We asked several local couples what they liked best about their wedding. Here are some of their surprising responses.

A ray of sunshine
Though the October 10 wedding of Phyllis Daugherty and Dr. Joseph Bohlen was full of meaningful moments, none was more dramatic than a perfect ray of sunlight that illuminated the couple as they exchanged their vows by a lake at their rural Pleasant Plains home. “It had been raining for two weeks straight,” recalls Phyllis, “and we weren’t sure we would get through the ceremony without a downpour. At the moment we were repeating our vows, a ray of sunlight streaked through the clouds. You could almost hear a sigh go up from family and friends.” Other magical moments—it was a true family event, with their four daughters giving readings, their sons-in-law and one future son-in-law acting as ushers, and three grandchildren serving as flower girls and ring bearer. Two ministers and a Tibetan Monastic, all dear friends of the couple, officiated, with the Lincolnland String Quartet providing musical accompaniment. During the reception at the Hilton Inn, the groom, a member of the Walnuts quartet, serenaded his bride.

The melding of two families
Mandy McCue and Camille Bekoin say their favorite thing about their October 3 wedding was seeing their families coming together in a beautiful way. “Seeing how well our two mothers connected is one of those moments that will be forever embedded in my mind,” says Mandy. Camille’s mother and two sisters traveled thousands of miles from the Ivory Coast in Africa to meet their son’s new family, bringing ceremonial garments, precious jewels, and gold jewelry that have been in their family for generations. Mandy and Camille proudly wore the pieces at their wedding rehearsal. Other unique moments:  Camille’s cousin, Nina, played matchmaker after she and Amanda struck up a friendship at a Koinonia retreat at the Villa Maria Retreat Center on Lake Springfield. Camille later proposed to Mandy there when the couple returned together for another retreat. They are planning a trip to Africa next spring to meet the rest of Camille’s family.

The Romantic Setting
The favorite thing about the May 18 destination wedding of Dawn Sunley and T.J. Kelton was the sand in their toes and the crystal-clear Caribbean at their backs: they were married on the beach at Negril, Jamaica, at the RUI Negril Resort. The couple, along with their bridal party, dressed in formal clothing – sans shoes. “It was absolutely beautiful,” says Dawn, “and so romantic.” Following the ceremony, the party was treated to a champagne stand set up on the beach, compliments of the resort. Another favorite: Their closest friends and family were able to join the festivities, with the best man and his girlfriend joining the bridal couple for the first two days of their 10 days in paradise, everyone else for the next five days, and alone time for the happy couple the last two days before they flew back to cold, hard reality.

The First Look
By the time Denise Scott and Chris Geelhart said, “I do” on July 4, the only thing that really mattered was that they would be together. They both independently chose their favorite thing as “the moment they laid eyes on each other” as Denise walked down the aisle of St. Agnes Church. “I saw Chris first,” says Denise, “and it was a thrill to see his eyes actually light up when he saw

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