Sarah Bohmfalk & Russell Tomlinson Married in Austin Rites

By Dennis P. Kriewald

Sarah Elizabeth Bohmfalk of Austin and formerly of Laredo and Russell Curtis Tomlinson, also of Austin, were married Saturday, November 13, 2004, in the Central Presbyterian Church in Austin. The ceremony was officiated at by Rev. Virgilio Vazquez Garza of San Antonio , long-time friend of the Bohmfalk family.

The bride is the daughter of Rachel C. Bohmfalk of Laredo and the late James W. Bohmfalk, and the groom is the son of Russell P. and Merrie C. Tomlinson of Austin .

The ceremony began with Sarah's mother, Rachel Bohmfalk, and godmother, Jane Calhoun, and Russell's mother, Merrie Tomlinson, being escorted to their places of honor. Then followed the bridal procession.

Entering the sanctuary to the strains of “Trumpet Voluntary” by J. Clark, Sarah was a vision of loveliness as she held the arm of Pete Calhoun, her godfather, who walked the bride to her groom and gave her hand to his. She wore a white strapless floor-length peau de soie wedding gown which extended to a full train. On her head, she wore a fingertip-length white veil, and she carried a brilliant bouquet of pink and red roses and other blossoms.

Attending Sarah were her sister Laura Bohmfalk of San Antonio as maid of honor, and friend Stephanie Green, college friend Ginger Long, and college friend Jennifer Basey as bridesmaids. The four attendants wore strapless floor-length satin gowns in an exquisite pomegranate shade and carried round formal bouquets.

Hayley and Abrielle Goodwein, Russell's nieces, proudly walked down the aisle as flower girls.

Serving as Russell's best man was his best friend Adrian Aguilar, while the groomsmen included his friend Michael Baumann and his two brothers-in-law Shelley Goodwein and Michael Meng. The three ushers were Sarah's uncle Christian Bohmfalk and her cousin Samuel Bohmfalk and Russell's friend Randall Deavers. All the men in the wedding party wore traditional black tuxedos, white shirts, and black ties.

Four of Sarah's friends were in the house party; they included Jennifer Caine, Courtney Kriewald, Lesley Kriewald, and Jennifer Swartley.

Vocalist for the ceremony was Barbara Waldon, and Karen Haverlah was the organist.

Immediately after the wedding, guests crossed the street to attend the reception, dinner, and dance in the ballroom of the Austin Omni Hotel. Hors d'ouevres and wine were served prior to the buffet dinner and dinner dance.

The bride's cake, a four-tier stack Mexican vanilla with a simple smooth cream icing, was adorned with bright fall flowers, while the groom's cake was a double stack octagonal with basket-weave and chocolate shavings on top of a dark chocolate cake and Grand Marnier filling. Guests toasted the newlyweds with champagne.