Elizabeth Brooke Hyler and Jesse Esser Vahsholtz were married on Sunday, September 1, at the First United Methodist Church in Lawrence. Elizabeth is the daughter of Eric and Linda Hyler, Lawrence. The groom is the son of Dennis and Annetta Vahsholtz, Herington.
Reverend Tom Brady officiated with Deacon Richard Kramer of Herington assisting. During the ceremony, the couple poured sand from beaches they have visited into a unity container. A choir of the bride and groom’s friends sang Marry Me to much applause by the audience.
The bride was attended by her sister Alexandra Hyler, Blacksburg, Virginia, as maid of honor. Bridesmaids included friends Priya Mishra, Kansas City, and Ginny Armstrong, Chicago, Julie Tamasese, cousin of the groom, Honolulu, and Ginger Mellgren, St. Petersburg.
The groom was attended by his cousin Evan Reser of Topeka. His cousin Grant Reser, who lost his fight with cancer, was an honorary best man. Other groomsmen included his brothers, Ned Vahsholtz and Alex Vahsholtz, both of Herington, and friends Derrick Lund, Kansas City, and Matt Wolff, Lawrence.
Candle lighters were cousins of the bride, Angela Kocinski, Brunswick, Ohio, and Daniel Cox, Leawood. Ushers were Brad DeVault, cousin of the groom, Houston, Sami Tamasese, cousin-in-law of the groom, Honolulu,
Ryan Akers, cousin of the bride, Carrollton, Texas, and friends Dustin Hicks Stuart, Florida, Graig Mickelson Grain Valley, Missouri, and Brian Sparks Kansas City.
Flower girl was Emma Mickelson, Grain Valley, friend of the groom, and the ring bearers were cousins of the bride, Terry Akers, Haysville, and Brayden Adams, Olathe. The musicians were Dan Abrahamson, organist, and guitarists, Mitch Jordan and Jeff McKee, cousins of the groom.
Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Maceli’s where the tables were decorated with blue hydrangea in vintage silver containers from family members. Throughout the wedding ceremony items of sentimental value were incorporated including the handkerchief the bride carried. It was brought home by Elizabeth’s grandfather, Harry Royer, of Fort Scott after WWII to his wife. It read “Philippines 1945.” The bride’s gold nugget necklace was made from her Great-Great Grandmother Caroline “Carrie” Schneider
Royer’s wedding band. Elizabeth’s floral bouquet included several of her Grandmother Royer’s
broaches. She wore a lucky six-pence in her left shoe brought home from England by sister Alexandra.
At the reception the couple was toasted with champagne – the bottles having been dipped in chocolate for a sweet treat. The groom’s cake included a disc golf basket and disc with an original bridal logo designed by the bride. This disc was used to send the garter sailing. After the couple’s first dance, the Esser family’s
traditional grand wedding march was lead by Jane Nelson and Dr. Joe Desch. Following a German
tradition, trays of bologna, bread, and cheeses were shared at the end of the evening.
The day prior to the wedding the groom hosted a disc golf tournament at the Centennial Disc Golf Park that was designed by his father and a Meet and Greet Party was hosted by the groom’s parents at the Spring Hills Suites. Following the wedding, the bride’s family hosted a brunch for departing guests.
The bride graduated from Lawrence High School in 2004 and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in graphic design from Kansas State University in 2009. She is a Assistant Manager and in-store Designer at Crate and Barrel and does free-lance graphic design work on the side.
The groom is the son of Dennis and Annetta Vahsholtz of Herington. He is a 2000 graduate of Herington High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic Communications from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas in 2005. He is an Account Supervisor at PP+K, Inc., an advertising agency in Tampa, and a co-owner of Millennium Golf Discs.
Following a honeymoon in Italy, the couple resides in Tampa.