A Vintage Garden Wedding at Blumen Gardens in DeKalb, Illinois

After a long day of running errands, swimming and enjoying dinner on their five-year anniversary, Maddie (25 and a pharmacy student) and Christopher (28 and a manufacturing engineer) got engaged during a can't-miss sunset. "We arrived early and sat on the edge of a cliff just people watching and talking," Maddie says. "After about 3 hours of sitting, Chris was insisting that we wait a little longer and head down to the water to explore the ocean. I was hesitant, but agreed to follow...then he got down on one knee!" For their August wedding at Blumen Gardens in DeKalb, the couple settled on a vintage garden theme that reflected their unique style. "We had a multitude of wedding colors all focused on the theme, including peach and lilac," the bride explains. "Chris and I designed our invitations and my mom decorated almost everything." The couple even scoured local antique shops, flea markets and garage sales to find the perfect reception details. "Each table was assigned a different animal, like an owl or bird, and favors included a can covered in scrapbook paper with a small bag of dirt and packet of seeds," Maddie says. "We included a popsicle stick with the saying 'watch our love grow'." As far as wedding advice goes for other brides on their special day: "Enjoy planning and try not to stress about other people's opinions," Maddie says. "Ultimately, the day is all about you. And make sure to have comfortable shoes -- it's going to be a long day!"