Nguyen - Balsamo

Thao Thu Nguyen and Luke Hodgson Balsamo were united in marriage May 28, 2011, at Eastern Shore Chapel Episcopal Church in Virginia Beach, Va. The Rev. Julia Ashby performed the ceremony. Organist was Molly Trask of Virginia Beach. Readers were Kathryn Puttroff and Joanne Staha.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nguyen Huu Duc of Chesapeake, Va. The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Salvatore Charles Balsamo of Cape Girardeau.

Matrons of honor were Cara Mathews and Kerry Desai. Bridesmaids were Kristina Mosqueda and Kiara Ramos, nieces of the bride.

Tony Balsamo was his brother's best man. Groomsmen were David Whiddon and Samuel Constantino. Ushers were Jonathen Mykham and Jovi Nguyen, nephews of the bride.

Flower girls were Montana Showalter and Alexandra Otten, nieces of the bride.

The reception was held at Princess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.

The groom's parents hosted the rehearsal dinner May 27 at Dockside Inn.

Mrs. Balsamo received a bachelor of science degree in accounting and finance from the University of Richmond in Richmond, Va. She is a partnership VP with USPI, an ambulatory surgery center management company.

Balsamo received a bachelor of science degree at the University of Rochester, and his medical degree from the university's School of Medicine and Dentistry. He completed his residency in orthopaedics at Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, and fellowship in orthopaedic oncology at the University of Miami. He is a commander in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Naval Medical Center.

Their wedding trip included visiting Kiawa Island, S.C., and a 150-mile bike ride for Multiple Sclerosis on the eastern shore of Virginia with family and friends.

The couple resides in Norfolk, Va.