1. Real Weddings

Sarah & Giuseppe: An Outdoor Wedding in Wilmington, DE

Sarah Bushweller and Giuseppe Castellano's wedding could have taken place in a small Sicilian village -- exactly the effect they were going for. Becau

Sarah Bushweller and Giuseppe Castellano's wedding could have taken place in a small Sicilian village -- exactly the effect they were going for. Because Giuseppe's Italy-born parents came to America as teenagers, the couple's many nods to his Italian heritage were a driving force throughout the wedding planning. The Bride Sarah Bushweller, 26, writer The Groom Giuseppe Castellano, 26, book designer The Date October 12

The cocktail hour unfolded inside a beautiful circular room with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to a boxwood garden. Though throughout the evening family and friends wandered from the dance floor onto the patio or into the gardens, there was one more thing guests were sure not to miss: the toasts. Giuseppe's father, who makes his own wine, bottled enough so that guests could forgo traditional champagne in lieu of sipping something molto bene and homemade.
As guests arrived for the outdoor wedding at the historic DuPont mansion (part of Greenville Country Club), they were offered lemonade and water, and they mingled until the sun began to set. At 5 p.m., the ceremony started and guests found their way to white, wooden folding chairs set on the lush lawn. Sarah and Giuseppe, who met through a mutual friend after their first year of college, exchanged vows under a bough (adorned with roses, gerbera daisies, berries, and hydrangeas) of a magnificent chestnut tree. We wanted to keep the wedding very personal, says Sarah, who asked her father, a guitarist and former music teacher, to perform a number of personally selected songs. One of the must-plays? The Beatles' In My Life. He surprised us by singing the second verse in Italian, says Sarah. It was touching and thoughtful, and one of my favorite parts of the day.
Four-tier carrot cake -- their favorite dessert.
The Reception Decor
The Escort Cards
The Bridesmaid Looks