Miss Rachel Sarah Polinger-Hyman and Mr. Thomas Wayne Rogers were united in marriage on Saturday, January 28, 2006, at six-thirty in the evening, in Galveston, Texas. The couple married in the Terrace-Veranda Ballroom of the Hotel Galvez overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The ceremony began with a private signing of the Ketubah, or Jewish wedding contract. The Ketubah was hand-picked by the bride and groom, and was specially designed by Israeli artist Archie Granot. The Ketubah signing was followed by a double ring ceremony, officiated by Rabbi Steve Gross of the Houston Congregation of Reform Judaism, Houston, Texas.

The bride and groom were married under a one-of-a-kind Swarovski crystal chandelier chuppah that was adorned on all four corners by lush Irises in honor of the bride’s mother, Iris. The bride was given in marriage by her parents. Escorted by her mother and father, the bride wore an elegant couture dress designed by Reem Acra. The dress was a creation of white satin, with Swarovski crystals and pearls embroidered throughout the corseted, strapless bodice. The jeweled design continued along the back and hem of the dress. The sweeping train on the back of the dress was made entirely of French lace and had a champagne-colored silk underlay, which was also adorned in Swarovski crystals. The bride also wore a matching tiara and full-length Swarovski crystal and pearl embroidered veil. The bride carried a bouquet of white calla lillies similarly adorned with crystals and pearls.

Upon arrival at the chuppah, the ceremony began with the bride circling the groom three times. After the circling, Rabbi Gross had the bride and groom face each other under the chuppah as he joined them in holy matrimony.

Months prior to the ceremony, Rabbi Gross had given the couple a list of questions to answer, in private, with love and honesty. He then interwove the couple’s responses to these questions throughout the ceremony, making it deeply meaningful.† The ceremony ended with the groom “breaking the glass,” which ushered in the outbreak of celebration that immediately followed.

Following the ceremony, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres were served in a glass-covered veranda while guests enjoyed the music of harpist Jacqueline Platt.† After the cocktail hour, guests made their way back to the Terrace-Veranda Ballroom, which had been transformed to reflect the theme of the wedding: fairytales do come true. During the reception, guests were surrounded by Irises, lavender roses, bomb orchids, liatris and larkspur, all of which were overflowing from silver candelabras lining the ballroom and adorning the tables and chairs. Guests also delighted in the live jazz and Frank Sinatra sounds of The Blue Monks.

During the reception, everyone enjoyed a five course seated dinner. For dessert, the guests indulged in two cakes. First, there was the bride’s cake, a six-tiered Buttercreme cake adorned with pearls, Irises and the couple’s monogram. Then, there was the groom’s cake, also referred to by many of the guests as pure chocolate decadence. The groom’s cake was a one-of-a-kind design in the shape of two law books, stacked one on top of the other, with the book bindings labeled “litigation” and “real estate” in honor of how the couple first met--through law.

As the clock turned towards midnight, the couple’s carriage awaited. A white vintage Rolls Royce greeted the couple as they left the Hotel Galvez to begin their adventure together as husband and wife.

Joining in the festivities of the evening, and helping Thomas and Rachel celebrate their momentous occasion, was the bridal party. Rachel’s bridesmaids wore formal designer dresses in a rich amethyst hue. The bride’s matron of honor was Dr. Raimonda Goldman, New York, New York; the maid of honor was Ms. Shruti Shah, New York, New York; and the bridesmaid was Ms. Emily Kuo, Houston, Texas. Thomas’ groomsmen wore formal tuxedos. The groom’s best man was Mr. Christopher Trahan, Sunnyvale, California. His groomsmen were his brother, Mr. Brian Rogers, Dallas, Texas and the bride’s brother, Dr. David Polinger-Hyman, Richmond, Virginia. The ring bearer was Mr. Ishan Shah, Sugar Land, Texas.

In addition to the bridal party, Rachel and Thomas want to thank all of their family and friends who traveled from near and far to celebrate with them on their wedding day and helped make it such an amazing and unforgettable occasion.

Rachel is the daughter of Drs. Harvey Hyman and Iris Polinger, Sugar Land, Texas. She is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Hyman and Mr. and Mrs. Julius Polinger, New York, New York. Her brother, Dr. David Polinger-Hyman, lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Lea and their daughter Marceya. Thomas is the son of Ms. Deborah Thurman, Rockwall, Texas and Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Rogers, McAllen, Texas. Thomas is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Kenny, Dallas, Texas and the late Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Rogers, Seminole, Texas. Thomas’ brother, Brian Rogers, lives in Dallas, Texas with his wife Claudia and their son, Anthony.

Rachel is a 1995 graduate of Clements High School in Sugar Land, Texas.† She graduated from Columbia University, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing in 1999.† She spent her junior year of college studying British Literature abroad at Cambridge University, Cambridge, England.† Rachel graduated from the University of Houston Law Center, cum laude, in 2002 and currently practices general commercial litigation at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLC.

Thomas is a 1997 graduate of the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Spanish. He graduated from the University of Houston Law Center, cum laude, in 2002. While in law school, Thomas, a fluent Spanish speaker, also participated in the Maestria en Derecho Comercial Internacional graduate studies program at the Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico. Currently, Thomas practices with the Energy/Real Property section of Fulbright & Jaworski, LLC.