1. Real Weddings

Casey & Sam: A Beach Wedding in Corolla, NC

Casey Powell and Sam Gammon married on the beach in North Carolina. The Bride Casey Powell, a 25-year-old contracts management analyst The Groom Sam

Casey Powell and Sam Gammon married on the beach in North Carolina. The Bride Casey Powell, a 25-year-old contracts management analyst The Groom Sam Gammon, a 26-year-old information security engineer The Date May 28 Casey Powell and Sam Gammon tend to take the road less traveled. During a weeklong trip to California, they discovered a small clearing at Yosemite National Park where Sam surprised Casey with a proposal. Yet their hearts remained on the East Coast. The couple, who met in high school, chose a childhood destination on the sandy North Carolina shores to make their wedding dreams come true.

The Couple
Casey and her mother decorated white sand dollars.
Following the ceremony, held in front of a sand dune, guests sipped margaritas around the pool. Under the reception tent, glass hurricane lamps tied with coral ribbon and filled with sand, a large white candle, and shells gave the hot pink-accented round tables an all-encompassing beachy effect.
The Bridal Bouquet
The Gown
My family has vacationed in the Outer Banks for as long as I can remember, Casey says. We wanted to get married outdoors and couldn't think of a better place! Casey and Sam soon found the perfect spot for the 110-person celebration -- a beach house with ocean views and a tent-worthy clearing. The decor was the sand and the sky...it doesn't get more beautiful than that, the bride says.
Passionate for lively colors, Casey contrasted the natural surroundings with tropical shades of pink, coral, yellow, orange, and green. This duality figured prominently in the bridesmaid look: Vibrant bouquets of tulips, verbenas, and gerbera daisies beamed against the champagne-color tea-length dresses.