Christine D’Auria, 26, and Ryan Russo, 30, like to joke that the real fireworks began when they met Fourth of July weekend seven years ago at a mutual friend’s party. “The minute he walked into the backyard, I could tell he was the life of the party. I just had this feeling as soon as I saw him,” says Christine. “It may sound corny or cliché, but I knew I was going to marry him.”

Christine and Ryan had just returned from a vacation with her family in August of 2004 and went out to dinner with both of their parents, like they did on many occasions. “Of course we took lots of pictures while we were away.”  Unbeknownst to Christina, Ryan had taken photos of Christine’s engagement ring in its box and mixed them in with the vacation pictures. “All of a sudden at the dinner table he takes out the pictures and starts passing them around to his family,” says Christine. “Then he hands me the pile and says ‘Honey, look at these pictures. They came out really nice.’ So I started flipping through them when all of a sudden I get to this blurry picture of something shiny in a black box. I froze. Ryan was looking over my shoulder and asked me ‘Wait a minute, what is that?’ I responded nervously ‘I don’t know!’ Then Ryan reached in his pocket and took out the box, opens it, and says ‘Does it look like this?’ All I could say is ‘Oh my God, I’m dreaming! Is this real?’”

Their wedding ceremony was held at the St. Rose of Lima Church in Massapequa. Christina and Ryan presented flowers to the Blessed Mother in memory of their family members who have passed on, particularly their grandfathers.

The bride wore an ivory, Italian satin dress from the Jasmine Collection. The A-line strapless gown had a tulle overlay, a chapel-length train, and a fitted bodice embellished with crystals, beadwork, and silver threading. Christine’s ivory silk shoes, with a single strap and 3-inch heels, were from Liz Rene Couture; and the headpiece, veil, and jewelry were custom-designed by Bridal Styles. Her necklace, earrings, and headpiece mirrored the embroidery on her dress. The bridesmaids wore two-piece strapless dresses with matching shawls by Bill Levkoff, each in a different shade of berry. The tops had intricate floral embroidery and beadwork across the bodice and the A-line skirts were floor length. The Groom and his groomsmen wore two-button tuxedos by Sarno & Sons, with ivory tuxedo shirts.  While his groomsmen wore black herringbone vests with matching ties, Ryan stood out in a champagne-colored vest and tie.

Christine carried a bouquet of ivory vendella roses, stephanotis, dendrobium orchids, and baby’s breath scattered with a few pink roses. The bridesmaids’ bouquets were teardrop-shaped with pink roses, sand color roses, purple wax flowers, baby’s breath, amethyst calla lilies, pink lisanthius, and burgundy astilbes.

Guests threw heart-shaped dissolvable   confetti as the newlyweds exited the church. The couple and their bridal party rode a 20-passenger white Cadillac Escalade to the reception. (The bride had arrived at the church with her bridesmaids in a cream-colored Chrysler 300 limo.)

The reception was held at the Estate at East Wind Caterers in Wading River. It was decorated in a color palette of green, burgundy, rose, lavender, and ivory. The reception site had an outdoor garden with waterfalls and flowers, where guests were seated at elegant tables. The cocktail hour took place in the garden and two indoor rooms. There were crudités platters, seafood displays, carving stations, and two bars.

Dinner began with Penne a la Vodka and a mesclun salad. Entrée choices included filet mignon with a madeira wine sauce, chicken marsala, veal Sorrentino, stuffed shrimp, salmon with a citrus sauce, and portabella mushrooms with sautéed vegetables. The round, four-tier wedding cake had two layers in each tier and was decorated with butter cream icing and ivory vendella roses. It was beautifully topped with two pink roses and a big ivory organza bow.

A DJ provided the music and one of the couple’s favorite moments—their first dance. “It was the first song we ever danced to, so it meant a lot to us,” says Christine. “It really hit us that we were married at that moment!”

Christine and Ryan spent their Honeymoon touring Hawaii for 10 days—visiting Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. “We had a great time everywhere we went,” says Christine.

“It goes so quickly!” Christine says of a girl’s wedding day. “All the months of planning, and with a blink of an eye it’s over. So, enjoy it. And don’t let anyone talk you out of anything you have pictured in your mind when you think of your dream wedding. In the end, it’s all worth it, especially the photographs to capture every detail. We were thrilled with our wedding pictures. They are something that will last forever and we’re thankful we have these wonderful memories.”