Emily & Kip in Houston, TX

When mothers tell their daughters that boys tease girls because they like them, they're definitely onto something. After all, when Emily Condrey was growing up, Robert Kip Wells, her older brother's best friend, was always at the house and he indulged in plenty of teasing. While I was going through my 'awkward stage,' he made fun of me quite a bit, remembers Emily. My mom always told me that boys do that to you when they are flirting with you -- and I guess she was right. THE BRIDE Emily Condrey THE GROOM Robert Kip Wells THE DATE January 3 The summer before Emily's sophomore year at The University of Texas, Kip became especially friendly toward her and wanted to hang out more often. It wasn't long before they were dating, and they continued to do so as Emily finished school and Kip joined the Chicago White Sox and, later the Pittsburgh Pirates, as a major league pitcher. Seizing on his baseball fame, Kip used his Kip Wells Bobblehead Doll as a device to catch Emily off guard with the proposal. Rumors about him popping the question had been swirling, and he knew he had to do something clever -- and something soon. Kip says, She was visiting in Pittsburgh, so the night before the bobblehead doll giveaway at PNC Park, I brought one home for her to have a sneak peek. Little did she know but the ring was inside the box, tied around the doll's neck. Emily was indeed surprised, and the two began planning a wedding on a three-month timeline, with the help of wedding consultant Angela Nix.