1. Real Weddings

Jessica & Jim: A Traditional Wedding in Boston, MA

Blind dates are not often known for their ability to turn into lasting love. But in the case of Jessica Rowland and Jim Hazelton, all they had to do w

Blind dates are not often known for their ability to turn into lasting love. But in the case of Jessica Rowland and Jim Hazelton, all they had to do was meet. The Bride Jessica Rowland, 32, advertising sales executive The Groom Jim Hazelton, 34, actor The Date September 24 Seven years later, the two were taking in the scenery from a lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard when Jim suddenly revealed a small purple box. It took Jessica a moment to figure out what it was (“At first I was baffled, thinking it might have been a dog toy,” she admits), but when she opened it, Jim got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. It was a ring he had designed himself using a diamond from Jessica’s mother’s engagement ring as the centerpiece and two smaller diamonds that had belonged to his great-grandmother. As they made their way back to Jim’s family’s house on the island to share their news, Jessica was surprised once more when she found her family there as well, waiting to celebrate with her.

In lieu of a cake, the bride and groom had a tiered platter of vanilla cupcakes iced with orange and red stars. The top tier featured a small red cake with green stars, which the two used for the cake-cutting ceremony.
To complete the experience, each table was named for a silver-screen movie star and featured a picture of that person.
The Programs
The Escort Cards
The Reception
When dinner was announced, more black velvet drapes opened to reveal a Technicolor reception room, as though guests were actually in a scene from The Wizard of Oz, going from black-and-white to color. Tables were draped in crushed garnet silk and topped with blazing orange napkins and an arrangement of red, orange, and green flowers. Chargers were a deep garnet color with gold crackle, while red and orange Japanese lanterns swayed from the ceiling.
Jessica carried a vibrant deep-red bouquet of scarlet Vanda orchids, ranunculus, and spray roses.
The Centerpieces
Jessica's bridesmaids carried bouquets of apple green cymbidium orchids surrounded by green hydrangea.