And she knew exactly what she wanted.

"I wanted a wedding without limitations," she told The Southern Maryland Wedding Guide before her Aug. 28, 2004 wedding.

"I didn't want to have to limit myself," she added. "I didn't want to leave anyone out."

Jorita's wish came true. From the custom-designed dresses to the elegant decorations, the couple's wedding was something out of a fairytale.

Jorita and Thomas were married at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mechanicsville before hundreds of their friends and family. They were watched over by a large bridal party: a maid of honor, a matron of honor, nine bridesmaids, two junior bridesmaids and a junior bride on the bride's side and two bestmen, nine groomsmen, two ushers, two junior groomsmen, a ring bearer and a junior groom, the couple's son Tyreke, on the groom's side.

Jorita and her attendants arrived at the church in two limousines. Before the ceremony, the groomsmen greeted guests as they entered the church and hostesses, dressed in periwinkle dresses, handed out programs. Outside, Jorita waited with her maid and matron of honor in the limo. She was radiant and beaming - it was obvious she couldn't wait to get inside.

Jorita's hair was pulled up and held back by a sparkly tiara. She wore a strapless, A-line gown with embroidered detailing and an open pleat in the front. The cathedral train flowed behind her - it was so long, she told us, that it needed three loops to be bustled. Her cathedral-length veil was decorated with rhinestones.

The bridesmaids also wore their hair up, the better to showcase the elegant dresses they wore, made by seamstress Lisa Grant from Jorita's description. The V-necked dresses had an empire waist with a satin band and were made of an iridescent fabric that changed color as the light changed.

"The dresses are three or four different colors," Jorita told us beforehand. "I wanted people to say, "Her wedding was purple, and you could see silver and fuchsia, too."

Jorita gave each of her attendants a necklace to wear: a single rhinestone pendant. "All they needed was a single bead," she said, "because the dresses just speak for themselves."

The women carried calla lilies decorated with rhinestones; the bridesmaids' bouquets also had two-toned roses.

Thomas and Tyreke wore matching white tuxedos. The groomsmen and junior groomsmen wore black tuxes with white vests and white ties.

Jorita and Thomas were married in a traditional Catholic ceremony. Friends and family shared readings, and solos were sung by Pamela Herbert and Tony Lumpkins. Jorita told us that Immaculate Conception was her childhood church - she and her sisters were baptized and confirmed there, and the church has been the site of many family weddings. The white church sits atop a hill and is surrounded by greenery.

After the ceremony, Jorita and Thomas celebrated at the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department. The huge main hall was decorated by Tracey Burch. The head table consisted of two tables on risers: the upper one sat eight and the lower one sat 22.

On the guest tables, many different kinds of favors were scattered: roses made of Hershey kisses, bookmarks, ornaments wrapped in tulle, bubbles and swans and carriage figurines. Outside the room on the entrance table were bookmarks, champagne glasses filled with candy and reception programs. Jorita and her mother did the favors themselves. They also did the bouquets and boutonnières.

Jorita said she, her mother and her future mother-in-law started planning as soon as the couple got engaged. They planned so well, she said, that the last month before the wedding was relaxing. "I actually haven't been stressed out for one day of it," she said of her planning. "It was so much fun!"

She advised brides to start early. "You have to plan, plan, plan," she said. "Your time will fly by so quickly."

"Have fun! You're planning the most important day of your life. Enjoy it to the fullest."

For their honeymoon, Jorita and Thomas spent three days in Florida before taking off on a four-day Caribbean cruise.