ashley + kyle spotlight

We have two fabulous weddings this week, one of which is the wedding of Ashley and Kyle who are getting married this weekend.  You can just tell by the photo alone that these two are a perfect fit!  Such a cute couple.  Ashley and Kyle have graciously agreed to be spotlighted, so enjoy this couple's love story below!

photo courtesy of kara elmore photography

How did you meet?

Kyle was my brother's companion on his mission in Guadalajara, Mexico. When Kyle and some other mission friends were about to come home, my brother told them to visit his family once they got back. They came over one night, but my family was on a trip to Park City. They called us and told us that they were there, and we almost told them that we wouldn't be able to see them that night, but decided to cut out trip short and meet them. It was a good thing we did... we began dating after that night and were engaged a few months later!

What is a unique aspect of your relationship?

One unique thing about our relationship is that Kyle and I are both very quiet people. I am sometimes surprised we were able to make it through our first few dates, but now we can't stop talking when we are together! 

Tell us about your favorite date.

Around Christmas time, we rode the Heber Valley train to a big tubing hill. After tubing for a few hours, we went out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Park City. Afterwards, we drove home and opened each others Christmas gifts and watched Christmas movies. 

What are your favorite qualities about each other?

Ashley: One of Kyle's best qualities is his sense of humor. He is always making me laugh with his jokes and the things that he says. I also love that he is good at almost everything he tries to do. He surprises me all the time with how well he is able to accomplish things that he has never tried before. He is very smart and can figure out anything he puts his mind to. He is also very neat and organized. This is helpful to me because I am always making a mess and he's always there to help me clean it up. However, my very favorite quality that Kyle has is how much he cares for other people and how he never talks badly about others. He is very thoughtful and a great example to me! 

Kyle: Ashley is the best person I know!  She has so many great qualities it is hard to just name a couple.  I love how she always laughs at my dumb jokes and always has a big smile on her face.  It always brightens my day to hear her laugh and see her smile.  I also love how positive she is.  She hardly ever gets down and if she does it's for about two seconds.  She always encourages me and helps me know that everything will be alright.  Another great quality about her is how much she thinks about others.  She is always thinking about her family and how she can help them in their day to day activities.  Last, I love how kind and friendly she is to everyone.  She always makes me want to be a better person and makes me love life more and more every day.

Where are you going on your honeymoon?

We are going on a cruise to Mexico and will be stopping in Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. I've never been to Mexico and Kyle's excited to go back! 

How did he propose?

We drove up to Brighton ski resort to go snowboarding that evening after school. We had already picked the ring out the week earlier, so I was expecting the proposal sometime, but not quite so soon. We got to the resort and started to put all of our snow stuff on. I put my foot in my snow boot and felt the ring box at the bottom. I took out the ring box and opened it, expecting to find a ring. It wasn't in there, and he tried to convince me that he had forgotten it. Just when I was starting to believe him, he said "Oh, what's this behind your ear?", and pulled out the ring. We laughed and I was very relieved that he hadn't really lost it. He then bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was perfect and unexpected!

noelle + eric spotlight

It has been a long time since we've done couple spotlights on the blog but we are going to be bringing them back every now and then.  Let's start by introducing you to Noelle and Eric, a couple for whose wedding we are designing in a couple weeks.  In her responses, Noelle talks a little about the design concept for her Sundance Soiree, and believe us - it's gonna be a femininely rustic thing of beauty.  Enjoy getting know this cute couple!

photo courtesy of aria photography

How did you meet?

We were both training for a triathlon down in St. George. A month or so before the triathlon I was training with a friend and we planned to go on a long bike ride, she invited Eric. We ended up chatting for the majority of the ride and then when we got back we decided to go on a run too. While I was putting my bike back in my car he asked my friend for my number, which at the time I didn't know.


What is most unique thing about your relationship?

We are a pretty normal BYU couple. I would say that something maybe a little different is that we are both really independent. However, this works well for us because we are both capable of living individual lives but we would rather live them together. I actually thought of something, we both like to watch documentaries! I guess we are nerds.

What was your first date?

Eric fights wildland fires during the summer and so we had a few dates planned that fell through because he got called to a fire. Luckily for him, after a few stand-ups I still went out with him. We went to a BYU women's soccer game and then walked around provo while chatting and went to go get frozen yogurt. It was really fun and conversation flowed really well. We hung out everyday after that.


Tell us a little bit about your event concept and what you are excited about regarding your wedding.

Our reception is going to be at Sundance, we want the outdoor/woodsy feel incorporated with romance and a simple elegant feel.


What are your favorite qualities about each other?

About him:  I love that Eric is very determined and is very organized and on-top of his life. He gets things done and is always successful. I think that is a very attractive quality.

About her:  Noelle is very optimistic and friendly. She is also really hard-working and dedicated.


How did he propose?

Since biking has been incorporated on a lot of our dates, it was fitting that Eric proposed on a bike ride. We had planned to go out to my sisters house to play games and eat dinner one Friday night and Eric suggested that before that we bike up American Fork canyon, since it is close to where my sister lives. It was a pretty cold day in January so we bundled up and biked up to Tibblefork reservoir. I had no idea that Eric had the ring so I was not suspecting a thing. On the bike ride up  I was getting a little tired and so Eric kept asking if I was having fun, he wanted to make sure I was enjoying myself if he was going to purpose. At the top we had to bundle up even more for the ride down. Eric gave me his warm liner gloves to wear underneath my current gloves. As he put the gloves on my hand he slipped the ring onto my finger. He then pulled the glove off and got on one knee and asked if I would marry him. It was great, then the ride down to the car was so cold that I might have started to cry. He now jokes that I cried when he asked me to marry him,  but not out of happiness. It was perfect for us and something we will always remember. 

a client's review of blossom sweet

Remember our gorgeous "Sundance Soiree" that we recently blogged about? Well, we were thrilled to receive an email yesterday from that particular bride letting us know she had written an online review about Blossom Sweet which gave an overview of her experience. We love hearing feedback like this from our clients just about as much as we love anything. So without further ado, here's her candid and unaltered review:



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"After recommendations from my wedding venue of their "approved florists" left me seriously wanting, I did a little research and found Melissa of Blossom Sweet. Boy, am I glad that I did!!!

Throughout the planning process (mind you I was out of state and do not live in Utah), Melissa was always just an email away. Through email and phone conversations I was able to communicate my layperson vision to her, which she in turn took...and ran with.

