1. Real Weddings

Laura & Matthew: A Garden Celebration in Greenwich, CT

Laura and Matthew chose a garden theme for their summer soiree with splashes of pink (Laura’s favorite color) and sage green (Matthew’s favorite color

Laura and Matthew chose a garden theme for their summer soiree with splashes of pink (Laura’s favorite color) and sage green (Matthew’s favorite color). The Bride Laura Lopes, 29, accountant The Groom Matthew Pascual, 30, accountant The Date June 18 The opportunity for a perfect proposal doesn’t happen every day, so Matthew decided to make the most of a romantic getaway to Savannah, Georgia, with his girlfriend Laura. Determined to keep the proposal a secret from his sweetheart, Matthew stored the ring where neither Laura nor the airport security screeners would check: wrapped in cotton balls and hidden inside a bottle of vitamins. After an afternoon at the beach with friends, Matthew tricked Laura into going back to the beach by telling her they needed to pick up toys that a friend’s child had left there earlier that day. But first he asked her to change into a nice outfit, saying they would meet later on Tybee Island for dinner. When she returned to the beach, she found Matthew in a tuxedo and waiting on bended knee next to a candlelit table. “In the background was the picturesque Tybee Lighthouse surrounded by a beautiful sunset,” Laura says. “It was like time stood still for that one moment.”

Five tiers of vanilla and chocolate cake filled with almond paste and topped with pink and white roses and peonies.
The home of a family friend was transformed into a fantastic tented reception site. Pink and green hues infused the space: Tables were covered in sage green linens and topped with more peonies and roses.
Family and friends made the table centerpieces with blooms from Costco.
A summer palette infused everything from the peonies and roses to the pink strapless tea-length bridesmaid dresses.
The Couple
As the night drew to a close, guests were sent home with Portuguese-influenced parting gifts: colorful rooster wine stoppers imported from Laura’s hometown. “In Portugal, roosters symbolize honesty, integrity, trust, and honor,” she says. “The motif seems to embody the love of life displayed by the Portuguese people.”
Laura’s spectacular Richard Glasgow gown featured crystal beading on the bodice and three small bows in the back.
The Traditions
The Couple
Laura bridesmaids carried bouquets of peonies and roses.
Laura and Matthew exchanged simple vows during a full mass at St. Mary Church, where their 150 guests just fit into the tiny church’s 16 pews.