Plude-Dowd

Matthew Plude and Laura Dowd were married on July 19, 2008, at St. Monica Catholic Church on Mercer Island. Father Scott Connolly officiated the ceremony.

The reception was held at the Mercer Island Community Center, and the couple honeymooned in Kauai, Hawaii.

The bride is the daughter of Stephen and Deborah Dowd, of Mercer Island. She graduated from Mercer Island High School in 2002 and from Western Washington University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education, cum laude. She is now employed teaching all-day kindergarten at Cascade Ridge Elementary in Sammamish.

The groom, formerly of Woodinville, Wash., is the son of Leo and Cynthia Plude. He graduated from Woodinville High School in 2002 and from WWU with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. He is now employed at Safeco Insurance in Seattle.

The maid of honor was Briana Holtzman, and the bridesmaids were Analeise and Caitlin Dowd, cousins of the bride. All three bridesmaids graduated from Mercer Island High School.

The best man was Zachary Plude, the groom’s brother; and the groomsmen were Andrew Budworth and Aaron Kurashige. The flower girls were Sarah and Emily Minnich, cousins of the groom.

The couple met at WWU during their first day on campus. They make their first home in Sammamish.