1. Real Weddings

Marisa & Eric: A Garden Wedding in Bedminster, NJ

Eric Bloom was definitely burning up for Marisa Hunkele's love. Before his college sweetheart got home one fateful day, Eric transformed their apartme

Eric Bloom was definitely burning up for Marisa Hunkele's love. Before his college sweetheart got home one fateful day, Eric transformed their apartment into a candlelit, rose-filled garden -- the perfect setting for a proposal. THE BRIDE Marisa Hunkele, 28, video editor THE GROOM Eric Bloom, 30, technical specialist THE DATE May 22 It was a hot day and we only had a window AC unit, but Eric couldn't put it on because then I would've known he was home, says Marisa. So he lit all the candles and waited 45 minutes for me to get home...it was so hot in the apartment! Even so, Eric's surprise was well worth the sweat -- on one knee, with his grandmother's engagement ring in hand, he asked Marisa to marry him.

Going from one garden to the next, Marisa and Eric began to plan the wedding themselves, focusing on a mutual love of the outdoors and incorporating traditions from both of their religious backgrounds (she's Catholic, he's Jewish). I wanted the wedding to be very natural and carry the essence of spring throughout the day, Marisa says. The Fiddler's Elbow Country Club, with its surreal setting and gorgeous stone house covered with flowers, was the perfect site to illuminate the airy vision. The couple exchanged vows outdoors under a brass double-arch huppah that was covered with leaves, branches, and flowers, and which overlooked rolling hills, a river with a bridge, and the golf course.
Knowing that the invitations would set the mood, Marisa set out to find something simple, different, and classy. She chose a white invitation, paper sleeves to wrap around the middle of the invite, and a knotted ribbon to tie everything together.
The bride and groom danced their first dance to the band's rendition of I Love You.
In honor of both families, the band entertained the crowd with the hora and the tarantella dances. Overall, we wanted a party with high energy and that is what we got, Marisa says. People were dancing everywhere!
Marisa, who wanted to infuse as many colors as possible into the day, carried a vibrant bouquet of peonies, roses, calla lilies, hydrangeas, and berries. Linda really understood the natural garden look we wanted, Marisa says.
The wedding cake, a chocolate mousse-filled vanilla cake, was frosted in buttercream and embellished with subtle swirls and flowers that suited the simple, classy wedding style.
The train of her diamond-white, silk-faced satin gown flowed gracefully behind her as she walked down the grass aisle lined with rose petals. Coincidentally, Marisa was the name of the bride's gown designer.