Elissa & Fred in Fuquay-Varina, NC

As a professional wedding consultant, Elissa knows how important it is for brides to be prepared for their big day. But nothing prepared her for the surprise proposal her college boyfriend, Fred, popped during a trip to San Diego. “Fred is usually so practical that a spontaneous proposal seemed unlikely on the trip,” says Elissa. “I was completely shocked!” The Bride Elissa Nicholsky, 24, wedding consultant The Groom Fred Keno, 26, computer programmer The Date April 29 Fortunately, it didn’t take Elissa long to recover and put her wedding planning skills to work. She and Fred set the date for spring and decided to let the season -- along with their southern roots -- set the tone for the affair that would take place at the Highgrove Estate.