Sonja Noelle Decker of Portland, Ore., was united in marriage with Stephen Richard Elzinga of Salem, Ore., on March 19, 2016, in Hood River. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bruce R. Decker of Hood River. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Elzinga of Beaverton.
The bride wore a white asymmetrically-fitted and beaded silk taffeta gown over sunshine yellow patent leather ballet flats. Sasha Decker, of Kirkland, Wash., served her sister as maid-of-honor. Attendants included Liz Decker and Melynda Decker, sisters-in-law of the bride, Naomi Sullivan, sister of the groom, Sabrina Elzinga, sister-in-law of the groom, and Hannah Adams and Jessica Greenwell, friends of the bride. Carrying simple bouquets of hand-tied yellow daffodils, the bridal party wore floor-length dresses of emerald green with brightly colored shoes of various colors peeping out under the hems. Zoey Sullivan, niece of the groom, and Emilie Barber, young friend of the bride, served as flower girls.
The groom was attended by two best men, his brothers A. J. Elzinga of Ravensdale, Wash., and Mat Elzinga of Corvallis. Groomsmen included Hans Decker, Kristoff Decker, and Johannes Decker, brothers of the bride, and Andrew Sullivan, brother-in-law of the groom. Ring bearers were Joshua Sullivan, nephew of the groom, and Immanuel Decker, nephew of the bride.
The wedding ceremony was conducted in the Gorge by the groom’s father, Rick Elzinga, pastor of Southwest Hills Baptist Church in Beaverton, and the wedding homily was delivered by the bride’s brother, Chaplain First Lieutenant Hans Decker of Philadelphia, Pa.
Sonja, a voice and piano teacher, earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2011 from Oklahoma City University, and a M.A. in Counseling with a Child and Youth Counseling Specialization from Western Seminary in Portland in 2016. Steve earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va., in 2009, and a J.D. from University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law in 2012. A member of the Oregon State Bar, Steve works as the Legislative and Legal Director for the Oregon Senate Republican Office.
After a secret “Northwest-is-best” honeymoon, complete with cryptic clues texted to friends and family after leaving each locale, the newlyweds will reside in Salem, Ore.
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