Published Friday, October 23, 2009 11:33 AM

Svajda-Hardy Wedding

Miss Megan Elizabeth Svajda and Mr. Michael J.A. Hardy were united in a ceremony of marriage on Saturday, July 18, 2009. Set in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia at the Homestead Resort, the wedding took place in the manicured Spa Gardens. Officiating the double ring ceremony was the couples’ minister, Reverend Mark Becton, of Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia. Music was a solo violinist, Jaime Letourneau, playing selections of hymns and praise and worship songs.

Following the ceremony, 51 guests enjoyed classical music while being  served Hors d’ Oeuvres and a signature drink in the President’s Library.

A five course dinner was served in the Tower Suite. After dinner, it was cake, cake and more cake with three different brides’ cakes, the groom’s cake and a cupcake tower being served.

The couple left the reception in a golf cart.

Rehearsal was held in the gardens on Friday evening after a game of Croquet on the lawn. The groom’s mother and step father hosted a Rehearsal Dinner for guests and family in the private dining room of the Sam Snead Tavern immediately following the rehearsal.

The morning of the wedding, a Bridal Brunch was held in the Hunt Room and hosted by Lindi Svajda Winkler. The table centerpieces were large, over-sized hats created from flowers and the ladies were invited to come wearing large hats to the party. Finger foods and large cupcakes were served along with sparkling punch and flavored teas.

Preceding the wedding, family and friends enjoyed a weekend of golf, skeet shooting, fishing, kayaking, pool, bowling and swimming.

Megan is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Carl A. Svajda of College Station. Grandparents of the bride are Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Conner of Fort Stockton, Texas, the late Dr. J. F. Svajda and Mrs. Mildred Svajda of College Station, Texas, and great grandmother, Mrs. Helen Tooke of Garland, Texas.

Michael is the son of Ms. MaryAnne Hardy and the late Darrell R. Hardy, of Virginia. Grandparents are the late Mr. and Mrs. James Kelly of Arlington, Virginia.

 Escorted down the path through the flowers, the bride was presented in marriage by her father. She wore her mother’s antique white, A-line, Victorian waist, Chapel length train dress that was adorned with antique lace and pearls and accented at the bottom with crystal pleating. She wore her hair in an heirloom style, low bun under a Chapel length veil that was edged in antique lace. The bride’s shoes were hydrangea blue to match the colors of her flowers. Her bouquet was a spring mix of blue hydrangea’s, yellow elysse freesia, mini green cymbidium orchids and fragrant butter yellow stock. It was braided with a French satin ribbon intertwined with a gold cross necklace made and given to her by her Papa Svajda after her birth along with her baby bible tucked into the bouquet.

Attending the bride as Matron of Honor was her sister, Lindi Svajda Winkler, of Houston, Texas. Bridesmaids were girlfriends Jenny Hyde of Bryan, Texas and Cristen Vehorn of Richmond, Virginia. The bridal party wore dresses of different styles made of organdy and silk in a brilliant sunflower yellow and wore over-sized sunflower yellow orchids in their hair. The bouquets were spring mixes of blue hydrangea’s, yellow freesia, mini cymbidium orchids, butter stock and tiny berzilla berries wrapped in yellow organza ribbon. The flower girl, Miss Anna Hyde of Bryan, Texas, wore a tea length, silk and taffeta white dress with a large blue sash accented with an oversized bow and hydrangea cluster tied at the back. She carried balloons.

 Mr. Brian Poffel of Clifton, New Jersey served as best man for the groom. Groomsmen were Ben Lienhard of Statesboro, Georgia and Andrew Vehorn of Richmond, Virginia. Ushers escorting the guests were Conner Svajda and Cooper Svajda; both brothers of the bride. All the gentlemen wore silk day suits in a platinum sand color accented with brilliant blue ties that matched the bride’s shoes.

The bride is a 2001 graduate of A&M Consolidated in College Station and graduated from the University of North Texas with a B.A. in Economics. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Political Science.

Michael graduated in 2000 from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Virginia, is a 2004 graduate from Georgia Southern University with a B.A. in Political Science and History, and currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Lt. Governor of Virginia.

After a honeymoon in St. Lucia, the couple lives in Richmond, Virginia.