Abby Purnhage and Scott Siepmann's wedding date itself was something old and something borrowed -- the mother of the bride's birthday and the bride's own baptism. (Nothing blue at all about the day, though!)
The Bride Abby Elizabeth Purnhage, 26, marketing executive
The Groom Scott Randall Siepmann, 27, orthopedic sales
The Date August 28
Abby and Scott were high school sweethearts... kind of. They first met at a leadership conference for high school seniors but didn't see each other again until seven months later when they were both on spring break in Clearwater Beach, Florida. They started dating soon after.
On Abby's birthday, Scott gave her a gift plus something extra --an engagement ring! He placed it on top of dozens of rose petals he used to fill a hand-carved jewelry box. "I don't remember a single thing after opening the box," says Abby. "After 7 1/2 years together, I thought I'd be able to tell when he was going to propose, but this shocked me."
For their special day, champagne and ivory were the presiding colors along with all white flowers. Abby had a graphic designer friend combine the two letters of their last names, "S" and "P," and used that monogram throughout the wedding.
-- Alonna Friedman