They put rose centerpieces and candles in place, wrapped tulle around banisters and filled a bowl with the favors, wine-colored bags of chocolates with personalized labels. There were flowers and candles everywhere, from the cake table to the mantelpieces to the inn's bar. Scattered throughout the downstairs were pictures of John and Stephanie. These special touches made you feel like you were being welcomed into their home.

Upstairs, the hustle and bustle centered on the bride's preparation room. Bridesmaids were zipped into dresses and last-minute touches were put on makeup. In one corner, Stephanie was calmly seated, sipping wine and touching up her lipstick. Her hair was already done and her veil and tiara were in place.

In the reception room downstairs, lace tablecloths covered each table, and the places were marked with wine-colored napkins. A table card at the center listed the names of the guests sitting at that table. In the center was a small vase of red or ivory roses and two candles set on a mirror. In the fading evening light, it was easy to imagine the glow the candles would produce even though it was too early to light them.

The head table was at one end of the room, flanked by the cake and the DJ. Tussy mussies waited for the bridesmaids' bouquets to fill them. Etched champagne classes stood at each place setting.

Stephanie and John's cake was a simple, four-tiered cake with white frosting. White scrolls and flowers decorated the cake, and a ceramic figurine of a dancing couple stood to one side. White flowers - made of icing - topped the cake.

Stephanie said she was never the type of little girl to spend a lot of time dreaming about her wedding. "Since all the planning started," she said, "I have thought about what I want my day to be like. I want my guests to feel comfortable and to have fun." She said she wanted her wedding to be enchanting, "something out of a movie."

There are few places in St. Mary's County more romantic than the gazebo at Olde Breton Inn. It sits high on a hill overlooking Breton Bay and the Potomac River, offering guests sweeping views of the shore and forest beyond. The couple's families had decorated the gazebo with flowers and white tulle. A unity candle stood on a pedestal in the center of the gazebo. Rows of white chairs gradually filled with guests as the time for the ceremony approached.

Guests mingled while they waited, and I heard many express concerns about the weather. A day that had started out sunny had become overcast, and shortly before the ceremony, I felt a few raindrops. Nothing more than those drops ever materialized, though, and by the time the ceremony was underway, the clouds had begun to part and some blue sky and sunshine had started to peek through. The sun was shining brightly by the time the Rev. Arthur Weaver pronounced Stephanie and John husband and wife.

The couple had five attendants each. The ladies wore strapless wine dresses with straight skirts. At the waist, was a thin belt with a rhinestone buckle. They wore the simple silver jewelry given to them by Stephanie as a thank-you gift. Each carried a tight bouquet of white roses. The groomsmen wore tuxedos with wine-colored vests to match the ladies.

As the ceremony began, the bridesmaids were escorted from the inn to the gazebo by their groomsmen. Stephanie's sister, Jamie, was the maid of honor; the sisters' father escorted Jamie halfway and then she continued on her own. He then stepped back toward the inn to wait for Stephanie and walk her down the aisle.

Stephanie wore an elegant ivory gown with spaghetti straps and a long train. Folds of fabric decorated the bodice, and embroidery detailed the neckline, waist and train of the gown. Smaller flowers were embroidered all over the skirt. She wore her hair pinned back by her tiara, the rest falling to curls in the back. Her bouquet had ivory and Virginia-style roses.

In his remarks, Rev. Weaver stressed the commitment Stephanie and John were making and read several Bible passages to inspire them. Readings were taken from the Bible and writing by Dr. Martin Luther King.

The ceremony closed with a benediction by the Rev. Sandra S.W. Taylor.

Stephanie and John honeymooned in Cancun.