Margery & Torsten in Philadelphia, PA

It may have been a short courtship, but it was certainly sweet and definitely intense -- the proof lies in a bound book of 500 email messages. Margery met Torsten when he was in the U.S. for an internship at a law firm and was invited to observe her company's arbitration case. I immediately loved his accent, says Margery. And Torsten liked having someone to hang out with while in the U.S. Although he returned to Germany once his three-month assignment ended, the two kept in touch. After a couple months of being apart, Torsten moved to the U.S. for good. THE BRIDE Margery Spivack, 32 THE GROOM Torsten Geers, 32 THE DATE October 20 When they decided to hold the ceremony and reception at Davio's, they chose to embrace a Philadelphia theme. Save-the-date announcements were fashioned in the style of The Declaration of Independence; tied with twine and sent in brown tubes, parchment scrolls were printed in a similar font style and with a title that read, The Declaration of Margery and Torsten. Their formal wedding invitations combined an old-world elegance with a pop-art feel, featuring a photo of a favorite Philadelphia landmark -- Robert Indiana's LOVE sculpture that rests in JFK Plaza. It was a perfect fit to their overall theme, classic with a twist. On Friday night, Margery and Torsten followed the German tradition of hosting a polterabend -- a feast for friends and family -- in lieu of a rehearsal dinner. The meal featured both German fare, such as bratwurst and potato pancakes, and Philly selections, including mini-cheese steaks. Traditionally, invitations aren't extended for the Polterabend; instead, anyone and everyone is welcome to attend. All who join must bring an old piece of ceramic, porcelain, or pottery, which will be smashed in attempt to scare all evil spirits away. The next morning, the couple rented a trolley-style bus for a group tour of Philadelphia. Onboard the trolley were Philly hot pretzels and mustard for guests to enjoy as they cruised along the bustling streets, viewing many notable Philly landmarks including, of course, the LOVE sculpture.