ABOUT THE COUPLE

How they met:
Christina and Shannan met playing in a women's softball league in Wrentham. Shannan had been playing for many years in the league before Christina joined. At first, they were just team mates. The team's sponsor was the Eagle Brook Saloon, so they would go there at least once a week after games. "One night at the restaurant, it was almost as if God clanked our heads together and we realized we HAD to talk to each other," Christina said. Within a week of that night, they were almost inseparable. The couple decided to have the custom baseball jerseys made for the reception based on how they met and because they're such a great team.

How they proposed: Almost immediately after Christina and Shannan started dating they knew exactly where they were headed. "We both wanted to propose, we both wanted to give each other a ring ... so we decided to design our rings together, blue sapphires and diamonds. When enough time passed, we both asked for each others parents' blessings," Christina said. They exchanged rings in the comfort and privacy of their own home.

Brides' occupations: Christina graduated from King Philip Regional High School, and earned a bachelor of fine arts degree from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. She works at Core Concepts Inc., in Franklin. Shannan graduated from Attleboro High School. She works in the Department of Corrections.

THE CEREMONY

The ceremony:
The ceremony was at Francis Farm in Rehoboth.

The gowns: Christina and Shannan wore matching beaded champagne satin gowns with organza-beaded insets.

The bouquet:
Christina and Shannan carried bouquets of blue hydrangeas, sunflowers and peach roses.

The theme: The couple's theme was chicks and baseball. They had love bird centerpieces and yellow chick decorations on the tables, chicks on our cd's and cases, glass bird toppers, and baseball jerseys. In addition to our wedding cake, Christina and Shannan had a baseball jersey cake to match the custom shirts they had made for the occasion on which was the phrase "Two chicks in love."

THE WEDDING PARTY

Maids of honor: Sarah Concannon, Christina's best friend, and Kirsten Bradley, Shannan's sister.

Best men: Thomas A. Policastro, Christina's brother, and Thomas Kraus, Shannan's friend.

Bridesmaids:
Lisa Merithew, Christina's college friend; Erin Golden, Shannan's sister; Kelsey Kerrigan, niece; Kelly Morel, Shannan's cousin; Becky Ellsworth, Shannan's friend; and Michelle Montecalvo, Shannan's friend.

Flower girl:
Bridgette Golden, niece.

Ring Bearer: Gunnar Golden, nephew.

THE RECEPTION

Number of guests:
170

The reception:
Francis Farm, Rehoboth, Mass.

The cake:
The cake was a three-tiered marble cake with chocolate ganache filling and vanilla buttercream from Wrights Dairy Farm in North Smithfield, R.I. The cake topper was two glass bluebirds.

First song:
"She's Everything" by Brad Paisley. "It was very fitting for us and how comfortable we are together," Christina said.

The menu:
The meal was a pig roast with pulled pork, chicken, steak, roasted potatoes, pasta salad, salad and rolls.

What made the day unique:
Christina says, "I think the fact that the ceremony was formal, us in dresses, the bridal party in navy blue dresses, and the men in tuxes and we all changed into matching custom baseball jerseys for the reception really set the tone for the wedding. The dress was casual, so our guests wore whatever they were comfortable in. The whole day was very easy going and laid back. It was basically a formal cookout with a lot of personal touches!"

Most touching moment of the day:
"I think the most tear-jerking moments of the day were our toasts from our maids of honor, Kirsten and Sarah," Christina said. The couple had many relatives come from all over the country to celebrate the day; the farthest guests were Auntie Jo from Las Vegas and Uncle Jerry from Colorado. The couple's niece Kelsey sang them a beautiful song and Christina's father proudly walked us both down the aisle. It was just a joyous, loving day for all!

Honeymoon destination:
The couple traveled to Walt Disney World, Discovery Cove and Sea World in Orlando, Fla.