Wedding: Watkins-Vetkoetter

McKenna Elise Watkins of Benton, Louisiana and Matthew Wayne Vetkoetter of Bossier City were married on April 23, 2016 at Kings Highway Christian Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, with Philip Wade officiating.

McKenna is the daughter of David and Crickett Watkins of Benton, Louisiana.

Matthew is the son of Judy and Billy Price and Mike Vetkoetter.

Presented in marriage by her parents and escorted by her father, McKenna was a beautiful bride in an Elizabeth Layne sweetheart off shoulder long sleeve, chapel length ball gown with alencon lace. Bodice was covered in alencon lace on a fitted drop waist, blending into a full ball gown skirt of multiple layers of caramel blush linings, toulle, and topped with organza covered with aloncon appliqués, edged in scalloped alencon trim. The dress was complete with a crystal beaded belt and veil.

Her bridal bouquet was composed of garden roses of blush and peach, white calla lilies and peonies, with jasmine and long leaf eucalyptus.

The bridesmaids wore Jenny Yoo floor length chiffon gowns with an empire waist, of blush, green, and caramel. The Matron of Honor was Anissa Lewis Dupont, cousin of the bride. Bridesmaids were Emily Laroux, Kaitlin Seals, Christie Lecompte, Mary Catherine Procell, and Lizzy Balch.

The three flower girls wore a Kathleen Sommer-Hertline original, of ruffled strapped lace bodice princess dresses with full ballgown skirts of blush shantung, covered in multiple layers of tulle with crystal beaded waist sashes. Flower girls were McKayla Gordon, Averi Withers and Savannah Withers.

Matthew was dressed in a black tuxedo with a white vest and white tie. The groom’s best man was Andrew Kellogg. Groomsmen were Michael Vetkoetter, Mitchell Vetkoetter, Blake Watkins, Cody King, and Faizan Farooqui. Ushers were Clayton Stelle, Harrison Haydel, Blake Watkins, and Michael Vetkoetter.  Blaine Withers served as the ring bearer.

Musical prelude was performed by Four Seasons String Quartet. Special music vocalists were Sharon Purvis and Jacob Cowley. Pianist was Sharon Purvis and organist was Jean Rowell.

The couple was escorted to the reception at Silver Lake Ballroom, by McKenna’s Uncles, Billy Lewis and Phillip Lewis, in Billy’s 1929 Model  A Phaeton.

McKenna is a 2008 graduate of Benton High School and a 2013 graduate of LSUS with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Early Human  Development. She was a member of PHI MU Fraternity at LSUS. McKenna is an ELL Teacher in Bossier Parish.

Matthew is a 2010 graduate of Parkway High School and a 2014 graduate of LSUS with a Bachelor’s Degree in Field and Organismal Biology. He was the president of TAU KAPPA EPSILON Fraternity in 2014, and one of the founding fathers of that Fraternity at LSUS. Matthew works at LSU Health Science Center, where he is a Research Associate.

After a honeymoon to Cozumel, Mexico, the couple will reside in Bossier City.