James and Joy Mize, northwest Houston residents, recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.

The couple eloped Feb. 5, 1949, which was also Joy's 17th birthday. Living in Richmond at the time, they had to delay their honeymoon for three months to raise the needed funds. They went to Rockport for their week-long honeymoon, which cost them the grand total of $35 for the entire week. They also caught quite a few fish during that time, as evidenced by the accompanying photo.

The Mizes have lived in Houston for all of their married life, and have raised three children. They also have three grandchildren and one great-grandson.

James is a World War II Navy veteran who served on the USS Anderson. He had his own furniture upholstering business for more than 40 years. Joy was a homemaker most of her married life and later worked for Weingarten's Variety Store.

Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth George are pleased to announce the engagement and upcoming marriage of their daughter, Emily, to Nenad Jokic, son of Milivoje Jokic and the late Nikolija Jokic.

A January 2012 wedding is being planned for the couple.

Melissa Marie Goodman and Matthew Lee Froehlich, both of Houston, were united in marriage during a Nov. 12 service held at Immanuel Lutheran Church.

The bride is the daughter of Diane Goodman of Essexville, Michigan, and Thomas Goodman, Jr., of Bay City, Michigan. The groom is the son of Mark and Jean Froehlich of Tomball.

The couple will reside in Houston.

Mr. and Mrs. Randy Stepchinski are proud to announce the engagement and approaching wedding of their daughter, Abby Virginia, to Derek Ray Dittert, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Dittert of Schulenburg.

The bride-to-be is a 2010 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in Maritime History and Archeology. She is employed as a writer with J. Connor Consulting, an offshore oil and gas consulting firm located in Katy.

The prospective groom is a 2005 graduate of Schulenburg High School and is employed as a technician with a LCRA power plant in La Grange. The couple's vintage-inspired wedding is planned for mid-November at St. Mary Catholic Church in High Hill, with a reception to be held at historic Sengelmann Hall in down Schulenburg immediately after the ceremony.

After a week-long honeymoon in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, the couple will reside in Schulenburg with Emmott, their coonhound.

Ms. Debbie Verastigue Hoelscher is pleased to announce the upcoming marriage of her daughter, Carolyn Verastigue, to Josh Ferguson, son of Charles and Cindi Ferguson.

The bride-to-be is a native Houstonian and 2010 graduate of Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Human Resource Management. She is employed by RL Staffing, Inc.

The prospective groom is from The Woodlands and graduated in 2009 from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Economics. He is employed by Southwestern Plating Co., a family-owned and family-operated business.

A mid-November wedding is planned at the Lyceum in Galveston with Father Clint Ressler of St. Lima Catholic Church officiating.

Following a honeymoon to the Mayan Riviera, the couple will reside in Houston.