Demanding college schedules and work kept them busy as their relationship grew more serious. Because graduation was still a couple of years away for Maddie, a proposal from Josh was not something that she was expecting in the summer of 2007. However, he surprised her with an engagement ring during a trip to Port Aransas as they walked along the same beach where their feelings had begun to change from friendship to romance. "I was totally shocked!" Maddie described of her initial reaction to Josh's proposal.

They chose to wait until after Maddie's graduation to tie the knot allowing plenty of time to plan the wedding. One year before the big day in February, the planning commenced; and the countdown began.

They chose the San Fernando Cathedral in San Antonio for the wedding ceremony not only because of Maddie's Catholic upbringing but also for its architectural beauty and historical significance. It seemed fitting to the couple to choose a church that sits at the very heart of San Antonio so near to the small town where they first met. The church's impressive interior also significantly lowered the stress of decorating for the ceremony. "It's so beautiful. We really only needed to add a few pew bows and flowers," said Maddie.

The extra décor might have been minimal, but the wedding party's attire complemented the cathedral's regal atmosphere. The seven bridesmaids wore floor-length, custom-made black satin dresses and carried bouquets of red roses. Josh and his groomsmen wore formal black tuxedos. Maddie's exquisite strapless gown, in a color she described as a light "angel-dust gold," was uniquely detailed with rhinestones, ruching, and pin tucks. She carried a bouquet of red roses and calla lilies.

The very traditional afternoon ceremony was led by the bride's grandfather, a deacon in the Catholic Church who obtained permission to perform the wedding for the couple. "It was so special and customized. He spoke from his heart," she said. The photographer, Jessica Norene from Faces by Jessica, captured a perfect blend of both the formal beauty of the cathedral and the sacred wedding ceremony as well as the sweet, intimate moments during the event. "She was amazing," said Maddie. "She even made the posed pictures fun."

Once the couple exchanged vows, guests headed down the block to a ballroom at the AT&T Community Centre at San Fernando for appetizers and cocktails as the wedding party finished their post-ceremony pictures. After the couple's official entrance and a prayer, everyone was served a classic Tex-Mex meal catered by An Event to Remember. The wedding cake was formal yet fun, which echoed the overall feel of the day. Red roses cascaded down the five-tiered dessert that combined round and square layers, gold beads, and black swirls for a hint of whimsy.

Tables throughout the room were decorated with black and cream linens and a trio of vases displaying roses and floating candles for centerpieces. Throughout the event, family and friends shared their words of advice for a happy marriage by writing on cards that were collected for the couple to keep. The guests' favor boxes, which contained individual servings of Mexican wedding cookies, were wrapped in black ribbon and showcased the couple's new monogram.

Maddie and Josh stayed at their reception late into the evening. "We were having so much fun!" said the bride. Once the festivities ended, the newlyweds were whisked off in a limousine to the Marriott in downtown San Antonio. The next morning, the couple took off on a relaxing, week-long honeymoon in tropical Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

Their journey from close friends to blissful newlyweds has taken them to a new home in Cypress, Texas. Josh works for Johnson Controls, Inc in Houston, and Maddie has started a new position in the prevention and recovery program at Memorial Hermann.