Rachel & Lucio in Haddam, CT

When Rachel and Lucio met, they fell hard for one another and became high school sweethearts. They went their separate ways during college but found their way back to one another after they graduated. The Bride Rachel Gollnick, 28, family nurse practitioner The Groom Lucio DeMarco, 29, teacher The Date August 24 After several years of dating, Lucio planned a proposal for Rachel while the two were volunteering in Ecuador during a nonprofit trip for the American Youth Understanding Diabetes Abroad organization. On the last night of the trip, Lucio stood up and proposed to Rachel in Spanish in front of the kids and counselors. The ring? A handmade band created by the children’s arts and crafts class. Soon plans were underway for a wedding in the couple’s home state of Connecticut in the town of Haddam.

MORE PHOTOS LIKE THIS

Savannah & Ryan in Las Vegas, NV

Christine & Jeff in North Andover, MA

Amanda & Kevin in Atlanta, GA

The Bridesmaid Bouquets

Kirsten & Tom in Lake Geneva, WI

The Cocktail Hour

The Bridesmaid Bouquets

Laurie & Victor in Bohemia, NY

Lindsay & Ty in Bristol, VT

Alison & Patrick in Boston, MA

Emily & Todd in Pittsburgh, PA

Julie & Jason in Austin, TX

Kristie & Mike in Ann Arbor, MI

The Bridal Bouquet

Lindsay & David in Mystic, CT

Trish & Jon in Slate Hill, NY

Christine & Eric in Plymouth, MA

Megan & Bob in Topeka, KS

Mai-an & Ben in Dallas, TX

Emily & Erik in Greenwood Village, CO

Krista & Brian in Birch Bay, WA

The Centerpieces