A Garden Wedding at the Hawks Cay Resort in Duck Key, Florida

Kerry Cietanno (40 and a fundraiser) and Rick Vanaria (41 and a sales manager) first met during a mutual friend’s graduation party in Connecticut. “Our marriage was nearly 20 years in the making!” says Kerry. After Kerry moved to Boston, her and Rick were in the same town. While they saw each other from time to time, they decided to remain friends. Nine years later, things would change. “We reconnected at a mutual friend's birthday party. Rick told Kerry he held onto her number and asked if she would like to go out sometime,” says Kerry. “The rest they say is history!” They were engaged during a vacation to Mexico. While Rick had wanted to propose during a romantic beachside dinner, the weather had other plans. Instead, he proposed in their villa. Kerry and Rick had an outdoor wedding accented with shades of green at the Hawks Kay Resort in Duck Key, Florida. Personal touches were added throughout, including the couple’s first dance. “Rick and I made our entrance and went right into our first dance to Rascal Flatts' song “God Bless the Broken Road,” which fit our love story to a tee!” says Kerry. They also had customized signs with their guests’ hometowns and themed reception tables named after the Keys of Marathon. Kerry and Rick’s guests enjoyed a buffet dinner, classic ivory wedding cake and surprise groom’s cake. “Kerry had Sweet Savannahs make a replica of Rick's high school footbal jersey for the groom's cake,” she says. “His teammates sang the fight song as it was unveiled.” The couple ended their celebration with a 1980s themed after party. “We couldn't have imagined a more perfect weekend,” says Kerry.