Diercks, Renshaw exchange vows in New Year’s Eve ceremony in Council Bluffs

Brittany Diercks of Waukon and Matt Renshaw of Council Bluffs were joined in marriage December 31, 2014 in the auditorium at Wilson Middle School, where the couple met.
The bride is the daughter of Dan and Susie Diercks of Waukon. She is a graduate of Waukon Senior High School and the University of Northern Iowa and is now in her third year of teaching seventh grade math and coaching girls track at Wilson Middle School in Council Bluffs. She is also a swimming pool manager during the summer.
The groom is the son of Chuck and Laurie Renshaw of Council Bluffs. He is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs and Midland University in Nebraska and currently teaches high school business and coaches baseball at Thomas Jefferson High School in Council Bluffs.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a strapless full-length gown with a tiered train, and a fur shoulder shawl with a silk bow was worn outdoors. She carried a bouquet of white silk poinsettias, which she made herself.
The Maid of Honor was Maria Moeckly, friend of the bride. Her personal attendants were Morgan Green, friend of the couple, and Sara Renshaw, sister-in-law of the groom. Bridesmaids were Elissa Hanna, friend of the bride, and Danielle Renshaw and Alicia Cotten, sisters of the groom. Flower girls were Charley Cotten, niece of the groom, and twins Pemberly and Paisley Hanna, little friends of the bride.
The bride’s attendants wore full-length gowns in deep plum and carried bouquets featuring white poinsettias, designed by the bride and her Maid of Honor. The flower girls wore white dresses made by the twins’ grandmother, which featured plum feathers surrounding the full skirts. The bride’s puppy, Dez, “helped” when he “discovered” one of the plum boas that was going to be used to make the skirt and distributed the feathers all over her living room. Thus, the flower girls sprinkled plum feathers in the aisle instead of flower petals.
The Best Man was Justin Williams, friend of the groom. Groomsmen were Trevor Diercks, brother of the bride, and Cory Green and Luke Hiatt, friends of the groom. Ushers were Shawn, Tyler and Ben Renshaw, brothers of the groom, and Jake Cotten, brother-in-law of the groom.
Samantha Allgood, friend of the bride since pre-school, played piano prior to the service. The bride’s brother, Trevor Diercks, and friend of the bride, Eli Allgood, led the congregation in singing Chris Tomlin’s “Joy to the World - Unspeakable Joy.”
The bride’s cousins, Jalen Kalke and Gabi Johnson, handed out programs and jingle bells for the bride and groom’s send-off after the wedding. Henry Kalke, grandfather of the bride, entertained guests on the keyboard prior to the reception.
The officiant, Pastor Bob Dodge, also married the bride’s parents almost 30 years ago. He used the bride’s late grandfather Delmar’s Bible during the ceremony.
The auditorium was transformed into a “winter wonderland” by family and friends. Five large Christmas trees were adorned with wide strips of white tulle, and myriad miniature lights twinkled behind draped tulle in front and down the aisle. Three lampposts, made by the bride’s father, also accented the scene and announced the wedding outside the school. The bride’s father also made a double-spiral staircase cupcake stand for the reception, and a huge letter “R” which all the guests signed in silver marker.
The reception, hosted by friends of the bride, Don and Lisa Pannhoff, was held following the ceremony at the Millard Plaza Ballroom in Omaha, NE. Guest book attendants were Kaitlen and Christina Sawyer, cousins of the bride.
College friends of the bride treated guests to a “Hot Cocoa Bar” upon arrival at the reception, where they had a large choice of flavors and toppings.
The couple took a honeymoon cruise to Jamaica and now make their home in Council Bluffs.