Elizabeth Gawley & Nick Bullington

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They met the summer of 2009 at a Bible study by a duck pond, so it was fitting that they would return there to celebrate their marriage.

The pond at Skyline Ranches in Elkhorn, near where the bride grew up, is just one facet of their love story.

From the first kiss, Nick Bullington knew that Elizabeth Gawley was his gift from heaven. She was the gem in “The Parable of the Diamond,'' a book about faith and love that he had written his senior year of college — years before he knew she existed.

Nick slipped the book into Elizabeth's tote bag before the summer was over. On the book's dedication page he wrote, “Elizabeth, the more I get to know you, the more apparent it becomes that you are the precious treasure in my book.”

By November, they were engaged.

One night in Lincoln, after adoration and prayers with the cloistered School Sisters of Christ the King, Nick proposed under the stars.

It was a Cinderella moment, with Nick first presenting Elizabeth with a glass slipper. “It's not the slipper I'm worried about fitting,” he told her, “it's the ring.” She said “yes” and he whisked her off to a surprise engagement party at the home of his parents in Lincoln.

They were married a year later at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Elkhorn. Three priests presided over a ceremony filled with personalized elements, including a song composed for the occasion by a cousin.

For their reception, the newlyweds pitched a large white tent near the pond where their story began.

Tables were decorated with mirrors, faux diamonds and little glass slippers, and the party ran well past midnight, concluding with fireworks — over the duck pond.

WHO DID WHAT

Ceremony site: St. Patrick Catholic Church, Elkhorn

Reception site: Skyline Ranches

Caterer: Pleasure Your Palette, Omaha

Bride's dress: David's Bridal

Tuxes: Men's Wearhouse

Rings: Borsheims

Flowers: Debbie Pitt, Flowers for Special Occasions

Cake and cupcakes: The Cupcake Island

Musicians: Aunt, friends of couple in small combo

DJ: Complete Music

Videography: Chris Mamorvek

Photography: Multi-Images Photography

Tent, other rentals: Fundways

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Editor's Note: Elizabeth Gawley and Nick Bullington appear in our Spring-Summer 2011 issue of Wedding Essentials magazine. We regret that Elizabeth's first name is spelled in the article.