1. Real Weddings

A Simple Wedding at the Fayerdale Hall in Stuart, Virginia

Mercedes and Matthew became friends through percussion ensemble in their high school marching band. When Mercedes arrived at school one day, Matthew a

Mercedes and Matthew became friends through percussion ensemble in their high school marching band. When Mercedes arrived at school one day, Matthew approached her with a note asking her to be his girlfriend, then nervously ran away before she could open it and respond. "I guess he was afraid of rejection. He was just too cute; I couldn't say no," says Mercedes. Fast-forward five years to the summer before their senior year in college, and the high school sweethearts were playing mini golf on the beach. Mercedes and Matthew found a sand hole near the water to sit in and wait for a blood moon that was supposed to appear that night. As Mercedes and Matthew talked about their future together, Matthew got down on one knee and proposed with a delicate diamond ring on a white gold band, which was exactly what Mercedes had wanted.

The engagement ring was positioned in the middle of the black wedding rings.
Metal teardrop long earrings with crystal and stone embellishments were placed next to a gold elegant ring and dark green square stoned ring.
An array of different shades made up the bridesmaids attire for the wedding day, creating a spectrum of orange.
Mercedes wedding dress was hung in the glass window of the venue, where the bride was getting ready before the ceremony.
Mercedes threw her arms up in her wedding dress, picked out by the bride herself at Dillard's department store.
Mercedes wore a unique veil, with a small arrangement of peach silk flowers and dried baby's breath perched on top.
Mercedes wore a pair of black rimmed glasses on her wedding day, adding a bohemian pop to the traditional bridal look.
Michael was dressed in a light blue shirt with a grey button-up vest and a red and orange patterned tie. His boutonniere made of baby's breath was pinned to his vest.
A fireplace at the Fayerdale Hall was decorated with small floral arrangements and lit candles to serve as the altar for the couple's wedding ceremony.
The flower girl dropped flower petals down the aisle at the ceremony, where the bride and her father will soon follow.
Mercedes's father walked her down the aisle at the wedding ceremony at Fayerdale Hall.
The newlyweds had their first kiss as a married couple at the Fayerdale Hall, surrounded by their wedding party and in front of their guests.
After they were officially married, Mercedes and Michael walk back down the aisle with locked arms.
Mercedes posed with her white garden flower bouquet alongside her bridal party, who wore a blush dress of their choice and held their blush bouquets of tall garden flowers.
At Fairystone State Park, Michael shared a moment with his groomsmen, who were all casually dressed in a white shirt, khaki pants, brown shoes and a colorful bow tie of their choice.
Mercedes and Matthew walked along a dock next to red canoes floating in the water at Fairystone State Park, which created a dramatic color contrast.
Mercedes and Michael held each other and posed at Fairystone State Park, with a gorgeous backdrop of the natural surroundings.
A large bowl of M&Ms, which represented initials for Mercedes and Michael, were wedding favors for guests who attended.
A customized wooden box for cards was at the reception for guests to place their gifts in.
Mercedes and Michael entered the reception hall laughing following the ceremony
Warm rolls, chicken, pulled pork and green beans catered by Pigs-R-Us were served at the reception, with an assortment of barbecue sauce underneath the metal tins.
Baby's breath with a single peach silk flower arranged in a glass bottle were made by the bride and her mother, used as centerpieces for the ceremony and reception.
The married couple hugged one another at the reception, with surrounding friends and family.
A silk blush and pink floral arrangement served as a cake topper on the single-tiered ivory wedding cake.