When we finally did meet in person, she had wonderful resources for me to browse through and help pick exactly what flowers I wanted. Not only did she deliver with beautiful blooms and arrangements, she more than captured the "feeling" that I wanted from my flowers. I had so many compliments on the flowers from guests at our wedding. My wedding planner kept me updated throughout the day, saying how beautiful things were looking...especially the flowers. She was so impressed with Melissa's work that she took her information and told me that she would definitely recommend her to future brides. She also thought that, for what Blossom Sweet delivered, things were fairly priced.

While our flowers were an investment (Melissa freely acknowledges this on her website), they were absolutely worth the splurge. Thank goodness I also had a great photographer to help capture just how beautiful Melissa of Blossom Sweet made our wedding look, because now it is all just a memory...but a really great one thanks in part to her artistry!

You can check out what Melissa did for us at: http://www.blossomsweet.com."


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Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy life to do that, Lesley! You were a fantastic client and we so enjoyed working with you on your beautiful event. Warm wishes for you in all your newlywed bliss!

liesl + justin: a "WOODSy" soiree

When we met Liesl and her cute mom for our initial consultation way back when, it was an extremely stormy and cold evening. They had a bit of a hard time finding the location in the storm, and had parked quite far away and had to brave walking through the storm to try to find us. We knew we'd get along great when they walked in to the appointment windblown and covered in snow & sleet... and were laughing about it! Yes, just as we suspected, the consultation was very fun and there were lots of laughs the entire time. They are such fun clients and have been a true joy to work with!

And now, fast forward to today. Liesl is tying the knot tomorrow morning and we're very excited for her sure-to-be-beautiful event. And as it is the eve of her wedding, enjoy her couple spotlight which she kindly agreed to do. Thanks, Liesl!

photography by dan hixson photography

How did you meet?
I met some of his friends while he was still on his mission and we all became really close. The day after Justin came home, I went with my friends hiking up the "Y" and he came along. He was very shy and he wore a hat so I could barely see his face! We didn't even carry on a conversation that first day!!!!

What is the most unique thing about your relationship?
We definitely follow the saying "opposites attract." I'm a ballroom dancer and he is a skateboarder/musician. I love dressing up and he's confident being casual. I'm the oldest in my family and he's the youngest. I like staying inside watching movies and he likes to be outdoors. I like having my quiet time and he loves always being with people. He doesn't like olives on his pizza and I wish they would invent a pizza with only olives! The list goes on but we couldn't be happier!!

What was your first date?
A week after we met, I told my roommate that I was extremely interested in this new handsome guy I just met! Five minutes later I get a call from Justin asking me out!!! He picked me up and we stopped at Subway and picked up a footlong black forest ham sandwich and some Power-ade. We headed into Provo Canyon and did a small hike near Canyon Glenn Park. It was beautiful! Up there we played frisbee, well, he threw it and I never caught it and I threw it and he had to run 20 yards to get a little closer to where it landed, and did some exploring. After we ate and played we headed back down and as we got closer to the car he asked me if he could hold my hand (Who is this guy! How great!)!! Of course I said yes! We headed to Arby's and shared a chocolate milkshake and then he told me that this was all he had planned so if I wanted to I could go with him to his sister's house and watch a movie. (This is at 9:00 p.m. and little did I know that this was a little test given to him by one of his sisters to see how well I thought the date is going and if it wasn't going well for him..... date over early! Good thing he didn't!!!!) We watched Transformers and we also might've had our first kiss as well! Two years later, the rest is history!

Tell us a little about your design concept:
The feeling of our wedding is a more natural, rustic, woodsy feel. My new last name will be Woods so I wanted to highlight that a little bit. Everything about the reception is just going to be enhancing the natural feel that is already there. Light pinks, sage green, and different shades of tan and brown are the colors for our reception. We wanted everyone to feel so relaxed that they just wanted to stay and enjoy the day with us. We are both so excited for everyone to come together and celebrate! We are going to have pictures everywhere and different arrangements of flowers leading the way to the party. We really cannot even wait!

What are your favorite qualities about each other?
Him: One look at Liesl and you can see that she lights up the place wherever she is. She has the most beautiful smile which makes everyone around happy. Liesl is also very funny/goofy :) - she likes to make people laugh. She cares so much for people and can easily create great lasting relationships. Especially for me, Liesl just makes me be a better me. She loves and wants me to do my best. She has such a love, and is so sincere that even when she is not around, I know she is there for me.

Her: Justin is very kind and sweet and sincere. He loves his family and always wants to be around them. He wants to make sure everyone is happy and always having a good time. He is very charismatic! Justin never talks badly about others and always looks for the good in sticky situations. He loves to laugh and hearing his laugh you can't help but join in! He is very creative and talented. He's a great singer and whenever I try to sing along he never makes fun of how horrible I am. Last but not least... his devotion and love for me is one of a kind! I am so lucky!

How did he propose?
Justin and I waited on standby to see "The Foreigner" at Hale Center Theater. We were there about an hour and a half early and were the first ones to get in! I was such a funny and great show! Afterwards it was about 10:30 and we were both STARVING! It's really not very nice to go to a restaurant that late but we did anyway. We decided on Carrabba's! I had some delicious pasta and he had a yummy chicken dish. After we were done eating we let our food sit and and then he asked me if it was okay if we stopped by his sisters house real quick after we were done. I said yes and asked why. Then he told me that he wanted to stop by so we could tell everyone that we were engaged!!! Then he got down on one knee next to the booth and asked me to marry him!!!! How sweet!!!

Thank you again, Liesl, and best wishes for tomorrow!

stefanie + matt

This lovely couple is getting hitched this evening at Red Butte Garden. Stefanie's bouquet is STUNNNNNING. If you "like" Blossom Sweet on Facebook, then you've probably already seen the itsy-bitsy sneak peek we posted of her bouquet this morning so you know what we're talking about. If you don't... well sad day for you because you'll have to wait a couple of weeks to see it on the blog!

And now, onto the spotlight:


Stefanie + Matt
photography by erin hallmark


1. How did you meet?

We met through mutual friends from Matt's work. He asked me out a week later.


2. What has been your favorite date as a couple?

We spent New Year's Eve in New York City and got a police escort to see the ball in Times Square because we were from Utah and had not seen it up close before. We went to my favorite restaurant, Serendipity 3, and we also went to Central Park to see the fireworks. We also had a snowball fight. :)


3. What are your favorite qualities about your fiance?

I love how sweet and gentle and caring Matthew is. And he is very concerned about everyone and makes everyone feel loved. He loves that I come from a good family and is very excited to have more "siblings"!


