Chelsey & Mike

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Chelsey Williams, 22, dreamed of getting married near a creek and riding a horse into the sunset. Instead, she opted for exchanging vows in a garden and nuzzling a Chihuahua.

As it turned out, the pooch made quite an impression as she trotted down the aisle in her pink tutu during Chelsey's marriage to Mike Zimmerman on July 26, 2008, at the Fountains Ballroom near Glenwood, Iowa.

The pooch was on her best behavior - until nature called. "She pooped halfway down the aisle," Chelsey recalled. "That was kind of embarrassing."

And not likely to be forgotten by Mike and Chelsey or their guests.

The couple's colors of azalea, yellow and chocolate brown reflected their personalities - optimistic and upbeat.

Two weeks earlier, Mike, 23, had undergone surgery to correct ventricular tachycardia, or rapid heartbeat, a condition he had had since high school.

"It was kind of a letdown for him," Chelsey said. "But he's not the type to let that affect him. A challenge like that either makes your relationship stronger or tears you apart."

It was a case of the former for the Zimmermans.

Mike's sister, who is stationed in Iraq, was unable to attend the ceremony. Still, "everyone was upbeat, young and old," the bride said.

Chelsey's grandma, intent on sticking around for the couple's first dance, was surprised when the beat swiftly changed from Big and Rich's "Lost in This Moment" to the early '90s rap "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot.

The newlyweds, to the surprise of their guests, had choreographed a routine to the popular hip-hop song.

"We wanted to do something a little different and fun," Chelsey said. "Everyone got a kick out of it."

Also for fun, the groom's cake was topped with Basketball Barbie walking a Chihuahua and dragging Dr. Ken down the aisle. Chelsey plays basketball at Dana College in Blair, Neb., and Mike is a pre-med student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

They currently live in Omaha, but expect to move to Des Moines once they graduate so Mike can attend podiatry school.

The newlyweds honeymooned in Jamaica, but Mike was back in the hospital as soon as they returned.

"We were really lucky nothing medical happened in Jamaica," the bride said.

All in all, everything worked out. "I thought it went perfectly," Chelsey said. "Of course there were little ups and downs, but I couldn't ask for a better wedding."