Celebrations

Kristen Elizabeth Monk and Brian Edward Rabuka were married on May 24, 2008. at 6 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Anniston. The Very Rev. Eddie J. Ard of Atlanta, officiated the ceremony. A reception followed at The Anniston Country Club.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Andrew Monk of Anniston. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mickey M. Rabuka of Calhoun, Ga.

The bride was given in marriage by her father. The bride wore an antique ivory strapless gown, which featured a strapless sweetheart neckline and scalloped hemline with a fitted bodice. The dress also featured ivory English lace and netting over gold silk with beading and pearls. The ivory cathedral-length veil featured gold mystic trim with a raw edge blusher. The bouquet was a combination of white miniature calla lilies, white roses and hydrangeas wrapped in ivory lace ribbon.

Mrs. Amanda Sullivan Monk of Roswell, Ga., and Mrs. Michelle Morgan Monk, sisters-in-law of the bride served as matrons of honor. Bridesmaids were Miss Taylor Ann Ratliff of Oneonta, friend of the bride, Miss Lindsey Laufersweiler of Marietta, Ga., friend of the bride, Miss Rachel VanCleave of Nashville, Tenn., friend of the bride, Miss Mary Foster McRight of Guntersville, cousin of the bride and Miss Carolyn Ann McRight of Guntersville, cousin of the bride. The flower girl was Miss Caroline Susanne Hearn of Kingsview, Texas, cousin of the groom.

Mr. Michael Joseph Rabuka of Chattanooga, Tenn., brother of the groom, served as best man.

Groomsmen were Mr. Joseph Edward Hearn IV of Kingsview, Texas, cousin of the groom, Mr. Benjamin George Monk of Southside, brother of the bride, Mr. Andrew Thomas Monk, of Roswell, Ga., brother of the bride, Mr. William Frederick Naus IV of Calhoun, Ga., friend of the groom, Mr. Sean Terrence Mager of Stuart, Fla., friend of the groom and Mr. Jonathan Martin Harris of Lakeview, friend of the groom. The ring bearer was John Patrick Emerson of Kingsview, Texas, cousin of the groom.

Miss Sarah Kate Holcombe, cousin of the bride, served as Acolyte. Lay Eucharist ministers were LTC. (Ret.) Jane T. Wood and Mr. Ron Burson. Mrs. Samantha Rabuka was the book attendant. The instrumentalists were Katherine Newman, harpist, Evelyn Loehrlein, flutist, and Jacob Frank, violinist, all of Huntsville.

The bride is a graduate of The Donoho School and graduated in May 2008 magna cum laude from The University of Alabama School of Communications and Information Sciences. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority.

The groom graduated from Georgia Cumberland Academy and The University of Alabama in August 2007 with a degree in International Relations. He currently serves as a lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corp.

After a honeymoon trip to St. Thomas, the couple resides in Jacksonville, N.C.