4. What is your favorite way to spend time together?

Since we're both so busy we like to relax and watch movies. We also love eating sugar; Mountain Dew is our favorite drink so we are having that at our wedding reception.


5. How did he propose?

There is no short version to this story. First of all, it was April Fool's Day, and he gave me a fake proposal on a carriage ride downtown. But later he completely surprised me when we went to a gazebo in my neighbor's backyard at sunset; he had pizza (our favorite food) and roses waiting for me where he gave me the real proposal and my beautiful ring. :)


Thanks again for agreeing to be spotlighted! Good luck today and we hope you love your flowers as much as we do!

courtney + jake = roller-skate love

Wouldn't you love to meet the love of your life on roller-skates? When I first met with today's spotlight couple several months ago, I asked them how they met and they told me they worked at Sonic Drive In back in high school. I asked, "Did you meet over roller-skates?" They confirmed my suspicion. Call me old fashioned, but it just makes me think of a time when poodle skirts, bobby socks, saddle shoes and true side ponytails were in full swing - such a romantic, puppy-love era!

So without further ado, let's get to the task at hand. Courtney and Jake are getting married tomorrow afternoon, and they have graciously agreed to be spotlighted. Their wedding is going to be beautiful - think feminine, ruffly, classic, and vintage (I have mixed feelings about the word "vintage" lately, everyone uses it! It's almost as bad as "fabulous..." don't get me started!). Anyway, yes, it will be a lovely touch of vintage-y, antique-y goodness. It's a gonna be pretty!

Enjoy the spotlight.

Photography by Hiya Papaya

How did you meet and who made the first move?

1. We met in high school at our first job at Sonic Drive-In. I was a senior and Jake was a sophomore. We were just really good friends and neither one of us tried to date the other. Then a few years later we ran into each other while we were on dates with other people. He got my number and the rest is history!

When did you know you wanted to get married?

2. I knew i wanted to marry Jake a few weeks after we were boyfriend/girlfriend. He is my best friend and the greatest man i know. We have such great chemistry and connect on every level. I love him more than anything.

What are your favorite qualities about each other?

3. Courtney's favorite qualities about Jake: His sense of humor. His honesty. His hard work ethic. His love of music. His love for sports. His sillyness. His loyalty. His passion. His sexy legs and arms haha. His sense of adventure. His kindness. His generosity. He teaches me to let the little thing go.

Jake's favorite qualities about Courtney: Her tenderness. Her creativity. Her sillyness. Her eyes and lips. Her love for animals. Her kindness. Her big heart. Her sense of humor. Her cleanliness. Her sense of style.



What is the reason you are most excited about to get married?

4. I am most excited to get married to Jake because I know he is the one for me and I want my life to be spent with him. He makes me feel every emotion. He takes care of me. He truly loves me. I want to live my life with him. I want him to be my husband forever and the father of our children. Absolutely no one could do what he does for me and make me feel so special. I am excited to start planning for our future and accomplish our goals together.

How did he propose?

5. I use to work at an assisted living center and while I was loading the residents for work, Jake just showed up, got down on one knee and proposed. It was on Valentine's Day. He said he had the ring for a week and was going to explode if he didn't give it to me. All the residents were cheering and laughing. It was very cute.

Where are you going for your honeymoon?

6. California! We are going for eight days and are very excited! We will be staying in LA and plan on going to the Price Is Right, Universal Studios, Disneyland, the San Diego Zoo, and then just shop and go to the beach and site see! I'm so excited and I know Jake is excited to get work off for eight days.

Thanks so much for doing the spotlight, Courtney and Jake; we're excited for your stellar event tomorrow!

sunny + riley: oh so hip

We know we know, we've been slacking on the spotlights the past few months. Deepest apologies - the spring and summer seasons are a bustling busy time 'round these parts, but we're about to get back into the swing of spotlights!

And now, for your viewing pleasure and without further ado, enjoy this little lovely about Riley + Sunny, who are getting hitched this week...


Riley and Sunny are getting married this weekend, and we are so excited for their concept! When we first met with Riley, we knew her style was a perfect fit for Blossom Sweet: hip, vintage, earthy, eclectic, current, feminine, and classically beautiful all rolled into one. We dare say Riley has style coming out her ears!

And how much do you love these adorable engagement shots by Michelle Frampton of Miesh Photography [100% film photography] - so cute! Riley said of photographer Michelle: "She is a one man show and totally rad."

HOW DID YOU MEET?

• Sunny and I met on a blind date. It's kind of funny because I am not the blind dating type of person but a friend of mine that I lived in China wanted to line me up with her friend and I begrudgingly agreed to go. When I first laid eyes on him I thought he was a fox! We had a fun first date making chinese dumplings, going bowling, and then watching the classic What About Bob. We had so much fun! At the end of the date I was sure he was going to ask me out again but as we were saying goodbye he still hadn't asked me for my phone number! I decided to go ahead and be my headstrong self and say, "Aren't you going to get my number?" I guess he wasn't too intimidated by my straight-forwardness because he started calling me every night afterwords.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING TO DO AS A COUPLE?

• I think one of our favorite things to do as a couple is play outside. We both enjoy going cruising on our longboards, or taking the day off work to go snowboarding. Sometimes we'll take our cat, Elenore exploring or on picnics. Whatever it is, we like to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful world around us.
  

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE QUALITIES ABOUT EACH OTHER?

• [FROM RILEY] Finding a favorite quality is more difficult than one might imagine! One of my favorite qualities in Sunny is his open-mindedness to new things. Guys with this quality are few and far between so I feel extremely lucky to have Sunny. I tend to be somewhat spontaneous, random, and scattered and it is so nice to have someone who just kicks back and enjoys the ride rather than staying 'in the box'. He finds a way to be playful and supportive no matter what the scenario and I really respect that about him.

• [FROM SUNNY] My favorite quality about Riley is just how playful she is. Also, she has a fresh view on things and it makes me feel lighter when I am with her. She is considerate and makes me happy.

WHAT IS THE MOST UNIQUE THING ABOUT YOU AS A COUPLE?

• There are many things that I think are unique about us as a couple. The most obvious one that comes to mind is our differing nationality backgrounds. Sunny is from Taiwan (China), and I have lived in Utah most of my life so it creates a unique scenario for us a couple. Although we were both raised in very different backgrounds, we have found a way to mesh our lives (and cultures) together as a couple. Whether its eating authentic Chinese and Taiwanese dishes or watching The Office marathons on tv, we have found a heavenly little harmony where both of us are represented and happy. I think that is unique.

