1. Real Weddings

Libby & Roger: A Formal Wedding in Stevenson, MD

Libby and Roger stuck with the basics -- white wedding gown, black tuxedos, black evening dresses for the bridesmaids -- but spiced them up with a pun

Libby and Roger stuck with the basics -- white wedding gown, black tuxedos, black evening dresses for the bridesmaids -- but spiced them up with a punchy palette of red and yellow with a hint of green for their classic Maryland celebration. THE BRIDE Elizabeth (Libby) Derencz THE GROOM Roger Wolfe THE DATE August 28 Libby, 28, and Roger, 33, first met during a mock trial put on by law students for undergrads in a pre-law program. Jury foreman Libby announced the verdict against prosecutor Roger, but that didn't stop the two from getting together -- and going on their first date a week later. Five years later, Roger proposed to Libby, and they soon started planning a celebration that mixed classic and modern styles.

The Ceremony Decor
The three-tier wedding cake was inspired by Libby's gown. Each tier of the white butter cream frosted confection featured a white satin ribbon and a red flower at the base and a pearl button border. The bottom tier was strawberry shortcake, the middle was raspberry chocolate, and the top was chocolate peanut butter.
Libby and Roger's first dance was to At Last (Etta James). It's a classic song that we both love, and it was the perfect summary of our feelings on our wedding day after being together for almost seven years! the bride says.
The Music
Varied centerpieces featuring different fruits and flowers (such as lemons with yellow and green daisies and lilies, or cherries with red roses) topped tables named for flowers used in the wedding. Each place setting was decked with flower-seed favors and a program explaining the different Polish wedding traditions featured in the day's events.
Libby and Roger exchanged traditional vows in the gardens of the Gramercy Mansion, after Libby's father read from The Art of Marriage. My mother has multiple sclerosis, and my father has been with her through her sickness, Libby explains. The reading is about staying with the one you love through thick and thin, and it was very special to hear those words come from someone who lives by them every day.
Libby wore a stark white satin A-line halter gown with a sweep train and a flower-and-ribbon sash by St. Tropez.
To fit the color scheme for the day, Libby's bouquet was mostly red with hints of yellow and green: red roses, gerbera daisies, lilies, and ranunculuses; yellow orchids and lilies; and green calla lilies.