1. Real Weddings

Robin & Danny: A Red and Aqua Wedding in Chesterland, OH

Robin and Danny met when they were in third grade at an after-school program. He was the really goofy kid, says Robin. They didn't have any contact wi

Robin and Danny met when they were in third grade at an after-school program. He was the really goofy kid, says Robin. They didn't have any contact with each other until after college, when they bumped into each other at an art show opening; they were both showing their work. The Bride Robin Shafer, 26, graduate student The Groom Danny Groth, 26, graduate student The Date May 24 Once they got to re-know each other, they went on their first date to the Cleveland Art Museum. A year and a half later, while standing in the spot where they first held hands, Danny gave Robin a book of poems he had written for her. The last several pages were a flipbook, spelling out the question, Robin, will you marry me?

At the entrance to the reception site, the couple hung a display of their relatives' wedding photos. Each picture was placed in chocolate-brown frame decorated with red and aqua flowers, and hung on the wall from wide ribbon.
Short-sleeved sweaters (a gift from the bride) added a pop of color to the bridesmaids' aqua-hued dresses. The groomsmen mixed things up in chocolate-colored tuxedos with red-and-aqua patterned ties.
Robin's A-line dress was made of French taffeta and embroidered with a flower pattern. To punch up her reception attire, Robin slipped on a red shrug.
The three-tiered wedding cake was frosted with aqua buttercream and red and white sugar flowers. Robin and Danny chose apple spice cake with caramel filling to complement the fall season and their orchard reception setting.
Lovebirds, vine stamps and whimsical fonts set the tone for the laid-back, homespun wedding.
Robin and Danny exchanged personalized vows during an afternoon ceremony. The couple loved the light and airy look of the sanctuary, so little decor was needed save for Mason jars filled with paper flowers at the altar.
Small birdhouses lined up outdoors directed guests to the reception site at Orchard Hills.
Using felt, the crafty couple created a floral wreath (without a single flower!), which they hung on the church doors.
All of the floral arrangements were handmade out of card stock, tissue paper and coffee filters, which Robin and Danny had water-colored.
A polka-dot background gave the church steeple on the programs a playful backdrop. Along with the ceremony lineup, the programs included a crossword puzzle with questions about the couple. We said that the puzzle was meant for early-comers and shouldn’t be done during the ceremony!
At each setting, guests found a small jar filled with jellybeans and a note encouraging them to visit the candy bar. The candy bar offerings included dark chocolate nonpareils, chocolate wedding kisses and rock-candy lollipops.
All of the floral arrangements were handmade out of card stock, tissue paper and coffee filters, which Robin and Danny had water-colored.