A Romantic and Sparkly Wedding at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, Michigan

Katie (34 and a pediatrician) and Scott (34 and an engineer) met on a blind date by Katie's friend (also Scott's first cousin). Although they talked once on the phone before they met, Katie and Scott hardly knew anything about each other. They went on their first date to dinner and drinks, where Katie says, "Per Scott, he skipped home from my house after." They had a second date at a hot yoga class and a third (three in one week!) at a movie. After dating for a little while, Scott proposed the day after Christmas (Katie's favorite holiday) after teasing her with a vacuum for a Christmas present. "He had a whole plan to hide a pickle in our Christmas tree (an old German tradition), but instead I went up to bed. He ended up proposing in our bedroom in his boxers!" Katie says. They got married in Scott's hometown of Rochester, Michigan at the Royal Park Hotel an elegant, modern venue with dual indoor and outdoor space. Their late September wedding was unusually warm and sunny, perfect for a tented ceremony. A big fan of sparkle, Katie wanted everything, from the table linens to her custom beaded wedding dress, to have a pop of glitter or crystal. Full of personal touches, the reception included hand-calligraphed thank you notes to the guests, live singing and piano performances by two close friends, a flash mob orchestrated by their families, and a 3D model of Scott's car as a surprise groom's cake. Most significantly, Katie and Scott incorporated their dog into the wedding day with a special tuxedo bib collar, a customized cake topper, and even doggy bag wedding favors for guests to take home to their special furry friends. "The celebration was in honor of us, but the party was for everyone else!" Katie explains.