1. Real Weddings

Amanda & Brett: An Indoor Wedding in Philadelphia, PA

“I can remember every detail of the day Brett and I met,” Amanda says. “I can remember the weather, the sounds, the people, everything. That day is bu

“I can remember every detail of the day Brett and I met,” Amanda says. “I can remember the weather, the sounds, the people, everything. That day is burned in my memory forever.” At a crossroads in her life, Amanda had decided to return to Penn State, her alma mater, to see friends. Having reached a similar point, Brett was doing just the same. The Bride Amanda Guarrasi, 26, event designer The Groom Brett Domergue, 27, sales executive The Date February 24 In the midst of a huge group of fans tailgating before a football game, Amanda spotted Brett and -- totally uncharacteristically for her -- went right up and introduced herself. That night, she called her mother and told her she had met the man she was going to marry -- and she was right.

Guests found their seating assignments beneath a large display of flowering branches.
Brett and his groomsmen sported boutonnieres featuring the greenery from the bouquets -- green berries and fiddlehead ferns.
Each table was named for a spot at Penn State, the couple’s alma mater and where they first met. Amanda and Brett managed to track down photos of each landmark in the snow, which the bride framed to use as table numbers.
Amanda and her attendants carried a mix of white roses, white peonies, green berries, and fiddlehead ferns.
Amanda and Brett got things started with a first dance to their band’s rendition of Journey’s “Faithfully.”
Amanda worked with a designer to create elaborate, square, pocket-fold invitations. She and Brett’s branch theme popped up at the main invite, with the logo adorned with Swarovski crystals for an icy feel.
Amanda and Brett’s wedding cake brought together several of the main style elements from the wedding. The ribbon used on the bridesmaid dresses wrapped each tier, and the branch motif decorated the confection.
Amanda and Brett celebrated with their guests in a large ballroom at the back of the mansion. The dance floor at the center was marked off with large, uplit birch trees at the corners that were connected by archways of hanging candles. Gobo lights with patterns of leaves and branches shone upon the dance floor.
Large and small centerpieces alternated throughout the space. The larger arrangements were a combination of birch and flowering almond branches hung with mini votive lanterns, while the other tables boasted beds of moss studded with pillar candles and orchids on low bases.
Amanda was the first bride in the salon to try on her Melissa Sweet gown, which had literally just come off the runway. The gown featured a dramatic, fitted mermaid silhouette and was made of heavy silk, perfect for the season.
Seating cards with each guest's names were affixed to ribbons that marked off the rows reserved for them during Amanda and Brett’s ceremony. The bride created the custom cards herself.