HOW DID HE PROPOSE?

• Sunny proposed to me on December 27, 2010 by way of scavenger hunt. I woke up one morning to find a clue laying by the side of my bed (it was really cute, he had typed up all of these cles and sealed them with candle wax). The clues led me to different areas around the house where I would find a clue to lead me to the next location. At the last spot there was a little owl with a ribbon tied on its neck and a beautiful ring hanging on to it. Sunny snuck in behind me and got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Of course I was thrilled and I agreed. Now it is four days until the wedding and we couldn't be more excited!

Thank you so much for doing the spotlight, R + S! We are so excited for your hip concept. Good luck with everything this week.

father of the blossom sweet bride

"Daddy, I met a man in Rome. And he's handsome and brilliant and we're getting married."

You know the movie. A tried and true classic, "Father of the Bride."

Well, a couple of weeks ago we received an email from one of our very own recent "fathers of the bride," thanking us for the beautiful designs at his daughter's wedding and expressing how much he loved the flowers. Now, don't get us wrong, fathers have often expressed such things before, but usually in passing while we are setting up the event. But how sweet is this F.O.B. for taking time out of his day to send a personal little "Blossom Sweet Thank You" post-wedding? We really appreciated it. Would that all fathers were as grand as this one.

An excerpt:

"...Thank you for your hard work on our daughter's wedding. The flowers were spectacular, natural, and beautiful. I loved the entire look..."

Thank you for making our day!

alysha + jesse sittin' in a tree . . .

Alysha + Jesse are getting married this weekend, and we are a level or two above and beyond excited for their designs! A timelessly elegant color palette of champagne, gray, buttercream, ivory, and apple green with infusions of ambient light are bound to make their's an event to remember.

And just who are these sittin'-in-a-tree-lovebirds, anyway? Without further ado, meet the cute couple:

[photography by Dan Hixson]

What did you do for your first date?

Alysha: "Our first date was more of a 'hang out' because we were both too shy to be alone together. A bunch of our friends got together and went swimming and had a BBQ at one of Jesse's friends houses. Even though we were both extremely nervous that night, I fell for him right away. We had a fun time laughing and playing; he even tried to "woo" me by singing songs with his guitar. I think it worked." :)

What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?

"We are just like any other couple and enjoy going to movies,out to eat, bowling,etc. But the two things that we LOVE to do that some may find strange are playing chess and playing catch phrase with just us two. We laugh our heads off and nothing can ever top those moments."

Where are you going on your honeymoon?

"Seeing as we both have to go back to work soon, we are going to spend a couple days up at a cabin! It will be fun to get away and relax together."

What are your favorite qualities about each other?

Alysha: "I love just about everything about Jesse, but a couple things I love the most is how caring and hard working he is. He knows just how to take care of me or others when something is wrong. He is very good as showing how much he loves me. He is such a hard worker. He is so determined in anything he does and am thankful for that because he keeps me going a lot of the time."

Jesse: "I love everything about her but I am going to have to say I admire her faith the most. She always stays positive and helps me to do the same when I'm having a bad day or somethings are going wrong. And I love her for that!"

What is the most unique thing about your relationship?

"I would have to say the most unique thing about our relationship is that we have lived on the same street and grown up together almost our whole lives. It is crazy for us to think that our whole lives we tried to imagine our future spouses, when really we were seeing each other at least once a week, every sunday, for years. Who knew we would be marrying the girl/boy from down the street?"

How did he propose?

Alysha: "We were coming home from seeing a movie and needed to go somewhere else but he "forgot" his jacket at my house and wanted to get it. He ran inside while I waited in the car. After a good ten minutes he finally called me and asked me to come inside. Not having any clue what was waiting inside, I hurried in. I walked into my house full of rose petals, candles,and a beautiful meal. He brought me in and I turned to him and he was on one knee. He said all these wonderful things, including how he thought proposing at my house was perfect because it was where we grew up together. Then, he popped the question! I was crying and shaking and saying weird things but I somehow managed to get "Yes!" out. Then we enjoyed a nice meal while staring at each other (and the beautiful ring). It was perfect. :)"


Thanks oh-so-much, you two, for completing your Blossom Sweet couple spotlight! We're so looking forward to Saturday (but not as much as you are...)!

love notes: we love 'em

First of all, our blog absence the past week is due to not only President's Day Weekend festivities, but also due to a VERY exciting new endeavor for Blossom Sweet that we are working on. Details coming soon!

Secondly, we received two messages from clients yesterday whose weddings took place in the past week or so, one message via text, and one via facebook. We thought we'd share their lil' love notes on the blog today:

client love note via facebook:

"Hey Melissa! I just wanted to say thanks so much for doing my flowers! They were GORGEOUS!!!! Honestly probably one of my very favorite things about my wedding day. You are so talented and I just can't tell you thank you enough. :)"


client love note via text message:

"...Your flowers were a HUGE hit! There were a couple of moments that I wish I could have recorded for you when people were gushing over the flowers."

This, my friends, is what we like to hear! Love notes - we love 'em. Happy clients=happy florists.

these ADORABLE little love cards can be found here

sydney + brandan

We have a few weddings coming up in the next few weeks at Blossom Sweet, one of which is the wedding of the adorable Sydney and Brandan. Thank you two for completing our spotlight questions!

And now, enjoy the latest Blossom Sweet couple spotlight - a great start to a new week!

photography by Sweet As Honey Photography

What were your first impressions of each other?

Sydney: When I first saw Brandan my honest first impression was "Wow that kid has incredibly beautiful eyes, he is really cute but has on more rings than me, a backward flat brim ball cap, and black rim glasses, what is his deal?" Luckily after taking the time to talk with him I realized he is super sweet, with his own sense of style (hence the clothing), and I am still mesmerized by those beautiful brown eyes with eyelashes to DIE for!

Brandan: I thought Sydney was really cute. Apparently she was flirting with me when we first met, but I thought she was just being mean. I guess it was like how little girls act when they think a boy is cute, be mean to them! But after I realized she wasn't actually being mean I started to like her more and more. She had the prettiest smile, and I used to find myself getting to class early with the hopes that she would come early too, and we could talk and get to know each other, outside of the classroom talk.

How did you meet?

Sydney: Brandan and I met in a marketing class at UVU. I actually was finishing my degree through Utah State but had 1 class at UVU that semester, it happened to be the class I met Brandan in and we were in the same group together for a huge project. He "conveniently" forgot to buy a book for the class and I "conveniently" had one so I asked him if he wanted to study for our first test together, studying turned into dating and a year later here we are getting married! :)

Who said, "I love you" first?

