Kim & Roberto in Tucson, AZ

Roberto Valenzuela's high school crush on Kim Leung went unrequited for five years, until he won her heart for good in a prom-night proposal. THE BRIDE Kim Leung, 23, graduate student in materials science and engineering THE GROOM Roberto Valenzuela, 27, business high school teacher, classical guitarist and photographer THE DATE December 31 High school freshman Kim met senior Roberto on the cross-country team. He was pretty much the opposite of what I wanted in a guy -- big glasses and a bad hair cut, laughs Kim. While he joked about wanting to marry her, Kim told Roberto she'd rather marry a dolphin! After five years of turning him down every time he'd ask me on a date, my heart softened and I said 'yes,' she remembers. Roberto got a teaching position at the school where they had met 10 years prior and was asked to chaperone the senior prom. I had turned down the chance to be his prom date in the past, so when I finally said yes -- years out of high school -- he made it a night to remember, says Kim. New Year's Eve was the perfect day for this couple to start their new lives together. The color scheme included red, representing happiness, as a nod to Kim's Chinese heritage. The other accent color, silver, was chosen because of the holiday season.