1. Real Weddings

A DIY Navy and Yellow Wedding at the Nottingham Ballroom in Trenton, New Jersey

College sweethearts Alissa Wilcox (23 and a pre-kindergarten teacher) and Brian Wilcox (23 and a videographer/graphic designer) tied the knot in front

College sweethearts Alissa Wilcox (23 and a pre-kindergarten teacher) and Brian Wilcox (23 and a videographer/graphic designer) tied the knot in front of 150 friends and family in the bride's hometown in New Jersey. Brian incorporated his illustration skills and Alissa’s love for kids into his proposal by surprising his future bride with a personalized children’s book at Barnes & Noble. Following a church ceremony, the bride and groom and their guests went to the Nottingham Ballroom in Trenton, New Jersey, for the reception. “We didn't want to risk weather, so we had everything inside,” Alissa says. The couple chose a color palette of navy, yellow, gray and white, which were heavily featured throughout the day in everything from the wedding party attire and floral arrangements to the cake and tablecloths. Chicken marsala, tilapia and various kinds of pasta were served for dinner and a friend of the couple served as the DJ at the reception. Instead of providing guests with favors at the end of the night, the couple chose to make a donation to a non-profit organization they volunteer with in Baltimore. “We chose what we thought would be right for us, no one else,” says the bride. “We just wanted our day to display us and our love, and I think it did just that!”

The groom used his creative skills to design all of the invitations and stationary for the wedding.
Alissa added a pop of color to her ensemble with a navy bridal sash, which matched the color of her bridesmaids' dresses.
"I wanted lace in my wedding dress, but I never dreamed of the gorgeous lace dress that I got!" Alissa says. "The simplicity and elegance of this dress along with the way it fit my shape was too perfect to pass up!"
Floor-Length Lace David's Bridal Wedding Dress
Peep-Toe Navy Bridal Heels
Alissa's bridesmaids donned short navy dresses from David's Bridal. "I loved how many styles I could put the girls in so everyone felt beautiful and comfortable," she says.
Elegant White Bridal Bouquet
Yellow Bridesmaid Bouquets with Nude Heels
Brian's groomsmen wore gray tuxedos from Men's Warehouse with navy ties, while the groom stood out with a yellow tie.
Wooden Altar Cross
Personalized Screen Message at Church Ceremony
The couple exchanged vows at Central Church in Ewing, New Jersey, the same church where the bride's parents married 25 years earlier.
DIY Picture Guestbook
The couple included their personalized illustration in everything from the invitations to the decor. "I love it!" Alissa says. "No one else has an illustration of themselves in the way I do, and I get to cherish it for the rest of our lives."
Wine bottles were placed on the tables at the reception for guests. "Each bottle has our cartoon on it along with a question game on the back that asks them to guess who said the quote on the bottle," the bride explains.
Guests were treated to a four-tier wedding cake for dessert that matched the wedding color palette of white, navy and yellow.
Yellow Bow Wedding Cake Decor
Bride and Groom's First Dance
Classic Car Reception Exit