Sydney: Brandan said I love you first, but only because I was too chicken. He was interning in Washington state that summer and we both knew our feelings for each other were strong but wanted to wait to say those words in person, he couldn't wait any longer and ended up saying them over the phone, but it was still great to hear a few weeks later in person.

What are your favorite qualities about each other?

Sydney: My favorite quality about Brandan is how kind and supportive he is to me. He really pays attention to how I feel and will jump in and help out when he can tell I am stressed to the max. He is also incredible about supporting me and us making decisions together and compromising.

Brandan: My favorite quality about Sydney is that she is so genuinely nice. She is the most unselfish person I have ever met, and she always seems to put my needs in front of hers. I am trying so hard to be like her because she is just such a great example of unconditional love.

What has been your most fun date as a couple?

Sydney: The best date we ever had was on a trip to Las Vegas. We went on a 6 mile hike down to some hidden natural hot springs by Hoover Dam. There was a lot of boulder climbing and hopping around but it was totally worth it when we made it to the bottom and got to relax in the hot springs and also sit under a warm waterfall, a VERY cool experience.

How did he propose?

Sydney: I travel for work and was working in St. George the beginning of November for a few days. We had been talking and texting throughout the day as I had been working and he had been doing school work (or so I thought). I had just finished working out at the hotel gym and went back up to my room when I got a call from the front desk saying there was a problem with my card and could I please come down to the front desk to get it figured out. Totally clueless I rode the elevator down and as the doors opened I saw Brandan down on one knee in the hotel lobby with a ring in his hand. I ran up and hugged him (still gross and sweaty from my workout), apparently I forgot to actually say yes because he asked if that meant yes. He showed me the ring which is a family heirloom handed down for about 5 or 6 generations and I was ecstatic. After calling our parents and sharing the good news I was finally able to take a shower and get cleaned up for one of the biggest days of my life. :)

Congrats to the cute couple!

tori + eric

I am so excited for Tori's wedding coming up this week! It is going to be gaga-gorgeous! Oh me oh my I've been in a state of anxious anticipation about this one for awhile now.

This Blossom Sweet bride is beyond adorable. It's been a joy to work with her. Although I've never met Eric, from the looks of the following photos, they are a couple who is clearly in love and happy together.

Tori graciously agreed to be the latest Blossom Sweet spotlight, so without further ado, here goes. Thanks, Tori!

Tori + Eric
photography by Nicole Carman

How did you meet?

Eric and I met on Campus at Weber State University, where we both attend school. Eric always makes me tell the story of how I waited outside of his classroom for over a month in hopes that he would talk to me! Unfortunately, he would walk right past me everyday! A friend finally approached him to tell him that I thought he was a hunk! After becoming embarrassed I no longer waited outside of his classroom but he got my number from a friend and it's all history from there!


Who said "I love you" first?

Eric told me he loved me first! We had been dating for 2 years and he told me on our way home from his family Christmas party. Although I may have wanted to say it first and before then, it was well worth the wait! The timing was perfect!

What has been the most fun date you've been on as a couple?

Our most "fun" date as a couple would have to be our first date! And it is by far the most memorable! Eric picked me up with several of his guy friends, me being the only girl, where they took me out in the middle of no where to participate in what they call "bunny bashing". It sounds very harsh but it wasn't as bad as it sounds! However the outcome was! Bunny bashing consists of hunting jackrabbits, after each person would get their jackrabbit we would put it in the bed of the truck. When driving home, a cop pulled us over because of the blood on the side of the truck from putting the rabbits in the bed. He pulled his gun on us, hand cuffed us, and put us on the side of the road while he searched the car. Since killing jackrabbits isn't illegal, the cop had a laugh and let us go with no harm done. After proving that I could "hang" with the guys, we hang out every day after that!


How did he propose?

Eric proposed in a way that I never will forget! He has a great sense of humor, one of the reasons I love him so much, and I will never forget how he did it! I bought Eric a handgun for Christmas and in May he still hadn't shot it. He planned that we needed to go on a hike for him to test it out. He packed us a lunch and we hiked up a beautiful trail in Ogden. We finally got to a clearing and he took the gun case of of his bag and told me to get it out while he loaded the clip. When I opened the gun case there was a picture of Eric cheesing it! The best part about it was he had cut out one of his front teeth and put the ring up through the back of the paper so it looked like he was wearing a grill! I couldn't hold it back, I started laughing and he looked up to see he had gotten down on one knee! It was so great and everyone gets a kick out of the story!

nic + marianne = the power of a ponytail

I've heard a lot of guys say that they love when girls wear ponytails. Well, the story of Marianne + Nic which you're about to read may just prove that sentiment to be true because he mentions her ponytail more than once in the spotlight questions!

Marianne and Nic are getting married this coming Saturday, and their event is going to be stellar. I'll try to get some pics!

Enjoy this cute couple's spotlight and unique love story - I love it.

Let's start with a photo of the cute couple:
[photography by Hancock Photography]


How did you meet?

Nic: May 5, 2009, me and a couple friends knocked on the door of apartment 106 at Glenwood Apartments in Provo. I’ll never forget how beautiful you looked when you answered the door in your gray BYU-I sweatpants and your white T-shirt with your hair in a ponytail. Looking at you with you pretty smile I somehow stuttered through the words, “Is Marcie here?” You walked in the back and I didn’t see you again. Two weeks later, I texted Marcie and asked her what the name of her roommate was and if I could get her number! Then it took me another week to muster the courage to actually call!

Marianne: I was living in Provo for the summer working at an investment agency and taking some classes at BYU. My roommate Marcie had known Nic for years. He had previously lived in the ward I was in and he became really good friends with my roommate Marcie and her apartment. I had heard so many crazy stories about the "Nic and David" apartment and all the fun times and prank wars they did to each other. One night Marcie was getting together with Nic and her old friends for dinner. I happened to be studying in the living room when a knock at the door came. There I was in my studying garb of BYU-I sweats, lifeguarding t-shirt, and pony tail. So cute... I answered the door and there was the man I was going to marry! He asked Marcie for my phone number that night and mustered the courage to call me a few weeks later. Actually going on our first date was a roller coaster of a story!

What did you do for your first date?

