Laura Hergert & Bryon Autrey

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Teacher's Pet

STORY BY MEGHAN TOWNLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MULTI-IMAGES PHOTOGRAPHY

Laura Hergert and Bryon Autrey's love story began at Arbor Creek Elementary School in Olathe, Kansas, where he was teaching third grade and she was teaching first grade.

One day after school, Bryon walked into Laura's classroom and asked her out to a Kansas City Chiefs game. Laura was immediately smitten, she says. Two years later, they were married in Omaha on a gorgeous fall day.

Laura wore a strapless white-ivory dress by Jasmine Couture and an elegant fingertip-length veil. Her dress had a fitted bodice and a full skirt with elegant pin tucks. Bryon and his groomsmen wore black tuxes with bronze-copper ties and vests. The bridesmaids were dressed in the same bronze-copper to complement the season.

Laura's “something borrowed” came from her grandmother. “I wore a gold band on my right hand, and I fastened a brooch onto my bouquet. Both were from my grandma,” says Laura.

She carried white roses, calla lilies and dahlias. The bridesmaids carried fall-colored bouquets. “I was going for simple,” says Laura.

Ollie the Trolley shuttled the wedding party to the ceremony at Lutheran Church of the Master in Omaha. Laura and Bryon's principal from Arbor Creek Elementary School cantered at the wedding. Laura and her father walked down the aisle to Pachelbel's “Canon in D.”

After the ceremony, guests celebrated the newlyweds by blowing bubbles as Laura and Bryon reboarded Ollie the Trolley and headed for the reception at Lauritzen Gardens.

“Instead of a guest book, we had everyone sign black stones with silver and gold Sharpies. We keep the stones in a vase on our mantle,” says Laura.

The only thing Laura insisted upon for the wedding was the type of cake. “I am obsessed with Costco cakes, but my mom thought it was tacky to serve a sheet cake. We compromised on one small, nice cake and a Costco sheet cake for the groom's cake,” she says.

Laura and Bryon cut the cake together, and Laura playfully smashed a piece into Bryon's face. “My husband really enjoyed cutting the cake,” says Laura. “It was his favorite part of the day.”


SWEET ASIDE

How he proposed: It was Christmas morning in Omaha during a blizzard. After opening their gifts, Bryon told Laura that he had one more gift for her. Laura thought it was a pug puppy. When she noticed that her mom was ready with the camera and had a grin on her face, she knew what was coming. Bryon got down on one knee and proposed.

His wedding gift to her: A black pug. They named it Lionel.


WHO DID WHAT:
Ceremony: Lutheran Church of the Master
Reception: Lauritzen Gardens
Number of guests: 300
Theme: Bronze, copper and orange
Bride's dress: Jasmine Couture, Mia's Bridal & Tailoring, Overland Park, Kan.
Hair and makeup: The Hair Market
Groom's attire: Men's Wearhouse
Rings: Kay Jewelers
Florist: Wedding Creations by Marcia
Caterer: Abraham Catering Service
Photography: Multi-Images Photography
Transportation: Ollie the Trolley
Rentals: Lauritzen Gardens
Honeymoon: California's Napa Valley
Favors: Baker's chocolate mints
Music: Bandstand Music
Invitation: TheAmericanWedding.com