Gina Valenti and John Bernal, both of Sandy, Utah, were united in marriage on Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 3:00 o’clock in the Banner Elk Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk, North Carolina. The church is a beautiful stone church dating 119 years. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Valenti of Washington, North Carolina. She is the granddaughter of Carmella Valenti of San Francisco, California. Gina is also the granddaughter of the late Louis Valenti of Dale City, Virginia, Howard and Margaret Padgett of Richmond, Virginia.
The groom is the son of Mrs. Marlys Bernal and the late Tom Bernal of Herndon, Virginia.
Escorted by her father, the bride wore a floor length, strapless white lace gown with a golden yellow sash and a chapel length train. The veil was a fingertip length Mantilla veil. The bride wore her great-grandmother’s chandelier necklace. The bride’s flowers were white hydrangeas and yellow roses.
Amy Gardin of Winston-Salem, North Carolina served as maid of honor. Bridesmaids were Heather Potter of  Mountain City, North Carolina and Melissa Bernal of Stephens City, Virginia. The attendants wore clover green tea length convertible dresses. The attendants’ flowers were red, orange and yellow roses.
Mr. Aaron Linville of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. and Tony Bernal of Stephens City, Virginia served as the best men. Josh Kline of Concord, North Carolina was the groomsman. Brett Collins of Jonesville, Virginia, Tommy Bernal of Williamsburg, Virginia and Drew Streip of Chattanooga, Tennessee were ushers. The male attendants wore black suits with golden yellow ties. The groom wore a black suit with a clover green tie. The groom and the male attendants wore a yellow rose boutonniere.
The mistress of ceremony was Loretta Bailey of Washington, North Carolina.
Following the ceremony, the bride’s parents hosted a reception at the Mountain Glen Golf Club in Newland, North Carolina. Tables were decorated with red, orange and yellow colored roses. J. Trev served as D.J. playing a variety of music. Chocolate and vanilla cupcakes stood in a pyramid figure with the top being a single layer white cake adorned with two rabbit figurines dressed like the bride and groom.
An after-rehearsal dinner was hosted by the groom’s mother at Bella’s restaurant in Banner Elk. The couple were honored with a wedding shower hosted by the bride’s parents at First Baptist Church in Washington, North Carolina on September 22.
The bride is a 2010 graduate of Lees-McRae College with a bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training. Gina also received her master’s in Sports Medicine in 2011 at East Tennessee State University. She is pursuing a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy at Utah State University. The groom is a 2010 graduate of Lees-McRae College with a BA in Criminal Justice.  The couple will be having a honeymoon in Hawaii in December and will reside in Sandy, Utah.