Nic: I knew this date had to be good! What could be better than wave runners at the lake?! So I called to ask you out. Thankfully you didn’t answer and I left a voicemail asking you out. You called back and the date was set for Saturday! Saturday was supposed to storm so we rescheduled for the next Saturday. As luck would have it, yet another stormy Saturday. I tried switching the date to a monster truck rally but that got cancelled too. So we tried the next week. And yet another stormy Saturday. We decided to leave work early and go on a Friday. Even though it took three weeks it was worth it. From them on I was smitten. I remember telling myself, “I’m going to keep asking her out till she says no!” So I got tickets to the Strawberry Days rodeo and asked you out again! “And she said ‘Yes!’, and I said wow!” (Did you catch the country song reference?)

Marianne: Nic has been nicknamed "weatherboy" for a very particular reason. Nic attempted to take me to the lake to jetski for almost four weeks! He says he had to have the perfect first date because he didn't think he would get another chance to take me out! Each weekend there seemed to be some thunderstorm and so we couldn't go to the lake. Because of the storms, we postponed our date to the next week, and then the next week, and then the next week ;) We finally decided to skip out on work on a Friday afternoon because again, that Saturday was supposed to storm. It was a really fun date and yes, he did get another chance to take me out and yes, it did rain again on Saturday!

Describe the moment you knew you first had a crush on each other.

Nic: I knew I first had a crush on Marianne when she first opened the door on May 5th. She was wearing her grey BYU-I sweatpants, a white t-shirt with a turquoise undershirt, and her hair up in a pony tail. I had no idea who she was but when she opened the door she smiled at me like I knew her for years. After our first date to the lake though is when I decided that I was going to keep asking her out until she says no. And she hasn’t said no yet!

Marianne: I would say I had a crush on Nic probably around the 4th date we had when he took me to a Real Salt Lake game. I was really attracted to him on our first date, but after getting to know him and spending time with him on the following dates really helped me seal the deal. The previous relationship I was in was made me really nervous about dating and guys all together. Nic took me out on dates that not only were really fun and unique, but they also gave us opportunities to talk and get to know one another. Little by little I was willing to take my guard down. At the game I remember thinking how comfortable I felt around him. It had only been a few weeks, but I felt like I liked him. Talking, joking, and flirting just came naturally! So fun!

How did he propose?

Nic: The morning of our last day in DC, we stopped at the D.C. Temple on our way to the city. I tried to make it a surprise but apparently Marianne knew what was going to happen that morning. As we walked around the grounds, I was looking for the perfect spot. There it was, nice and secluded. A little arbor with a pathway right to it, almost like it was made specifically for this moment. I think the spot was made just for us.

Marianne: For Valentine’s day this year, Nic made me a leather bound journal of our entire dating experience, kind of like the adventure book on Up. He put pictures of all our dates and wrote captions describing what we did and what he was thinking and feeling at the time. I had given the book back to him for a while to add more to it.

Nic: We sat on the bench, while Marianne looked through the additions I made on the book. When she was finished, I asked her to turn to the last page where I had a picture of myself kneeling with the caption “Will you marry me?” at the bottom. I knelt down and asked her to marry me! Even though I knew the answer already, I was still incredibly nervous! I’m so happy you said yes!

What are your favorite qualities about each other?

Nic: I have told Marianne since we started dating that my favorite thing about her is the way she makes me feel. I know this includes everything about her but it is my favorite thing. Whenever I am with her or even think about her she always manages to leave me with a smile! She builds me up and supports me. Because of her I feel like I can do anything, like nothing is impossible. I just love everything about her!

Marianne: We both had a hard time figuring out what we loved most about each other because we love absolutely everything!! I always looked for guy who would treat me well and make me feel special and loved. That was the most important thing. Check! I found it! I've never questioned how Nic feels for me because he is always so good to let me know what's on his mind and what he feels for me. I think Nic is the complete package. He even has the little things I hoped for. I always wanted a tough guy with a sensitive side. Check! I found that too! When I met Nic he was a mixed martial arts fighter and boxer. I never expected that! How much tougher can you get?? As I got to know him I found that he is extremely sweet. I love watching him with little kids. He is so good with them! I also love watching him with dogs! I think they are his second love! He'll give me a hard time for saying this, but he also cries in movies more than me! Marley and Me and I am Legend makes him cry because the dogs die! One of my favorite things that Nic does is that he tells me he loves me several times a day and always calls me Sweetheart :)

If you could think of one song, book, or movie to describe your relationship, what would it be and why?

Our song has always been Keith Urban's “Only You Can Love Me This Way.” When we first started dating, Nic learned I knew how to play guitar and this was one of the songs I was learning at the time. I hate singing and playing in front of people, but eventually I mustered the courage. This song speaks to how we feel we were truly meant to be together and how much we feel like the other is the total package made just for the other. So many things happened that eventually led us to each other and we are blessed every day. Ha cheeseball I know, but we sure love each other!

"Well, I know there’s a reason
And I know there’s a rhyme
We were meant to be together
That’s why
We can roll with the punches
We can stroll hand in hand
And when I say it’s forever
You understand

That you’re always in my heart
You’re always on my mind
And when it all becomes too much
You’re never far behind
And there’s no one that comes close to you
Could ever take your place
‘Cause only you can love me this way . . ."


Blossom Sweet comments:

1. I love Keith Urban and love that song too.
2. Nic, don't feel bad about crying in dog movies, because I totally do, too! I thought I was weird, but I guess I'm not the only one. Have you seen "My Dog Skip?" Let's just say that's the movie I watch when I want to really cry.
3. Love the adventure book reference in the proposal story! I actually wrote a post a couple weeks ago about that very thing on my personal blog. See the post here.

Thanks for the spotlight, M + N! See you Saturday!

I guess there really is power in a ponytail.

amy + aaron

Amy and Aaron are getting married this coming Saturday. To say that I am excited for their event would be the understatement of the century. I am beyond ecstatic! I have never been so excited about any design concept - I simply cannot wait! It's going to be faaaabulous.

I met Amy several months ago. I first received an email from her telling me that she had asked her sister-in-law about what vendors she liked and didn't like for her wedding which took place in 2008. When it came to flowers, her sis-in-law said,

"I had [so and so] do the flowers for my wedding, but - had I known about them -
I WISH I would have hired Blossom Sweet."
. . .

Well, what a compliment! Thank you!

Ever since our initial consultation, I feel that Amy and I just hit it off. Stylistically, personality-wise, etc., we are a superb match for this floral endeavor. I've told Amy this before - and I'm truly serious - she is "the client of dreams." It's been an absolute pleasure to work with Amy on this event. I even was able to attend her bridal shower! How great is that? Told you - fantastic client. She meets - and sets - the quota for this blog series labeled under "clientele extraordinaire."

