Jennifer & John in Pasadena, CA

This decidedly modern couple met in the midst of the dot-com frenzy, but Jennifer Dysar and John Christopher created a wedding that honored tradition, infused with elements of their own contemporary lifestyles. The Bride Jennifer Dysart, 36 The Groom John Christopher, 39 The Date July 10 It all started with a Palm Springs proposal. John, a commercial analyst, had an heirloom ring (his maternal grandmother’s) ready to present to Jennifer when he popped the question on a starry night by the pool at the Viceroy. “I tried not to form any opinions so I would be happy with whatever he gave me,” Jennifer says, “but you can’t help looking at ring ads when you are hoping to be proposed to.” Jennifer was in for a pleasant surprise. “When he opened the little box, I about died,” she recalls. “It was exactly what I had imagined as my dream ring, and the fact that it is his grandmother’s makes it a million times more special.”