Published Saturday, April 11, 2009 11:43 PM

Svajda-Winkler Wedding

Miss Melinda Elise Svajda of College Station and Mr. Jonathan David Winkler of Houston were united in  a ceremony of marriage on Saturday, January 3, 2009, at six o'clock in the evening at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, Texas.  Officiating the double ring ceremony was Reverend George Jacobus, University Minister at Central Baptist Church and former youth minister to the bride.

Lindi is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Carl A. Svajda of College Station, Texas.  Grandparents of the bride are Mrs. J. F. Svajda and the late Dr. Jerome F. Svajda of College Station, Mr. and Mrs. T. E. Conner of Fort Stockton, Texas, and Great Grandmother Helen Tooke of Garland, Texas.

Jonathan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David  B. Winkler of Meridian, Texas.  Grandparents include Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Winkler of Albany, Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bonnot of Lolita, Texas.

Escorted  by her father, the bride's dress was an Audrey Hart Original design made from raw Silk.  The strapless, A-line dress with a corset tie gathered at the waist with rouching that flowed down the left side of the gown.  The chapel length train was covered with crystal pleating that flowed the full length.  A fingertip veil edged in Satin flowed from a simple twist in her hair.  Lindi's bouquet was made from white and cream  roses, tulips, stephanotis dotted with pearls, and mini calla lilies.  The bouquet was braided with a satin ribbon from her dress intertwined with a gold cross necklace that had been made for and given to her by her late Papa Svajda after her birth.

Attending the bride as Maid of Honor was her sister, Miss Megan Svajda of Richmond, Virginia.  Bridesmaids were Mrs. Jennifer Haney Lawler, of San Antonio, Texas, Mrs. Elizabeth Marks Meeh, of Sugarland, Texas, Miss Shelby Sims, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Miss Brittany Thompson, of Houston, Texas.  Bridesmaids wore Bill Levkoff tea-length, Tissue Taffeta dresses that featured fitted pleating and gathered, off-the-shoulder, neckline and straps.  Each carried large calla lilies wrapped in black satin ribbon and laced with pearls.   The flower girl, Miss Avery Tarbet, of Frisco, Texas wore a Satin, tea-length dress in ivory accented with a black sash and pearl buttons down the back.  She carried a pomander made from white and cream hydrangea held by a strand of pearls. The house party included Miss Kristin Haney, of College Station, Texas, Miss Meredith Hainsfurther, of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Allison Cloud Brockman, of Katy, Texas, Miss Caroline Mitchell, of Houston, Texas, and Mrs. Brittany Winkler Straach, from Galveston, Texas.

Joe Barrett Winkler, brother of the groom, from Meridian, Texas, served as Best Man to the groom.  Groomsmen included Kyle Hugghins, of Houston, Texas, Neto Leal, of Tyler, Texas, Jimmy Miller, from Dallas, Texas, and Christian VonDrehle of Austin, Texas.  Ring bearer was Garrett Heimann from Katy, Texas.

Ushers escorting the guests were Mr. Michael Hardy, from Richmond, Virginia, Mr. Kyle Mitchan, of Houston, Texas and Mr. Conner Svajda and Mr. Cooper Svajda, both of College Station, Texas.

Vocalists were Miss Rebecca Baldwin of Bryan, Texas, Mrs. Maleigh Canon of Caldwell, Texas, and Mr. Mark Taylor of College Station, Texas.  Scripture was read by Miss Meredith Hainsfurther of Dallas, Texas and Mr. Cary Seabolt, also from Dallas, Texas.   

A celebration for the couple was held following the Christian ceremony at Astin Mansion. Surrounded by light from over 2,000 candles, guests enjoyed a buffet dinner, live music and dancing, and topped off the evening with a hot chocolate bar.  The couple left the reception amongst hundreds of sparklers and drove away in a red '57 Chevy.

On January 2, 2009, a bridal luncheon was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Miles Marks hosted by Mrs. Elizabeth Marks Meeh and her mother, Molly Marks.  The groom's parents hosted a dinner after the rehearsal at Frittella's Italian Café for the families, bridal party and guests.   A prayer breakfast was held in the bride's honor starting her wedding day surrounded by her bridal party, friends and family.

Melinda is a 2004 graduate of A&M Consolidated High School, an `08 graduate from Texas A&M University with a degree in Nutritional Sciences, and is currently attending the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston Nursing School.

Jonathan is a 2002 graduate from Meridian High School and received his degree in Construction Sciences at Texas A&M, class of '06 and now works for Vaughn Construction in Houston, Texas.

After honeymooning on the slopes in Purgatory, Colorado, the couple resides in Houston.