So let's get to the spotlight, shall we? Yes, let's.

Amy + Aaron
[photography by Mallory Wilkes - new site coming soon!]


1. How did you meet?

Aaron and I have had an amazing, unique way about meeting each other. We both took a shot in the dark and joined e-harmony. He had been a member for a few months before I joined. After only 2 weeks of me being a member we were “matched” on August 8th, 2009 and he chose to “communicate” with me. E-harmony is special in that it matched you with people that are compatible on 25 different dimensional areas. We have so many similarities and yet enough differences to keep things interesting. It did not take long for us to realize we were a perfect fit. We talked for about a month before we finally had our first date on September 19th, 2009. Our first date felt like we had known each other for forever and it was plain to see we were going to be a couple from that day on.

Blossom Sweet Note: Amy + Aaron are actually NOT my first clients to have met via the realm of online dating. Seems to be working for quite a few couples!

2. How did he propose?

Aaron is very smart and sneaky! The day he proposed was Wednesday, November 25, 2009. It was the day before Thanksgiving Break and I was at school teaching my little first graders. Aaron called me at lunch to see how my day was going and was asking me if I was going to take my class to the computer lab after lunch. I thought it was strange and wondered why it was so important for him to know. I didn’t think much of it however, being the naive person that I am. I said goodbye to him and rounded up my class to take up to the computer lab. As I was walking down the hall I saw the principal look at me and turn around back towards the office. I thought it was strange, but kept on walking. My class and I were in the computer lab for about 10 minutes when my principal came in filming my class and me. Again I thought it was out of the ordinary but just went with it. A few minutes later the door opened and in walked Aaron holding a beautiful bouquet of pink roses and wearing a big smile on his face. I was in absolute shock and completely caught off guard. He started walking towards me and handed me the roses. Then he got down on one knee and took out a little gray box. He opened it up and said, “Amy will you marry me?” I always thought I would cry when I got engaged, but I was too busy laughing in shock and amazement! I said YES of course and we hugged and my class giggled and applauded for us. My class was so cute about the whole thing and begged us to share a smooch! To this day my class talked about Aaron like he is a celebrity and will always remember the day I became engaged. It was a very creative and plotting way to get engaged. Aaron is very good at keeping me on my toes and surprising me, which I love!

3. Describe your favorite aspects of your relationship?

There are so many “favorites” on this one! We see eye to eye on so many things! We have been pretty relaxed and comfortable with each other since we first started talking. We just love being in each other’s company. We are content just snuggling next to each other and not necessarily doing anything or going anywhere. Our close friends and family say that we act as if we have already been married for years! We are open and honest with each other and have never been afraid to discuss difficult or uncomfortable matters.

4. What is the most romantic date you have been on as a couple?

The two of us would agree that the most romantic date was September 26th, 2009 when we went four wheeling up a huge mountainside. The view was absolutely breathtaking! We were facing each other on the four-wheeler when we reached the top with our helmets on and our hands intertwined. There is something about being in nature and feeling the rush of a rapidly moving four-wheeler under your feet that makes you experience a natural high, add a boy to that and the butterflies start to fly!

5. What is the most fun or original date you have been on as a couple?
For us we would both agree the four wheeling date. It was my first experience on one and it was something Aaron really enjoyed doing. It was fun experiencing one of his passions with him and needless to say I was impressed with how safe he made me feel while still letting me feel “the rush.”

6. When was the moment that you realized you were in love?

It was September 26th, 2009. I actually felt that I loved him before we embarked on our four wheeling adventure. I was afraid of what I was experiencing because it happened fast and hit me quickly! The feeling only intensified over the course of the day and I was relieved when he told me he loved me that same day! We were back from a fun filled day of four wheeling and were just unwinding at the dinner table. We were facing each other and looking into each other’s eyes and Aaron whispered that he loved me. I did not hesitate to tell him I loved him too!

7. What are your favorite qualities about each other?

Aaron: She is kind, caring, loving, clean and organized, always thinking about me, and she has an amazing ability to make me feel like I’m the most important thing that ever happened.

Amy: He is so selfless; he always has my best interest in mind with a desire to provide for my needs and wants. He constantly does small, thoughtful things that exemplify his love for me. He is a romantic, he is SMART and an amazing problem solver. He is able to think outside the box, which I stand in awe of all the time! He loves me for me and makes me feel like I am the specialist, most beautiful girl in the world! I could go on for days….

8.What has been the best part about engagement? The hardest part?

The best part of our engagement is that it has given us time to really get to know each other on so many different levels. It has also allowed me to get to know his family on deeper levels since I spent most weekends up in Idaho. The hardest part without a doubt was the distance and constant traveling back and forth from Salt Lake to Idaho or from Idaho to Salt Lake every weekend. The whole experience was very exhausting, time consuming, costly, and most importantly heart wrenching to only spend 2 days together before parting for a week at a time.

Thanks so much for agreeing to be spotlighted, A + A! It's been so great to work with you, Amy, and gain not only a client most marvelous, but a new friend as well. See you Saturday - can't wait!

hilda + tyler

We have two Blossom Sweet weddings coming up this weekend, one of which is the wedding of Hilda and Tyler. They sent me over some info for a spotlight, so without further ado...

Introducing H + T:
{photography by KLH Photography}


How did you meet?
"Tyler and I met while working at Tahitian Noni Cafe. She was a stunning waitress and Tyler was a hot chef."

How long did you date prior to engagement?
"We had known each other for three years and started serious dating two of those years."

What were your first impressions of each other?
"My first impression of Tyler was that he was fun to work with. He seemed like an easy going hard worker."

"My first impression of Hilda was she was a lot younger that I was but she was really cute and fun to be around."

What did you do for your first date?
We went out on the pier at Utah Lake and I gave her a piggy back ride.

What is the one thing your are most excited about in regards to getting married?
"One thing we are most excited about in regards of getting married is that we don't have to drive back and forth from each others houses and starting a new life together as a family."

What are your favorite qualities about each other?
"Hilda has too many great qualities to mention. She is very persistent in everything she does. She is a hard worker and does her best in everything she does." "Tyler's qualities are he's always willing to listen and understand others. He is always there for me when I need help or support with anything."

rachel + scott

Rachel & Scott are a couple who chose to come to consult together - just the two of them. It was clear to me that they were SO in love! They are simply adorable together.

Their wedding is coming up in a couple weeks, so I thought I'd share their couple spotlight. Thanks R + S!

