Lisa Christine Penka and Colby Max Shepherd were united in marriage on April 12, at the First United Methodist Church in Great Bend in a double ring ceremony officiated by Pastor Julie Shields. Parents of the bride are Kenneth and Rhonda Penka of Great Bend. Parents of the groom are Carla Shepherd of Wichita and the late Mark Shepherd. Grandparents of the bride are Darrell and Colleen Rexwinkle and Evelyn Penka, all of Great Bend and the late Edward Penka. Grandparents of the groom are Gene and Carol Schrock of Partridge and Donald and Odema Shepherd of Pharr, Texas.
Given in marriage by her father, the bride wore an embellished ivory lace Maggie Sottero mermaid style gown with sweetheart neckline and corset back closure. She wore a two-tiered crystal and beaded fingertip length veil and carried a hand tied bouquet of ivory and coral roses, coral hibiscus and greenery.
Matron of honer was Denise Dietz of Eudora and Gina Calhoon of Overland Park, both sisters of the bride. Bridesmaids were Kelsie Ruble and Jennifer Moussavi, both of Wichita and Erica Mason of Neodesha.
Best men were Austin Shepherd, brother of the groom, of Temple, Texas and Blake Esfeld of Stapleton, Colo. Groomsmen was B.J. Ott of Wichita, Brandon Smith of Kansas City, Mo. and Josh Newman of Lenexa.
Ushers were Kirk Calhoon, brother-in-law of the bride, of Overland Park, Beau Wysong of Merriam and Ryan McClanahan of Prarie Village.
Flower girls were Malia Dietz, niece of the bride, of Eudora and Ava Shepherd, niece of the groom, of Temple, Texas. Ring bearers were Brayden Penka of Lenexa and Ethan Dietz of Eudora, both nephews of the bride.
The bride is a 2004 graduate of Great Bend High School. In 2008, she graduated from Wichita State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene. She is employed as a registered dental hygienist at Piney Creek Family Dentistry in Centennial, Colo.
The groom is a 2002 graduate of Maize High School. In 2008, he graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Science and Management. He is employed by Turner Construction in Denver, Colo.
After a honeymoon trip to Antigua and Barbuda, the couple resides in Parker, Colo.