dallas, Amber Menzie of Hurst, Lamina Robertson of Huntsville, Tara Phillips of Dallas, and Jaclyn Kawecki of Plano.

Cousin of the bride, Lacie Shaver, served as junior bridesmaid.

The honor attendant and bridesmaids wore identical strapless gowns, formal in length, with empire waistlines and ruching along the bodice.

In pumpkin spice colored dresses, the attendants carried matching bouquets with a single green hydrangea and a cluster of three mini calla lilies wrapped in chocolate ribbon.

The groom's niece, Addison Durand of Granbury, served as flower girl wearing a three-tiered floor length gown of ivory with a pumpkin colored sash.

She carried a miniature kissing ball of orange spray roses with a chocolate brown ribbon handle.

Serving as best man was the groom's brother, Tim Strickland of Fort Worth. Groomsmen included Doug Parr of Boyd, Chad Taylor of McKinney, Jeff Durand of Granbury, brother-in-law of the groom, Wes Roberts of Stuttgart, Arkansas and Cercy Greer of Dallas.

Ushers were Jerry Laney of McKinney, uncle of the bride; Dr. Jerry Gaston of Bryan, cousin of the bride; Blake Laney of Plano, cousin of the bride; Zach Jones of Jefferson City, Missouri, cousin of the bride; and Lee Leonard of Dallas, friend of the groom.

The ushers were attired in black tuxedos with boutonnieres created of a single miniature calla lily and monkey tails.

The mother of the bride wore a formal length gown of chocolate brown taffeta with a corkscrew skirt, portrait collar and gold embellishments.

The groom's mother wore a dark champagne dress with a satin jacket adorned with embroidery along the sleeve and lapel.

Their corsages featured orange spray roses with chocolate ribbon.

Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Arboretum's historical plantation home, The Camp House.

The couple's first dance was a choreographed tango followed by toasts from the best man, matron of honor and grandfather of the bride.

Music for the reception was provided by the Tone Kings jazz band.

The menu included chopped salads prepared to order and served in martini glasses, herb-crusted sirloin, mesquite-smoked whole king salmon, a vegetable medley, mashed potatoes, threecheese macaroni and cocktail rolls. Guests were served from mini meal action stations.

Round tables draped with chocolate linens and sashes were set on the Camp House lawn overlooking White Rock Lake. The tables were adorned with Vanda orchids in floating vases, topped with a pave of green hydrangea and curly willow.

The bride's cake was a four-tier ivory confection with alternating designs formed in fondant.

Filled with amaretto and fresh raspberries, the cake was also topped with a bouquet of miniature flame calla lilies.

The groom's cake featured a double layer of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and semisweet chocolate, flavored with liqueur.

Sculptural chocolate curls and decadent details accented the outer layer.

Friends of the bride, Lindsey Powell of Allen and Morgan Fuller of Fairfield, registered guests at the reception.

The registry table was draped in chocolate and champagne linens and topped with pumpkin and chocolate floral arrangements of floating Vanda orchids, hydrangea and curly willow.

Amidst a shower of bubbles, the newlyweds left the reception in a black stretch limousine.

On the eve of the wedding, a rehearsal dinner was held at the Century Ballroom of Dallas' historic Adolphus Hotel.

The bride is a 2001 graduate of Fairfield high school and a 2005 graduate of Baylor University where she earned her degrees in business and broadcast journalism.

She is employed as the communications director for the southern division of Dillard's, Inc.

The groom is a 1997 graduate of Community high school in Nevada and a 2000 graduate of Baylor University.

He is self-employed and is based out of Washington, D.C. and the Middle East.

Following the ceremony, the couple traveled to Italy for their two-week honeymoon where they toured Florence, Milan, Rome and Venice.

The newlyweds will reside in Fort Worth.