Tina & Jason in St. Clair Shores, MI

Jason Gross likes to joke that Tina Zanier picked him out of a catalogue. Well, not exactly…. They met through an online dating site. After a romantic, rose-strewn proposal at the Inn at Bay Harbor Resort, the pair began planning a wedding for 225 guests near their hometown. The Bride Tina Zanier, 29, pre-dental student The Groom Jason Gross, 32, ophthalmologist The Date July 9 Initially we wanted nothing to do with wedding planning! Tina says. But what we thought was going to be a chore turned out to be a challenging pleasure, something that we could take pride in and do together as a couple. Tina and Jason started with a fun, colorful theme -- apple green, polka dots, and bamboo -- and designed and handcrafted most of the wedding décor themselves. It was hours of paper cutting and ribbon tying, with help from willing friends and family, the bride recalls. We cut ribbon for the invitations, the place settings, the ceremony programs, the hotel gift bags, the bouquets, and the candles; there may even be more we can’t remember now! Tina says.