A Fall, Garden Wedding at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland, Michigan

Newlyweds Samantha (26 and a recreational therapist) and Devon (26 and a mechanical engineer) met when they were just 14 in a friend's backyard. After remaining friends for a few years, the two began dating and got engaged eight years later. "He proposed on the shore of Lake Michigan, in front of the Mackinac Bridge," Samantha says. For their fall wedding in Holland, the two exchanged vows in an outdoor ceremony at the Windmill Island Gardens. "We wanted an outdoor ceremony with an adjacent reception facility that wouldn't break the bank," the bride says. "The Windmill Gardens did just that, plus it was such a beautiful setting." Pops of orange and purple add bold touches to the couple's reception decor -- including fun, striped straws and a bright bridal bouquet made from gerbera daisies, roses and calla lilies. "Everything was personalized throughout," Samantha says. "We hand-selected all of the readings and vows and chose Led Zeppelin songs that were performed by the Vitamin String quartet. Our wedding cake even had tiers that represented tire patterns of our vehicles since we enjoy off-roading." As for wedding advice for future brides, Samantha says: "When you're planning, decide what's most important to you. It'll help you know where you're willing to cut costs to stay within your budget. For my husband and I, we wanted an officiant that we felt comfortable with, so we spent a little more there -- and it was well worth it!"