Real Wedding in Wyoming- Cassie & Peter

Wisconsin; Suzanne & Brian

Suzanne and Brian chose a location from their romantic past to celebrate their Wisconsin wedding.
The couple repeated the judge's traditional vows as well as vows wrote for each other. One friend did a reading of Kahlil Gibran, and two others sang the duet "The Next Ten Minutes" from the musical The Last Five Years.
Suzanne wore an ivory fitted dropped-waist A-line gown from Amsale, and added a unique twist by attaching her cathedral-length veil under her bun. She chose a color and fabric, then let each of her seven bridesmaids pick a style from After Six/Dessy that would fit her unique body and personality.
"Brian and I worked hard practicing for our first dance -- a fox-trot to 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' by Louis Armstrong," says Suzanne. The evening closed with "New York, New York" and everyone on the dance floor, arms linked in a Rockettes-style kick-line.
The romantic mood for the ballroom reception was set by seven votive candles and colorful floral centerpieces on each table.
The cake was half white, half chocolate with a mocha buttercream filling with fresh strawberries, all covered in a white chocolate ganache. Salivating yet? Guests were also treated to chocolate-dipped strawberries. The look was simple: four square tiers with no decoration other than colorful flowers in between each layer.

Everything about the wedding of Suzanne Gasiorkiewicz and Brian Selmo was close to their hometown hearts, from readings and performances by friends to the sweet favors that gave guests a taste of Wisconsin.

The Bride: Suzanne Gasiorkiewicz, 24, actress

The Groom: Brian Selmo, 27, securities analyst

The Date: September 5

After dinner at Los Angeles' swanky Hotel Bel-Air, Suzanne returned home to find her entire apartment covered in roses and candles. Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" played as Brian ushered her inside, got down on one knee and asked that all-important question.
-- Alonna Friedman

Photos By: Lindsey Van Roy, Appleton

Event Planning: Carilyn Carriveau, Meeting and Events Coordinator at Heidel House

Location: Heidel House Resort (http://www.heidelhouseresort.com/)

Newlywed Kissing Traditions

Do away with the annoying clanking, clinking, and annoying glasses for a kiss! Why not make your guests serenade you either with kareoke or stand up at their table and sing... THEN they deserve to see you kiss!!!

West Virginia; Tanya & Jim

Handmade details and Renaissance style made Tanya and James' West Virginia wedding an outdoor affair to remember.
The season, the setting, and the lure of the Renaissance inspired Tanya and Jim's outdoor October harvest wedding. The traditional ceremony took place on hill behind an old church, overlooking the bride's grandparents' fields scattered with hay bales. Jim (on Tanya's insistence, he says) collected long, wild grapevines to construct the wedding arch. "It was hazardous work," the groom says. "I ended up with a six-inch scratch across the side of my face a few days before the wedding." The couple arranged 100 wooden chairs in front of the dramatic handcrafted altar and marked the grassy aisle with burgundy- and cream-color chrysanthemums.
Tanya and Jim incorporated Renaissance touches into their romantic mountain affair mainly because Tanya thought the dress styles would go well with the fall surroundings. "And what girl doesn't want to be a princess?" Jim adds. Tanya really looked the part in a long, ivory handmade gown with embroidered antique gold trim. (Tanya's aunt, who made her gown, used the extra fabric to make Jim's stylish ivory ascot.)
Tanya carried an autumnal bouquet of long-stemmed ivory gerbera daisies, fern fronds, baby's breath, and hypericum berries.
Seasonal flowers ornamented Tanya's carefully braided updo. The bridesmaids' 18th-century-esque velvet frocks and groomsman bowties picked up the autumn-inspired color of the day: burgundy.
After the ceremony, the festivities continued nearby under a large wooded picnic shelter that the bride and her friends decorated with heaps of wild grapevines (echoing the ceremony arch), paper lanterns, and tiny white lights. Burgundy linens and homemade candles adorned the tables, which, by the time guests arrived, were covered with various cheeses and breads. Tanya and Jim planned their menu with Renaissance flair too -- a slow-roasted deer and pig were highlights. As they dined, revelers sipped wine, cider, and beer, and kept warm during the cool October night by standing close to the fire.
Jim's mother had an especially important role in her son's wedding. In addition to her mother-of-the-groom responsibilities, she also took charge of the music, playing the bass with her country band during the reception. She and her fellow music makers (including Jim's uncle who strummed a couple of tunes on the guitar) entertained the cozy crowd with such songs as the "Tennessee Waltz," the couple's first dance, and the rather appropriate "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young. As the evening wound down, and the band played what Jim describes as "some drunken Irish jig," the couple set forth on their honeymoon -- a camping trip throughout the West Virginia countryside -- close to their home sweet home.
Flower Girl
Culinary student Joel Shinn, the bride's cousin, made the four-tier white cake decorated with white chocolate grape leaves and sugar-coated grapes.

From the fashions to the food, Tanya's and Jim's families helped fill their period-inspired outdoor wedding with creative, country charm.

