The maid of honor was Kelley Gilbert of Kanehoe, Hawaii. Bridesmaids were Sara Besser of Dallas, Texas; Holly Cockrum of Oklahoma City, Okla.; Lori Hyman of Atlanta; Heather Niebes of Macon; Meredith Snider of Dallas, Texas, and Carolyn Wambold, also of Dallas.

The best man was Rylan Charlton of Colorado Springs, Colo. Groomsmen were Stephen Cox of Gainesville, Fla.; Jay Fredicksen of San Antonio, Texas; Douglas Gilbert of Fort Worth, Texas; Geoff Melymuk of Boston, Mass.; Matthew Niebes of Peachtree City; and Edward Szczepanik of Washington.

Organ music was provided by Mary Motley, harp music by Cheryl Slaughter, and violin music by Jeanne Blood.

Following the ceremony, the bride's parents hosted a reception at Glendalough Manor in Tyrone.

The groom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner Friday at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center in Peachtree City.

Other pre-nuptial events included a bridesmaids' luncheon hosted by Mrs. Rudy Yarbrough and Mrs. Steve Hanes of Peachtree City; a camping shower for the couple hosted in December by Mr. and Mrs. Steve Cox of Peachtree City; and a chili party on New Year's Day hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Bowler of Peachtree City and Toni Arenson of Kansas City, Kan.

The couple honeymooned on Jekyll Island and now reside in Ramstein, Germany.

Sowell-Boda

Miss Kari Cooper of Peachtree City announces the engagement of her daughter, Whitney Elaine Sowell, to Army 2nd Lt. Stephen David Boda, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Boda of Tyrone.

The bride-to-be is the daughter of Tom Sowell of Cheraw, S.C. She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Colon Cooper of Peachtree City. She is a 2001 graduate of Starr's Mill High School and will graduate in May from North Georgia College and State University with a B.S. degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. She is a member of Phi Mu Fraternity, where she served on the executive board, and a member of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society for psychology.

The groom-elect is the grandson of the late Steve and Louise Boda of Ohio. He is a 2000 graduate of Starr's Mill High School and a 2004 graduate of North Georgia College and State University where he received a B.A. in criminal justice. He is a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity where he served on the executive board as president. He was commissioned into the aviation branch of the U.S. Army in December, 2004.

The wedding will be Aug. 27, 2005, at the R-Ranch in Dahlonega, with a reception immediately following.