Introduced to her neighbor by a mutual friend, first floor resident Shawna Steltzlen confides she couldn’t help but think third floor tenant Fares Rihani was "amazing." He says he knew they would be married someday.

Both college students in Providence, R.I., Shawna and Fares quickly became friends and embarked on four years of dating adventures that began with the ballet and continued with lunch dates on Thayer Street, as well as trips to see his extended family in Jordan and Italy.

The proposal came on Shawna’s birthday in September 2005.

After spending the afternoon playing chess beachside, Shawna, sensing a proposal might be in store for her, began poking around in the couple’s not-so-secret hiding place. Amid the pots and pans, she did discover two small boxes. Fares insisted she open the larger box first—a new camera purchased to capture the impending moment.  

"He proposed to me in the kitchen right then and there as we stood, all sandy, in our bathing suits," she recalls.

Inspired by "Corteo," a Cirque du Soleil show the couple had seen in Boston, the bride chose to incorporate rich tones of gold, green and deep purple into the wedding. The setting, they decided, would be the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, known for its opulent décor including floor-to-ceiling mirrored doors, marble columns and lavishly gilded mouldings.  

"Our goal was to create a New Year’s Eve ball rather than a traditional wedding," says Shawna, "something mystical and magical."

The definitive planner, the bride addressed every aspect of the wedding to fit the theme. Perhaps the most stunning was the strapless, gold Romona Keveza gown she wore.

"It was the first and only dress I ever tried on," she laughs. "Everyone at the bridal shop was astonished that I could make the decision in five minutes."

To fashion a more intimate ceremony, the couple had their 160 guests seated on all four sides as they recited their vows. Once married, Shawna and Fares enjoyed a cocktail hour with their family and friends while the ballroom was transformed into an elegant showplace.

Bathed in specialty lighting, the space glowed in hues of purple and gold. Free standing floral arrangements featuring calla lilies and orchids in vibrant shades of purple, green and orange graced each table. The reception flowed uninterrupted as guests delighted in a six-course meal and international music performed by an Arabic band.

"It was important that our friends’ and familys’ experience was memorable," says the bride. "We incorporated many details that would encourage our guests to enjoy the evening including variety in both food and music."

Though the city’s firework display was not quite in view, the bride and groom didn’t seem to mind. Their own confetti-cannon blasts took place at midnight and the party continued until 2 a.m.

Before they retired to their honeymoon suite, Shawna and Fares presented each couple with a Swarovski crystal star ornament as a token of their appreciation.

"No one moment stands out because everything was so incredible," Shawna says, adding that family members from overseas were talking about the event for months afterward.

Because they had traveled extensively the previous summer, the couple skipped a honeymoon and opted to remain at home to spend time with guests who had come from abroad for their celebration.

Written by Dina M. Cortez