1. Real Weddings

Lauren & Ian: A Chic Wedding in Boston, MA

It's safe to say that Lauren Gilligan and Ian Stanton's engagement story is one of our all-time favorites -- you'll see why in a second. The Bride L

It's safe to say that Lauren Gilligan and Ian Stanton's engagement story is one of our all-time favorites -- you'll see why in a second. The Bride Lauren Gilligan, 30, works in corporate communications The Groom Ian Stanton, 31, public relations manager The Date October 9 One night Lauren came home to find that her boyfriend of three years, Ian, had a surprise in store. Before walking inside, he told her to close her eyes, and then led her into the apartment. I heard music in the background, so I thought maybe he was fixing a romantic dinner, she remembers. Instead, when she opened her eyes she saw that he'd filled the apartment with rose petals and candles -- and an issue of The Knot Weddings Magazine was on the table. Ian said, I know how you like these magazines, and I saw something in there I thought you'd like. When Lauren opened the magazine (which Ian had carefully glued together and hollowed out to turn it into a giant box), she found an engagement ring nestled among rose petals. He asked, she said yes, and Lauren still has the magazine. The two soon began planning a fall wedding set for almost a year later in Boston.

On the tables, centerpieces sat in vases wrapped with magnolia leaves (so that the brown, velvety underside of the leaf was showing), and pears were used as accents.
The ceremony was held at Saint Cecilia, a Romanesque church that features stained-glass windows and ceilings frescoed in gold, blue, red, and yellow -- no decoration necessary!
Two tiers were orange Grand Marnier cake filled with fresh strawberry buttercream and frosted with Grand Marnier buttercream; the third boasted devil's food cake filled with chocolate mousse and fresh raspberries and frosted with framboise buttercream. Since Lauren and Ian chose not to save a tier of their cake, they instead picked a topper they'd be happy to use on every anniversary, not just their first -- a sterling silver 'S.'
The groom wore his own black tuxedo, while his four attendants wore black tuxes by Ralph Lauren.
The fall season's outdoor beauty provided some inspiration -- a classic fall palette of red, orange, and yellow -- but Lauren and Ian's style hardly suggested country. They strove for a look that bespoke urban elegance, and used both the bride's gown and the city of Boston as their guides.
The Couple
The bridesmaid dresses (sky blue drop-waist gowns by Vera Wang) contrasted perfectly with their bouquets of clay-color roses and yellow cymbidium orchids.
The Accessories
Lauren chose an ivory, strapless gown by Carolina Herrera with a modified trumpet skirt and a chapel-length train accented at the waist with an ice-blue ribbon.
Lauren carried a bouquet of ivory calla lilies wrapped with satin ribbon.
Lauren and Ian prepped for their first dance to Edith Piaf's Vie En Rose with a class at Boston Center for Adult Education. The couple included a translation of the song's lyrics in their wedding programs.