WEDDINGS: BAER-PRUITT

PERRYVILLE -- Melinda Jane Baer and Matthew Thomas Pruitt were married Sept. 18, 1999, at St. Maurus Catholic Church. The Rev. J. Friedel performed the double ring ceremony. Organist was Debbie Myers of Oak Ridge, and soloist was Leslie Church of Cape Girardeau.

Parents of the couple are Larry and Karen Baer of Perryville, and John and Ruth Pruitt of Dexter.

The bride was presented in marriage by her parents.

Angie O'Neill of Denver, Colo., was her sister's matron of honor. Bridesmaids were Jenny Young and Rachel Lang of St. Louis, cousins of the bride; Lisa Baer of Paducah, Ky., sister-in-law of the bride; and Karen Kenny of Manhattan Beach, Calif. Junior bridesmaid was Hillary Newsome, cousin of the bride.

Best man was David Pruitt of Cape Girardeau, brother of the groom. Groomsmen were Jimmy Cravens of Macon, Ga., Jerry Fisher of St. Louis, Ryan James of West Plains, and Matt Stone of Dexter. Junior groomsman was Andrew Baer, nephew of the bride. Ushers were Kevin Baer of Paducah, brother of the bride, and Todd Haribson of Park Hills.

Candlelighters were Christine Osborne and Michele Hoeft of St. Louis.

Flower girls were Lauren and Lexie Baer, nieces of the bride, and Meghan Dohogne, cousin of the bride. Ringbearer was Ben Dohogne, cousin of the bride.

Heather Waddle attended the guest book. Programs were handed out by Nicholas Young, cousin of the bride.

Following the ceremony, the bride's parents hosted a dinner and dance reception at Bavarian Halle in Jackson.

The groom's parents hosted the rehearsal dinner Sept. 17 at Port Cape in Cape Girardeau.

Mrs. Pruitt is a 1997 graduate of Southeast Missouri State University.

The groom is a 1998 graduate of Southeast.

After a wedding trip to Cancun, Mexico, the couple is residing in Cape Girardeau.