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Jake Johnson and Melissa Steadman were married in a ceremony at Krug Park Saturday. They both graduated from Missouri Western State University on Saturday and invited friends and family to a graduation party, then surprised the guests with a wedding.

The guests came for a graduation party.

Family and friends of Melissa Steadman and Jake Johnson gathered at Krug Park Saturday evening to celebrate their graduation from Missouri Western State University earlier that day.

They got a surprise.

“At 6 o’clock, we said ‘We’re going to get married!’” Melissa explained.

The impromptu wedding suited the couple perfectly.

“We like things really simple, but we love getting family together,” Melissa said.

The couple originally planned a courthouse wedding, but a judge was not available. They got in touch with Criss Eighmy, St. Joseph’s wedding minister, and were delighted to discover he was available on Saturday. With the minister’s inspiration, the idea of a wedding started to take shape.

Having heard about all the money some people spend on weddings, Melissa and Jake knew they didn’t want a big spread. They were surprised how affordable their dream day turned out to be.

“I didn’t think I could have a wedding, I thought it had to be expensive,” she said. “But all you need is family and someone to make it legal.”

She bought a simple dress. Jake’s mom, disappointed the couple couldn’t get married as planned, was finally clued in on the surprise and supplied a wedding cake. When Mr. Eighmy emerged in his robe and turned around the flower-laced arbor, Jake told everyone to follow him to the ceremony. Melissa turned to her friend and asked him to escort her down the aisle.

“Everything was totally unrehearsed. Walking down the aisle was a trip,” she said.

Even with the surprise factor, the newlyweds said family and friends were supportive, and have been expecting them to get married for years. They met for the first time at a party in high school.

“She left before I could get her phone number or name or anything,” Jake said.

But he couldn’t forget her. Then, a few years later, Jake agreed to go on a blind double date.

“She walked out the door and totally knocked me out,” he said.

Even though Melissa moved around, they stayed in touch and she moved back to Missouri to be with him.

Now that they’re graduated and married, the Johnsons are packing up three cats and a turtle to move to Arizona, where Jake will pursue a graduate degree in chemistry.

Looking back at their wedding day, they wouldn’t change a thing.

“It was at my favorite place ever. I think Krug Park is gorgeous,” Melissa said. “It was perfect.”

Susan Mires can be reached

at susanm@npgco.com.