Cupid’s arrow strikes at the most interesting times in the most unexpected ways. Sarah and Roberto knew each other for years before they dated. Being that Roberto is the older brother of one of Sarah’s closest friends, they had practically grown up together. Yet, when they ended up at the same college, they had a chance to get to know each other better, which is when sparks began to fly.

When it came time to propose, Roberto pulled out all the stops, planning a spectacular proposal during their travels through Europe. After a romantic dinner, with the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower illuminating their evening, Roberto got down on one knee and asked Sarah to be his wife. She recalls, “It truly was the most intimate proposal. No one around, no photographer, nothing. Just the two of us. I said yes, and the rest is history.”

In the same way the couple did not rush their relationship, they took time with their engagement. As the time came to buckle down on the planning, Sarah turned to Jenn from Jenn Robirds Events to help her streamline the planning process. She says, “Jenn found a few options of what she thought was best for my theme, and all I had to do was choose. It was so amazing.” Sarah found that handing over the logistics gave her the opportunity to enjoy the creative side of the planning process even more. “I participated in quite a bit of the planning but ultimately left everything up to Jenn and her amazing team,” she says.

Sarah and Roberto wanted traditional elements to their wedding but were not interested in going completely by the book. Making choices that are outside of the box can cause a strain between family members. “As a bride, there was a lot of pressure from my family to have our wedding a specific way or to include certain traditional or expected aspects,” Sarah says, but she knew if she focused on the experience for everyone she would achieve the best outcome. “I wanted our wedding to be memorable for our guests and a great party. I think this was definitely achieved as we created the perfect setting for friends and family.”

Weddings are always a whirlwind, but the memories the couple have will carry their love through a lifetime. While Sarah cherishes the moments she and Roberto shared between one another that day, one touching moment that stands out for her is the toast her father made.

The romance of their wedding day is something that remains prominent in Roberto’s memories. “The most memorable moment of the wedding was looking at my wife-to-be for the first time. I still remember standing on the dock of the lake, I was tapped on the shoulder, and, when I turned around, I saw the most beautiful girl.”

—Abigail Blank