Miss Wendy Victoria Pineda and Mr. James J Welch were united in marriage on October 18, 2008 at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in New Orleans, La. The Rev. David A Boileau officiated. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Pineda. The groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Welch of Laurel. A reception followed at the Chateau Golf and Country Club in Kenner, La.

The bride, whose mother is the former Miss Mirna Palavicini, was a graduate from Archbishop Chapelle High School and Louisiana State University, where she received a bachelor of science in marketing and a minor in advertising. She is employed as a Marketing Manager at the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld in Washington, D.C.

The groom, whose mother is the former Miss Betty Dickerson, was a graduate from East St. John High School and Southeastern Louisiana University, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing. He is employed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Washington, D.C.

Following a wedding trip to St. Lucia, the couple has resided in Falls Church, Va.