CASPER - Melissa M. Lathrop and Brian A. Leak were united in Holy Matrimony on July 26, 2008 at Highland Park Community Church with Chaplain Gary Kopsa of Sheridan as the celebrant.

The bride is the daughter of Peri and Gary Lathrop of Casper.

The groom is the son of Vicki and Arnold Leak of Valley, Ala.

Bridesmaids were dear friends Amy Larimer, Casper; Helen Livingston, Walnut Creek, Calif.; DeLinda Blakemore, Peoria, Ariz.; Theresa Lai, Hayward, Calif.; and Natalie Reed, McMinnville, Ore. Natalie's son, Kellen, served as ringbearer and the groom's niece, Beth Leak, Woodstock, Ga., was the flower girl.

The groom's attendants were his father, Arnold, and brother, Andrew Leak of Valley, Ala., and his brother, Brad Leak and nephew, Scott Leak of Woodstock, Ga.

Bryant Lathrop, the bride's brother, and her uncle, Pax Wilson, served as ushers.

Candlelighters were Jill Kaskinen, Eden Prairie, Minn., and Amy Christiansen, Winona, Minn. Soloists were Ann Seppelt, Hutchinson, Minn., and Theresa Lai, Hayward, Calif. Rebekah Goodman, Castle Rock, Colo., read scripture and Jena Steinle, Memphis, Tenn., attended the guestbook.

The bride and groom were also honored to have in attendance their special friend, Joy Turner, from Macau, China.

The groom's parents hosted a rehearsal dinner at the Casper Nordic Ski Lodge, and the wedding reception was held at the Casper Petroleum Club.

The bride graduated from Kelly Walsh High School. She received a BS in psychology from Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D., in 1997, and a master's degree in physical therapy in 2000 from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.

The groom graduated from Valley H.S., Valley, Ala., and attended Auburn University and received his B.S. in zoology in 1997. He attended Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, Tenn., and received his Doctor of Optometry degree in 2003. He then served four years as a captain in the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell, Ky., which included a one-year tour in Iraq with the 101st Airborne Division. He is currently a major in the Georgia National Guard.

The couple met while the bride was serving as a missionary with the Evangelical Free Church in Macau, China.

They traveled to Jackson Hole for their honeymoon. They are currently working in their respective professions and residing in Atlanta, Ga.