Andrea & Rhett in New Haven, CT

When circumstances forced Andrea and Rhett to scrap their plans for a far-flung destination wedding, they couldn’t have imagined how perfect their intimate, close-to-home celebration would turn out. THE BRIDE Andrea Montano, 29, associate director of strategy at a communications agency THE GROOM Everitt (Rhett) Speros, 31, marketing consultant THE DATE December 11 Andrea and Rhett met through mutual friends, and eventually got to know each other following an evening together at a popular NYC bar named Tortilla Flats. Later, the couple went to Connecticut for Thanksgiving with Andrea's family (their first holiday together as a twosome). At the end of a hike through nearby campgrounds, Rhett got down on one muddy knee and proposed. It was perfect, Andrea remembers. When they arrived back at the house, there was another surprise -- Rhett's parents were there as well, ready to celebrate with champagne in hand.