WEDDING IDEAS

Linda created welcome baskets for all of her and Derrick‘s guests. She included snacks, water, gum, and fun stuff like playing cards, dice, and candy, plus a welcome letter from the to-be-weds.

Linda wore an ivory A-line gown embellished with hints of ruby red by Impression Bridal. Derrick looked sharp in a tan, three-button suit from Jos. A. Bank.

Red paper lanterns adorned the potted palm trees during Linda and Derrick‘s outdoor ceremony at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

Linda carried a bouquet of pink and red roses mixed with white calla lilies. Her father held a single long-stemmed pink rose that he placed on the seat of honor at the ceremony reserved for Linda‘s late mother.

Linda and Derrick celebrated with their 38 guests at a reception high above the Las Vegas strip. The room was decorated with touches of red, including red table runners and red rose petals scattered across the tabletops.

Linda and Derrick toasted at the reception with a traditional Nuremburg wedding cup. Linda was born in Nuremberg, and her sister currently lives in Germany, which made the cup a special way of honoring both at the celebration.

Falling in Love" for their first dance -- "We were in Vegas!" Linda says. They kept the party rolling all night until their last dance, to Earth, Wind & Fire‘s "September." It wasn‘t their exact wedding date, but close!

Linda and Derrick cut a two-tier almond and chocolate buttercream cake covered in ivory fondant. It was topped off by a Swarovski crystal "D & L" cake topper, custom-made by the bride.

Linda & Derrick in Las Vegas, NV

Photos By: Bently & Wilson Photography
Event Planning: SeamLess Events & Designs, LLC
Location: Maggiano's Little Italy, Las Vegas

Linda and Derrick met in a most modern manner -- through mutual friends on MySpace.com. Derrick planned on proposing to Linda the very day the engagement ring was ready. He picked it up and waited at home for her to come home from work, but Linda had other plans -- an afternoon of shopping. When she finally got home, she couldn't have been more surprised -- or thrilled -- to find Derrick on one knee.

The Bride Linda Taylor, 25, event planner and paralegal
The Groom Derrick Pope, 27, government subcontractor
The Date September 24

Linda and Derrick chose to plan a fun, intimate destination wedding weekend in Las Vegas. Though they'd initially planned a long engagement, they decided to move up the date by nearly 10 months. It was a lot of planning, but Linda put her event planning skills to work to make sure everything came together—even the many vendors she and Derrick had to decide on from their home on the east coast.

-- Kate Wood