An Elegant Wedding at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Anthony Hibbert, 23, a United States Marine, married Kate Harkins, 23, a registered nurse, in an elegant cathedral wedding in Philadelphia. The couple first met in Spanish class during their freshman year of high school and began dating in 2007. They knew they wanted to get married, so they went together to pick out an engagement ring when Anthony was on leave after boot camp. "Two days before he was scheduled to go to North Carolina, he dropped to one knee at a party while we were surrounded by friends and family," says the bride. The couple chose to hold their ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. A cocktail hour and reception followed at the Crystal Tea Room, a grand ballroom with occupancy for up to 1,000 people. A soft color palette of pink and ivory was incorporated into the glamorous decor. "We were going for a more neutral palette with a little bit of sparkle here and there," Kate says. The extravagant cocktail hour consisted of 10 hors d'oeuvres and six food stations, and dinner choices were filet mignon, chicken and salmon stuffed with crab meat. Guests also had plenty of dessert options because there was a separate dessert room filled with sweet treats as well as an ice cream station and a four-tier wedding cake. A DJ kept guests moving on the dance floor and everyone received shot glass party favors at the end of the night.