Amy & Justin in Houston, TX

High school sweethearts Amy Shepley and Justin Homfeld first met in the sixth grade and began dating when they were 16. “Our relationship had evolved so much over the years that when we were both ready to get married, we didn’t feel it was necessary to do the ‘not so surprise’ proposal,” the bride says. Once they’d made a commitment, Amy and Justin worked together to design an engagement ring. “It was a wonderful experience,” Amy says. “I had always pictured an elaborate proposal, but getting to create and design my ring was definitely worth the trade-off.” The Bride Amy Shepley,now 25 and a business consultant The Groom Justin Homfeld, 26 and an entrepreneur The Date November 26 The couple decided against a traditional wedding—no toasts, no formal dances, and definitely no tossing of garters or bouquets. “We wanted the night to feel more like a party than a traditional wedding reception,” Amy explains. A blending of the bride’s favorite color (pink) and a more masculine hue (brown) inspired the style of the day, which was announced with the DIY invitations. “People were shocked to find out we made the invitations ourselves, which was a huge compliment,” Amy says.