1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Wedding at Noah's Event Venue in Chandler, Arizona

The bride: a nurse; the groom: a firefighter. So it’s no wonder that the wedding of high school sweethearts Brittney Whitney (25 and a nurse) and Josh

The bride: a nurse; the groom: a firefighter. So it’s no wonder that the wedding of high school sweethearts Brittney Whitney (25 and a nurse) and Josh Whitney (25 and a firefighter) was filled with details to show how much they care about people, especially each other. Their day unfolded at Noah's Event Center in Chandler, Arizona, the same city where they grew up and fell in love. Brittney created lots of DIY projects for her special day, but her favorite was the ceremony backdrop: She used her grandmother’s sheet music to create a hanging garland of paper hearts. For the reception decor, Brittney and Josh went for a shabby-chic theme, which the design team at Designer Venues helped create with mismatched centerpieces of vintage vases, clocks and candles. One detail close to home was the catering by Elmer’s Tacos: Brittney’s family runs the restaurant, which is Josh’s family's favorite. As another thoughtful touch to personalize their day, Brittney and Josh gave each of their guests a plastic mason jar with a lid so they could bring their beverage on the dance floor and have a convenient wedding favor too. Monique Hessler Photography captured all the details, including a super-sweet moment between Brittney, Josh and their attendants that made us say "Awww!" See below.

Brittney carried a round bouquet of blush peonies. The soft texture of the arrangement matched the beaded bodice of her ball gown.
Brittney's bridesmaids wore knee-length chiffon dresses in mint blue with various necklines. Her maid of honor stood apart in a floor-length gown in blush.
Brittney wore a stunning Kenneth Winston ball gown dress with a hand-beaded bodice that sparkled with crystals. "It was the first dress I ever tried on, much like my husband: He was my first kiss and my first boyfriend," she says.
Brittney and Josh said "I do" inside the main hall, accented with dramatic drapery spread across the ceiling. A chandelier, string lights and natural light from the oversize window backdrop, as well as lanterns lining the aisle, created a soft glow in the room.
One of Brittney's most meaningful DIY projects was creating a heart garland out of her grandmother's vintage sheet music. The hanging heart garland created the backdrop of Brittney and Josh's ceremony and first kiss.
The reception followed in the same room as the ceremony, with a shabby-chic motif throughout the dining tables, each covered in pearly white linens. The ceiling draping with ambient lighting enhanced the ballroom from above.
Brittney and Josh's sweetheart table embodied shabby chic: They sat in an oversize ivory lounge chair pulled up to their rustic wooden farm table, draped with copper chevron runners and a wooden "Mr. & Mrs." Vintage candelabras and lanterns overflowing with moss and blush petals softened the setting.
The sweetheart table place settings had a vintage plate and charger atop a glittery copper chevron runner.
No two dining tables looked the same: Each centerpiece included vintage touches such as old frames, clocks, books and candles, with fresh flowers.
Brittney and Josh had a turquoise vintage cabinet candy bar filled with sweets for their guests. A rustic "love is sweet" banner continued the shabby-chic theme.
This photo reminds us that even through love and relationships, true friends and siblings will always have your back. High school sweethearts Brittney and Josh are often asked about their secret to love. "Love comes first in everything in our lives," Brittney says. "In our relationship, love, communication, honesty and trust are what make us strong. I believe that everyone deserves that love worth fighting for."