Eric & Kari

It was the night of their first date. Kari was nervously getting ready - wondering how the night would go. Would she like him? Would they have anything in common? Would it be a relaxed, fun, easy first date... or one of those first dates that you hope someone calls with an emergency to get you out of it? As she took one last look at herself in the mirror, from outside her apartment she heard a familiar sound...

Country music.

She opened the door to see Eric climbing out of his Hummer with country music playing at full blast.
Every bone in that Missouri-born-girl's body began to sing and she knew it was going to be a good night.

It was a a few days later they were dancing at a Brad Paisley concert and decided to be boyfriend and girlfriend... Though Eric will tell you he knew, from the first time he saw her, that she would be the one he would want to spend the rest of his days with.

Eric and Kari were wed on Friday at Villa Siena in Gilbert. The day started out with Kari getting into her gorgeous Stephen Yearick gown:

I love the drama of her white and black anemone bouquet next to the sparkle of her Steve Madden heels:

And her hair was a work of art! GORGEOUS!

Kari made an absolutely stunning bride:

And Eric looked very dapper himself. At the salon, I overheard Kari saying that she had asked Eric earlier that week if he was ready to marry her. He said, "I better be. It was my idea." Good man :).

I love both of these next photos, but especially the one of Kari's dad before the ceremony. You just know he was thinking about giving his little girl away: