Melissa Gaunt and Randall Loerke were united in marriage on July 17 at the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Kansas City, Mo., in a double-ring ceremony officiated by Father Pat Sullivan. Parents of the bride are Terry and Glenda Gaunt of Great Bend. Parents of the groom are Steve and Teri Monical, currently living in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Robert and Susan Loerke of Wichita. Grandparents of the bride are Cletus and Rose Younger of Great Bend. Grandparents of the groom are Terry and Emily Keas of Fort Myers, Fla., and Dr. Richard and Nevin Loerke of Tulsa, Okla.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore a couture strapless dupioni silk gown with a sweetheart neckline and a lace-up closure. The rusched drop waist bodice blended perfectly into a full A-line ball gown with elegant pleating and a dramatic semi-cathedral train. She wore a floor-length veil. The bride carried an all green hand-tied bouquet of cymbidium orchids, spider and button mums, hydrangea and  hypericum berries with variegated ti leaves.
The matron of honor was Staci Malone, sister of the bride, from Overland Park. Bridesmaids were Sarah Nelson of Mission, Brooke Mingenback of Dallas, Texas, Christyn Zins  and Erica Martin, both of New York, N.Y., and Julie Heidrick of Manhattan. They wore strapless cocktail-length dresses in appletini green. They carried smaller hand-tied bouquets similar to the bride’s with purple dendrobium orchids and peach roses added in.
Best men were Rob Loerke of Wichita and Rick Loerke of Overland Park, brothers of the groom. Groomsmen were Matt Shaw of Wichita, Tony Zins of New York, N.Y., and James Fox and Rob McGinnis, both of Kansas City, Mo.
Ushers were Matt Long and Brandon Whitley, both of Wichita, and Max Monical of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Flower girl was Kylee Loerke, niece of the groom, of Wichita. Ring bearers were Carter and Chase Malone, nephews of the bride, of Overland Park.
Candle lighters were Rachel Moses of Kansas City, Mo., and Emily Pringle of Overland Park.
Soloist was Glenna Gaunt, aunt of the bride. Saxophonist/clarinetist was JoAnn Gaunt, cousin of the bride, both of Great Bend.
The bride is a 2000 graduate of Great Bend High School. She graduated from Kansas State University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish. In 2008 she graduated from the University of Kansas Medical School with a doctorate in Physical Therapy. She is employed as a pediatric physical therapist with the Olathe School District.
The groom is a 2000 graduate from Northwest High School in Wichita. He graduated from Kansas State University in 2004 with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Business. He is employed as a continuous improvement engineer with Unilever in Independence, Mo.
After a honeymoon trip to St. Lucia, the couple makes their home in Overland Park.