Kate & Nick in Royal Oak, MD

Kate and Nick were brought together by mutual friends…and their four-legged friends. After they were introduced, the couple’s love for dogs gave them an instant connection. It’s no surprise that their first date was at the dog park, with their white Boxer and chocolate Lab. The four instantly bonded! The Bride Kate Streitmatter, 30, teacher The Groom Nick Galardini, 30, implementation manager The Date May 23 Kate and Nick dated for two years before getting engaged. They had discussed marriage a few times, so Kate was suspecting something and Nick wanted to catch her off guard. “He had planned to propose after dinner, but when we got to the restaurant, he couldn’t stand the wait and actually proposed in the car!” says Kate. They chose a fresh navy-and-lime color scheme with a country inn theme for their outdoor wedding.