1. Real Weddings

Charlotte & Nicholas: A Destination Wedding in Paso Robles, CA

From the other side of the country, Charlotte Spears and Nicholas Ivancic organized an outdoor wedding that celebrated the natural beauty of Californi

From the other side of the country, Charlotte Spears and Nicholas Ivancic organized an outdoor wedding that celebrated the natural beauty of California wine country. The region's traditional pale yellow stucco walls and terra cotta roofs inspired every element of the wedding. The Bride Charlotte Circe Spears, 27, legislative policy counsel for a U.S. senator The Groom Nicholas William Ivancic, 26, judicial clerk at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims The Date August 7 Nicholas surprised Charlotte with a belated birthday getaway to Annapolis, Maryland and took her to dinner. I chose a restaurant on the waterfront where we ate during our first trip there, which had been over a year earlier, says Nicholas. I arranged ahead of time for us to be seated at the same table where we were the first time we ate there. Unfortunately, that table was on the patio and it was raining, so the couple was ushered to a quiet table upstairs, where Nicholas proposed.

Charlotte and Nicholas cut a multilayer tiramisu cake adorned with clusters of marzipan grapes.
Each table was named after a place the couple had visited or lived together, with each table's place cards and favors reflecting the destination. For example, the New York City table had place cards affixed to apples with Statue of Liberty figurines circling the centerpiece. Big Apple favors were framed vintage postcards depicting famous landmarks and chocolate Empire State Buildings.
While the proposal had to be taken inside, the ceremony was pulled off al fresco with a chuppah erected between the sweep of a double staircase. It was officiated by Charlotte's childhood Lutheran pastor and Nicholas's childhood rabbi. Both officiants incorporated the couple's respective religious traditions into their readings.
The Ceremony Decor
The Couple
Charlotte walked down the aisle in big-name style. She wore an ivory silk organza Vera Wang chapel-length gown with French Alencon lace detailing on the strapless sweetheart neckline. Her shoes were Manolo Blahniks in pale gold brocade. The bridesmaid dresses were also Vera Wang in a light gold color, but Charlotte let her bridesmaids select their own designs. All eight women picked a different cut.
The two legal eagles found love in the nation's capital, Washington D.C., when they worked at the same law firm.
At the reception, eight-person round tables fanned out from the central fountain in the Villa's courtyard. Large hurricane lamps with purple, red, and orange flowers sprouting from the bases adorned each table.