The Bride: Tanya Nicole Tackett, 27, student
The Groom: James (Jim) Edward Bowers, 34, chemical engineer
The Date: October 20

When Jim first met Tanya at a local West Virginia watering hole, she was celebrating her 21st birthday, and he was pretty sure the party girl didn't feel any sparks. A few weeks later though, the chemical engineer planned to meet up with some pals in Columbus, Ohio, and to his surprise, Tanya tagged along for the trip. Turns out she was interested after all. Three years later, courtship became commitment when Tanya said yes to Jim's proposal at a candlelit dinner in Detroit.
-- Kathleen Murray

Photos By: Forester Photography, Madison

Location: A family farm in Cottageville

Washington; Ashley & Tim

Ashley found her silk Demetrios gown at Pearls & Lace, a Seattle boutique recommended by her sister-in-law Jessica. Ashley’s father insisted on a handmade cathedral veil by Andrea Hoyt of August Veils, which Ashley realized was the perfect finishing touch as soon as she put it on. Tim, who wore a classic suit by Calvin Klein, drew upon years of experience working at a children’s summer camp to construct a whimsical swing that the couple posed on before the wedding.
Ashley’s parents went all out preparing for the ceremony by decorating the lampposts flanking the entrance to their home with hanging baskets of royal velvet and white petunias.
Lavender organza embellished with orange Asiatic lilies that hung from every other chair framed the aisle runner of rose petals. During the ceremony, the couple read personalized vows, recited in the form of love letters.
The couple wanted their family and friends to feel honored on their special day. Ashley's Aunt Lori and family friend Patricia lit hurricane candles, which had been especially chosen for the outdoor ceremony. An abundant spray of orange dahlias, Asiatic lilies, purple delphinium, iris, eggplant carnations and dendrobian orchids decorated the candelabra.
Ashley didn't want to worry about walking in high heels on her parents’ lawn. These silver Guess by Marciano flats fit the relaxed mood of the celebration; the crystal embellishments on the vamp of the shoes caught the sunlight as Ashley said her vows.
The program’s floral design and burnt-orange color echoed the celebration’s natural theme. Ashley’s brother Chris and her bridesmaid Shannon designed the program and invitations, and Tim and Ashley printed the materials themselves at Kinko’s.
The bride carried a vibrant bouquet of eggplant sweet peas, orange mambo spray roses, sakura dendrobian orchids and blush mini calla lilies accented with dainty deer fern.
The bridesmaids wore aubergine satin Dessy Collection dresses with black lace overlays and satin wraps and carried round hand-tied bouquets of orange Asiatic lilies, eggplant sweet peas, Milva roses and blue angel dendrobian orchids.
The groom’s boutonniere of blue angel orchids, orange celosia and deer fern matched the bride’s purple bouquet.

As they headed to their cars at the end of the celebration, guests received CDs of the couple’s favorite songs, with recorded introductions explaining each melody’s significance. Ashley’s brother Chris took the cover photograph of the couple relaxing at the bride’s family home.
After the ceremony, the guests retreated to a large white tent to dine on a buffet of Oregon bay shrimp and pasta salad, herb grilled chicken breasts and locally grown fruits and vegetables.
The groom expressed his playful side by insisting on a whimsical dessert: a collection of cakes that resembled a bride and groom scaling a mountain of presents. Ranging in flavors from chocolate fudge to Danish apple spice, the small cakes were individually frosted with butter cream and wrapped in flavored fondant to resemble brightly colored gift boxes.
An espresso bar serving lattes, hot chocolate, tea and Italian sodas received rave reviews from the guests, who sipped on the drinks during the reception.
The couple decorated the reception tables with stems of yellow mokara orchids floating in simple cylinder vases. Spicy roses adorned each place setting, offering a powerful complement to the deep purple tablecloths. For favors, guests received chocolate truffles from See’s Candies.

Vendors:

WEDDING DRESS
Demetrios, Pearls & Lace, pearlandlace.com

HEADPIECE AND VEIL
Andrea Hoyt, August Veils, augustveils.com

BRIDESMAID DRESSES
Dessy Collection, dessy.com

SHOES
Guess by Marciano, guess.com

GROOM'S SUIT
Calvin Klein, Mr. Formal, mrformaltuxedos.com

FLOWERS
A Floral Affair, floralaffair.net

MUSIC
Jake Bergevin and the Javatown Swing Orchestra, jakebergevinmusic.com

CATERING
Popp Catering & Events, Inc., poppcompany.com

INVITATIONS
Kinko's, fedex.com

ICE SCULPTURE
Creative Ice, creativeice.com

TENT RENTAL
Barclay Event Rentals, barclayeventrentals.com

ESPRESSO BAR
Heaven Scent Espresso, mastermeals.com

CAKE
Wrightberry's Custom Cakes, wrightberryweddingcakes.com

PHOTOGRAPHER
Paul Rich Studio, paulrichstudio.com


Excerpt taken from: http://www.brides.com/

Virginia; Linette & Chris

Linette & Chris were married at the Oceana's Chapel of the Good Shepherd on Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia Beach (military style). Their reception was at the Lesner Inn Catering Club, which is absolutely gorgeous.

Excerpt and pictures from: http://modernphotographics.com/

Vermont; Erin & Justin

WOW – a raging wedding at the Rusty Nail Bar(http://www.rustynailbar.com/)

in Stowe of all places with the ceremony taking place in the Atrium at the Stowflake (http://www.stoweflake.com/). Erin & Justin are a super cool local couple with amazing friends – 10 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen + about 200 guests stayed up dancing all night… Though it rained off and on during the day we still rode behind a tractor, managed to get some outside formals and went for a quick walk for some creative poses…

FYI - their band Last Kid Picked (www.lastkidpicked.com/) has roaring reviews!

Here’s a peek of just some of the FUN moments...

Excerpt & Pictures from: http://spencerleonard.blogspot.com/