October 1, 2006 -- JULY 29 - Idalia Garcia and William Ballester would be the first to say that falling in love can completely change your life itinerary. "I was seriously planning on moving to Florida prior to meeting William," says Garcia, an administrative assistant at the City University of New York. "There were immediate sparks and just so many possibilities to explore that I had to stick around." Ballester, an office services coordinator in Manhattan, popped the question in April 2005 over a romantic candlelit meal in the East Village. "I was more overjoyed than surprised when he asked me to marry him," says Garcia. "I couldn't wait to start planning the wedding." After a three-year courtship, the couple tied the knot at the Botanical Gardens in Flushing, Queens, joined by 80 guests. "I look forward to growing old together," says the happy bride. "Love evolves as the years go by, and I know ours will grow into something even more wonderful."

ESSENTIALS

First met: online at MiGente.com, which led to five months of e-mails and phone calls before they got together in person

Honeymoon: a week in the Aventura Spa Palace in the Riviera Maya, Mexico

Attendants: five groomsmen joined five bridesmaids, who wore Jim Hjelm satin gowns