1. Real Weddings

Cynthia & Derek: A Summer Wedding in Cleveland, OH

Cynthia and Derek met while working together at a Boston restaurant, but coincidence (or more like two degrees of separation) made them wonder if thei

Cynthia and Derek met while working together at a Boston restaurant, but coincidence (or more like two degrees of separation) made them wonder if their run-in was destined. Cynthia, grew up in Cleveland and Derek, was born in Cleveland but grew up in Syracuse, New York. And it turned out that Cynthia’s roommate in Boston had Derek’s mother as a preschool teacher! After striking up a friendship, the two soon became romantically involved. The Bride Cynthia Kruis, athletic trainer The Groom Derek Kelder, wine and liquor sales rep The Date June 4 Three years later, Cynthia and Derek were chatting after a dinner in Boston’s lovely North End. Cynthia complained that she didn’t want to go home for the holidays without being engaged. Derek replied, “Well, we’ve been through good times and bad, sickness and health, so I guess all that’s left is ‘as long as we both shall live.’ Will you be my wife?” Cynthia turned to see Derek down on one knee. “I was in shock!” she remembers. “I had seen it coming probably 20 times that night, but he still managed to catch me off guard for that split second.”

The couple shared their first dance to “Memories of Us” by Keith Urban.
Fitting into the palette: the white cake with raspberry mousse filling and fondant icing was decorated with pink fondant ribbons tied around the middle of each tier and green accents.
The Reception Decor
Cynthia wore a strapless silk satin candlelight A-line gown by Anne Barge with a hand-beaded bodice and inverted pleat, crystals, and embroidery.
Cynthia carried a bouquet of pink and off-white peonies.
The Flower Girls
Derek wore an ivory Ralph Lauren vest with a platinum tie.
Cynthia and Derek's reception was awash in pink and green. Centerpieces of crystal vases were filled with pale pink roses and darker pink alstroemerias while ivory slipcovers on the chairs were tied with sheer sage sahes.
Choosing the Holy Rosary Catholic Church as a site was easy. Cynthia’s great grandfather played the organ there and her paternal grandparents were married in the church.
The Transportation
Cynthia had always loved green, but falling in love with “the perfect” Jim Hjelm Occasions tea-length A-line dresses in a store window solidified her decision for the pink and sage color scheme. Her 11 attendants donned the two-piece dresses (pink on top, pink and green stripes on bottom) and carried pink and green hydrangeas. The groomsmen wore black tuxedos with platinum vests and celery ties.
The Accessories