Alexis & Phil in Golden, CO

A chance meeting in a South Beach coffee shop led Alexis and Phil to romance. “It was very improbable that Alexis and I would ever meet -- a thousand things had to fall in line. But once it did, there was such a spark,” recalls Phil, who was vacationing in Miami at the time and returned to Colorado the next day. Their undeniable connection led to a long-distance relationship, and Alexis eventually moved to Colorado. The Bride Alexis Abrams, 32, a photography professor The Groom Phil Mass, 35, a programmer The Date August 25 Over two years later, Phil surprised Alexis on a hike with an antique silver spoon ring to reflect the couple’s special song, “Hold On” by Tom Waits (which has the lyrics “You don’t meet nice girls in coffee shops” and “Well, he gave her a dime-store watch / And a ring made from a spoon”). And while Phil had planned on getting Alexis a real engagement ring, she loved her spoon ring so much she had it set with a brilliant sapphire. “It was too lovely and meaningful to be replaced,” says Alexis.