COLUMBIA -- Kristina June Dorward and James Stanley Essner were united in marriage during a Sept. 15, 2007, ceremony at Broadway Christian Church in Columbia. The Rev. Rick Frost performed the double-ring ceremony.
Parents of the couple are Don and Darla Dorward of Columbia and Stanley and Shirley Essner of Benton.
Matron of honor was Mary Ratter of Columbia, friend of the bride. Bridesmaids were Maggie Stephenson and Kelly Stevener of Columbia; Leah Holman and Kristin Patterson of New York, N.Y.; and Sara Hussman of Cape Girardeau, sister of the bridegroom.
The bridegroom chose his cousin, Matthew Essner, of Columbia as best man. Groomsmen were Bandit Thorne of Scott City; Jason Glastetter of New Hamburg; Tom Venneman and Adam Obermiller of Columbia; and Justin Essner of Orlando, Fla., cousin of the bridegroom.
Flower girls were Madison Enderle, daughter of Tanya Schneider and niece of the bridegroom; Katelyn Dannenmueller, daughter of Ryan and Pamela Dannenmueller and niece of the bridegroom; and Samantha Wren of Columbia, cousin of the bride. Ringbearer was Noah Wren, cousin of the bride.
Serving as candlelight-readers were the bridegroom's sisters, Tanya Schneider of Cape Girardeau and Pamela Dannenmueller of Scott City.
A reception was held at Stephens Kimball Ballroom in Columbia.
The bridegroom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at Hot Chicks BBQ in Columbia.
The new Mrs. Essner is a 2002 graduate of Rock Bridge High School and received a degree in psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2006. She is pursuing a master's degree in business administration from Columbia College and is employed at University Hospital in the psychiatry department.
A 2000 graduate of Kelly High School, Essner received a degree in plant science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005. He works for Orkin in Columbia.
After a wedding trip to Dominican Republic, the couple reside in Columbia.