1. Real Weddings

Crystal & Chad: An Outdoor Wedding in St. Augustine, FL

Crystal Hobart couldn't have been more surprised when her then-boyfriend Chad Kidd showed up bearing two yellow roses during her sixth-period English

Crystal Hobart couldn't have been more surprised when her then-boyfriend Chad Kidd showed up bearing two yellow roses during her sixth-period English class. THE BRIDE Crystal Hobart, 29, language arts teacher THE GROOM Chad Kidd, 30, restaurant manager THE DATE June 21 When Chad got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, the students were much more prepared. Before I could say a word, my students screamed out, 'Yes!' Crystal recalls. She agreed -- and the two were off planning an intimate wedding.

Crystal's attire proved a bit more of a challenge. She'd initially wanted to have a gown custom-made -- unfortunately, her dressmaker's vision was quite different from her own. She finally decided to give up on the idea with just six weeks left before the wedding. Her soon-to-be sister-in-law took a weeping Crystal into a David's Bridal, and they left smiling with an Oleg Cassini gown. I actually picked it up two days before leaving for Florida, Crystal remembers of the ecru A-line gown with a dropped waist and embellished with crystals and gold embroidery.
The Location
The Cake
Crystal and Chad, who live in Atlanta, wanted a simple, classic wedding with a bit of a Florida feel. So while they kept their wedding style fairly formal, they opted for an outdoor ceremony. Crystal and Chad exchanged vows outdoors beneath a gazebo just across the street from the Casa Monica Hotel, where the reception took place. A horse-drawn carriage brought the bride, along with her stepfather and her sister, to the site. The couple personalized the ceremony by penning much of the vows themselves, and they also incorporated parts from Crystal's mother and stepfather's wedding ceremony. Crystal's mother's best friend, who had officiated at that wedding, also presided over Crystal and Chad's ceremony. It was wonderful to have someone who knew both of us perform such a significant role, the bride says. Though the wedding reception had fewer than 40 guests, the outdoor ceremony drew quite a crowd. We were glad that so many people we didn't know stopped to share a special moment with us, Crystal says. It was the most amazing thing.
The Accessories