Katherine Lauren Varney of Bloomington, Ill., daughter of Jeff and Brenda Varney of Bloomington, exchanged wedding vows with Simon August Merila of Astoria Saturday, June 29, 2013, in Peoria, Ill. The groom is the son of Anne Merila, also of Astoria.

The ceremony was performed by Shelley Willem. The bride was given in marriage by her parents.