Jessica Tudder-Phillip Cedoz wedding

Jessica "Jessie" Tuder, 27, is a human resources representative for a law firm. Phillip Cedoz, 27, is a customer specialist for a legal consulting group. They live in Arlington.

Wedding date: March 6.

Location: St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, Purcellville, and Whitehall Mansion, Bluemont, Va.

Guests: 86.

How they met: In 2001, Jessie was a University of Dayton freshman and Phil was a sophomore. A mutual friend invited Jessie to one of Phil's regular Tuesday night parties. Jessie was smitten, but disappointed to learn that Phil had a girlfriend. By the time they broke up, Jessie was dating someone else. She continued to keep tabs on Phil, however; he was a gentleman, she said, regularly walking her to her dorm after classes. They didn't start dating until four years later.

The proposal: In 2008, Jessie planned a trip with girlfriends to their alma mater. Phil asked to tag along, and suggested they arrive a day early so they could eat at a special restaurant. The request to come along on the trip was out of character, so Jessie had an inkling he was going to pop the question. She tried to pry more clues out of him when they arrived in Dayton, asking if she should wear a dress to dinner. Phil said it wasn't necessary, and asked her to walk around campus before dinner. Jessie wasn't in a good mood and didn't want to trek far in her new boots. But Phil got her to head toward the campus chapel, where he proposed.

The wedding: The reception was in a mansion near where Jessie grew up. With help from Phil's sister, a graphic artist, they designed programs and the cake to match the building's Federal architectural style.

Honeymoon: Oahu, Hawaii.

-- Kathleen Hom