Rachel + Scott
[photography by Yan Photo]

What is your favorite way to spend time as a couple?

Spending time together with family and friends when we aren't planning for the wedding.

How long did you date before getting engaged?

9 months

How did you meet?

Scott and I met our sophomore year of high school in our Pre-Calculus class. So, in case any of you out there are thinking there isn't a point to math classes....there is :) We started "working on homework" together, became the best of friends, and have loved being around each other ever since!

What has been your favorite date together?

Rachel: My favorite date was our junior year of high school, when Scott took me to Prom. In the morning, all the boys in the group made yummy breakfast for all the girls. Later that evening, we went to this beautiful park across from the Timpanogos Temple, where they had a photographer take fun/cute pictures of all of us. For dinner, the boys reserved the high school seminary building, and decorated it with white christmas lights, white linens, and rose petals....it was beautiful!! They had convinced all the seminary teachers to be our waiters and waitresses for the evening. It was so fun and creative. After dinner, the boys got up and sang "You are My Sunshine," and gave all of us red roses. We finished up the night at the dance over at Thanksgiving Point, and then......I got my first kiss on the cheek from Scott :) awww!!! I was on cloud nine.

Scott: I would have to say that our favorite date together was Prom our junior year. It was a lot of fun and we were with all of our friends in one huge group. That was when I held her hand for the first time on the way home and I kissed her goodnight on the cheek. I was so nervous but it is a night I will never forget.

What is your funniest memory as a couple?
Rachel: One memory I will always laugh about is the night that Scott and I decided to start dating exclusively. I had picked Scott up, we hung out at my house, and later started talking about how much we liked each other and wanted to date. It got to be the middle of the night and I had to get up really early for work the next day. I was so excited about everything (and tired!), I forgot that I had given Scott a ride over to my house. Right before he left, he gave me a bit of a funny look, but I didn't think anything of it. Well, the next morning when I was getting ready for work....it dawned on me. In a panic, I was thinking....how did Scott get home last night??!!! Later, he told me that he had walked home (45 minute walk!) because he felt so bad that he had kept me up late. I was so embarassed!!! But, I realized how sweet Scott was, and how much he was willing to give up his comforts to make me happy :)

The next weekend, we were having Sunday dinner with some of Scott's extended family, and they were asking me where I live. I explained how to get to my house, and without knowing what had happened, one of them asked, "How far of a walk is that?" Scott immediately piped in, "Oh, about 45 minutes!" I don't think I will ever cease to be teased about this one....

Scott: I have to say that Rachel wasn't telling the whole story about making me walk home. She forgot to mention that it happened another two times. I didn't mind though. I just wanted her to get a little extra sleep and not have to take the time to drive me home. Plus I like to think that she is looking out for my physical wellness. Thanks honey.

2010: year of the hollys

Holly isn't the most common name, you know? That's why I find it funny that I have FOUR weddings this Spring season with ladies bearing that very name! FOUR HOLLY BRIDES! Kind of funny, I think.

My first Holly got married last week and her wedding was GORGEOUS. I hope to get photos from her all-kinds-of-fabulous event.

And, my second Holly gets married this coming Saturday. Remember her "groomals" flowers a few weeks back? Just wait til you see her wedding bouquet! I'm really excited about it.

Holly and Mark were kind enough to be my guinnea pigs for a new blog series I'm planning to implement; a series which will spotlight the couples of my upcoming events. I've played with this idea off and on & here and there over the past couple years, but I want to make it more of a regular occurrence. Of course this will be optional for each couple, and I don't anticipate that every single couple will want to do it. But, for those who are willing, I think it's a great way to highlight their couple-personalities and then see how those personalities translate into their floral concepts. Should be fun!

Holly + Mark
[Randy Collier Photography]
Q & A:

How did he propose?

We had secretly been planning to get engaged for a couple of weeks before the proposal: ring shopping, deciding on a date, wedding style, etc. On Thanksgiving night after we had spent the day with each of our families, Mark came to my house, got down on one knee, told me he loved me and asked if I would marry him. I love that it was a private moment between just the two of us and that it was our little secret.

We surprised our families the next day at a joint birthday party (my birthday was two days after Thanksgiving and his was two days after that). I made a three-tier cake that looked like a wedding cake with our names and wedding date written on it in frosting. At the end of the party, Mark and I brought in the cake, I had my ring on, and the birthday party quickly became an engagement party!

Prior to engagement, what was your favorite date?

Holly: My favorite date is our first date where we went to dinner with Mark’s sister, brother-in-law and nephew, and then to a monster truck rally, where we witnessed a cross-section of society I rarely see or think about. Not exactly your typical first date, definitely not my scene (or his) but I loved it because I could tell even then that Mark was different than anyone I had ever met, and I loved how I felt around him. That date was off-beat in a lot of ways (doubling with Mark's sister, monster trucks), but that date was also the first time I’d ever felt that way and I’ll treasure it forever.

Mark: My favorite date is our Valentine's Day (eve) date when I created a candelight dinner of home-made Chicken Cordon Bleu and Martinelli Sparkling Cider. All day, I had told Holly to plan on something that evening, but I didn't tell her what it was. Then I picked her up and told her that I needed to stop by the house to get something, to try to make her think we were going to a restaurant. I told her she might as well go in the house. The lights were off. She walked into the kitchen, which was lit only by a single candle and the LCD screen of my laptop playing songs from The Killers' new album Day and Age. Then she got emotional. Maybe I cherish that date so much because Holly's emotions really showed me how much she cared about me.

How did you meet?

In the singles’ ward! You guys, singles’ wards work!

What are your favorite qualities about each other?

Holly: So many…I dare anyone who meets Mark not to like him! I love that he is tall, I love his kind eyes and generous, easy demeanor, and I love that he goes to concerts with me and that his hands are always warm. But, my favorite things have to be his smile, his sense of humor (getting each others' jokes is a big deal to me), and the fact that he always tries to make me happy and to be a better person. His earnest desire to make me happy inspires me to make him happy.

Mark: I am struck by just how selfless and considerate Holly is. I love her sense of responsibility. She loves to be with me, no matter what we are doing. That is awesome. We love our little inside jokes. Of course, Holly takes care of herself and enjoys looking smokin' hot. I like that about her. She has a sarcastic, dry wit that most women don't have. I also love that she's musical, and can play the guitar and piano. And she's crafty. By crafty, I mean good at making crafts.

Thanks, Holly & Mark!
AKA cutest couple ever.