Lieutenant Scott Mattingly, the son of Lynn and Kay Mattingly of Dexter, and Kristen Brooke Parris, daughter of Eric and Sandra Basham of Dexter and Mike and Sheri Parris of Perryville, were united in marriage at 6 p.m. on Dec. 23, 2005, in a candlelight ceremony at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Dexter.

The ceremony was performed by Rev. Vaughn Wright.

Kellie Reese was the organist. Musical selections included "I Will Be There" by Alana McRoy, cousin of the bride and "Me and You" performed by Eric Basham, step-father of the bride.

The altar was decorated with candles, garland, wreaths, and poinsettias.

The bride was escorted by her father, Mike Parris.

The bride wore a side-wrap, A-line strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and made from a white matte duchess bridal satin. The dress was embellished with Swarovski crystals along the bodice and train. The bridal bouquet featured white lilies and white roses.

The bridal attendants were Julie Jarrell, maid of honor and friend of the bride from Cape Girardeau; Michaela Parris, junior maid of honor, sister of bride from Perryville; Casey Hyten, bridesmaid, friend of the bride from Dexter; Kelly Hixson, sister of the bridegroom, bridesmaid from West Frankfort, Ill.; Kate Knight, friend of the bride, a bridesmaid from St. Louis. The bridal attendants wore deep red satin floor length dresses with a fish tail and featured an off-the-shoulder neckline. They carried red and white roses with red holly berries. The flower girl was Kaity Hixson, niece of the bridegroom.

The bridegroom's attendants were as follows: Johnny Vines, best man and friend of the bridegroom, Kirksville; groomsmen, Shawn Guethle, friend of the bridegroom from Mission, Kan., Chad Tapp, friend of the bridegroom from Muncie, Ind.; Ensign John Hixson, U.S.N.R., brother-in-law of the bridegroom from West Frankfort, Ill.; and Josh Evans, friend of the bridegroom from Cape Girardeau. The groomsmen wore military dress uniforms and black tuxedoes. The ringbearer was Noah Parris, brother of the bride, and the bell ringer was Jacob Hixson, nephew of the bridegroom.

Ushers were Brett Hale of Cape Girardeau; Ryan Greer of Dexter; and Second Class Petty Officer Christopher Hood, U.S.N., of Kings Bay, Ga., all friends of the bride and bridegroom,

The mother of the bride wore a floor-length navy dress with beaded bodice and chiffon skirt. She carried a long-stemmed white rose.

The mother of the bridegroom wore a two-piece sea foam green floor-length dress and also carried a long-stemmed white rose.

The guest book attendants were Bethany Waggoner, cousin of the bride, and Carla McIver, friend of the bride.

The acolytes were Lauren Ward and Lindsey Hindman.

The bride is a 2000 graduate of Dexter High School. She graduated from SEMO with a bachelor of science degree in communication disorders and will graduate in May from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga., with a master of education in communicative sciences and disorders.

The bridegroom is a 2000 graduate of Dexter High School. He graduated from Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga., with a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice with a minor in military science. He is currently a lieutenant in the U.S. Army as a Chinook pilot.

As the couple departed the church, they walked through a sabre arch formed by the bridegroom's fellow military officers: Lieutenant Nathan Longsworth, U.S.A., Fort Rucker, Ala.; Lieutenant Benjamin Gering, U.S.A., Seattle, Wash.; Captain Jerod Burns, U.S.A., Fort Rucker, Ala.; Captain Christian Lee, U.S.A., Fort Rucker, Ala.; Ensign John Hixson, U.S.N.R., West Frankfort, Ill.; and Second Class Petty Officer Christopher Hood, U.S.N., Kings Bay, Ga.

Keith Parris, uncle of the bride of Gregory's Creations, was in charge of the flowers.

A reception followed the ceremony at the Elks Lodge with live music and sound system provided by Flashback.

The wedding cake was square and three-tiered with red holly berries. The bridegroom's cake was a yellow cake with chocolate frosting featuring a Chinook on top.

Carla McIver, Bethany Waggoner and Alana McRoy were the reception attendants.

The wedding photographers were Stephanie Kinder of Bloomfield and Tammy Lee of Enterprise, Ala.

A wedding trip to Reno and Lake Tahoe, Nev., was enjoyed by the couple.

The couple is making their home in Enterprise, Ala.