My October Wedding Story, Charlottesville, Va

Jenn Mapp and Matthew Bressan as featured in Washington Post "On Love," October 2009 | Gown by Christian Siriano — Jenn Mapp and Matthew Bressan as featured in Washington Post "On Love," October 2009 | Gown by Christian Siriano

To celebrate our 7th (!) anniversary, I want to share highlights from my most fashionable, creative and memorable endeavor, my wedding to Matt Bressan at Ash Lawn Highland in Charlottesville, Va on October 17, 2009.

As told to the Washington Post, October 2009

Jennifer Mapp, 31, is the brand manager for Cibu for Hair, a hair-care line. Matthew Bressan, 33, is the owner of Fresh Lunch Catering. They live in Arlington.

Wedding date: Oct. 17

Location: Ash Lawn-Highland, Charlottesville

Guests: 160

How they met: Jennifer initially encountered Matthew through one of his friends, and her first date with the friend turned out to be to Matthew's first wedding. Four years later, one of Jennifer's friends kept insisting that she get together with the now-single Matthew. The friend also insisted that Matthew be invited to Jennifer's dad's birthday party. When her family was smitten with him, Jennifer decided to give in and go out with him. The two attended a University of Virginia football game with some other people and kissed on the school's Lawn. What they call their official first date was the following Monday at an Italian restaurant back in the D.C. area.

My husband, Matt Bressan with floral by Pat's Floral at Ash Lawn, Charlottesville, VA

The proposal: After three years of dating, Jennifer was pressing for an engagement, and she said her fixation on that caused her to completely miss all the signs when Matthew was actually getting ready to propose. He popped the question at the site of their first kiss at U-Va. Their dog, Custis, came running with the ring looped onto his collar. Also present were Matthew's parents and Jennifer's dad.

The wedding: "Project Runway" winner Christian Siriano, a friend of the bride, designed Jennifer's gown. Jennifer also spent a year collecting blue willow plates on which to serve the wedding cake. The guests then got to take them home as favors -- after they were cleaned, of course.