Texas Wedding Bells Have a Different Ring

Jenna Bush says "I do" by a Texas lake, far away from the White House.

ByABC News
May 10, 2008, 9:29 PM

CRAWFORD, Texas, May 10, 2008— -- Jenna Bush officially said "I do" at the Bush family ranch this evening.

The first daughter opted out of a White House wedding, exchanging it for a more personal night with some 200 close family and friends -- and absolutely no press.

Fourteen House Party attendants and 14 male ushers led the processional down the aisle and took their seats. Only the maid of honor Barbara Bush and best man John "Jack" Hager stood with the bride and groom and participated in the ceremony.

Jenna Bush and Henry Hager exchanged vows in front of a Texas limestone altar with an attached vertical limestone cross picked out personally by President Bush. The three-ton cross and altar are permanent and manmade from stone from a local quarry.

"My one contribution is to -- we put a giant cross made out of Texas limestone that will serve as the altar, but also serve as a landmark on our place for years to come," President Bush told ABC's Robin Roberts in an exclusive interview this week at the White House.

Pastor Kirby John Caldwell, a Bush family friend from Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, wed Jenna and Henry at the altar.

Like her newly wedded daughter, Laura Bush wore Oscar de la Renta. The first lady's dress was a deep turquoise and shorter than her daughter's embroidered, structured white wedding dress, according to the first lady's press secretary.

But forget the black ties at this wedding -- the men, including President Bush, wore suits and the 14 attendants wore organic, natural dresses matching the wildflowers and Southwestern landscape.

Texas native Lela Rose designed the attendants' dresses along with maid of honor Barbara's special dress.

Rose, who is also a close friend of the bride, told ABC News that Jenna Bush always wanted "something a little bit more natural and organic and not quite as shiny and bright new out of the box."

Although the president's dance moves probably won't be caught on tape on this occasion, the White House confirmed there will be dinner and dancing under tents at the ranch.