Anne & Cord: A Formal Wedding in Austin, TX

One spring day, Cord Shiflet, a real estate agent, called his girlfriend Anne Reichardt and told her he was taking her out to celebrate his biggest closing ever. Anne, also a real estate agent, happily agreed and suggested a few spots around town. Not quite satisfied, Cord told her to pack a dress and shoes -- there was a plane leaving in two hours that would take them to their favorite restaurant -- in Vegas. The Bride Anne Reichardt The Groom Cord Shiflet The Date October 18 Embracing spontaneity, they arrived in Vegas and checked into the hotel. As Anne got ready for their 7 o'clock dinner reservation, Cord snuck out to make his secret arrangements. He picked a table at Jasmine at the Bellagio, paid a photographer to capture the night on film, and persuaded the hotel management to play Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman's Time to Say Goodbye at exactly 7:30 when the hotel's fountain show began. To throw Anne off, Cord gave her a small surprise gift at dinner so she would feel she already got her gift for the night. But several minutes later, the lights dimmed, the music played, the fountains shot up, and Cord was beside Anne on his knee. The look on her face was priceless and I knew she had no idea this was coming, Cord says. After some hugging and crying, Anne and Cord enjoyed a bottle of Dom, sent over by a generous Texan sitting nearby. Then they spent the night gambling and celebrating.