Wedding

Wedding date: Feb. 23, 2013 Her story: Kimberly Carlins, 32, grew up in Ocean Pines. She is a government contractor for URS Corp. in Germantown. Her father, Leo, is a repairman for Sears, and her mother, Renee, is a secretary for a nonprofit organization. His story: Sigmund Young, 32, grew up in Bethesda. He is an engineer at Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington Yard in the District of Columbia. His father, Charles, is a physician, and his mother, Sue, is her husband's office manager.

Chuck Beck and Ashley Williams are engaged. Both are graduates of Harford Tech, where they met. Beck is a member of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 486 while Williams is a registered nurse at Franklin Square Hospital. Beck is the sone of Charles and Darlene Beck and Williams is the daughter of Daniel and Debbie Williams. An April wedding is planned with a reception at the Del Capri in Dundalk. The couple will honeymoon in Jamaica.

Richard and Julia Dimmick of Jarrettsville announce the engagement of their daughter, Sara, to David Burya, son of Ida Stratton of Mohave Valley, Ariz., and Eugene Burya of Spokane, Wash. Dimmick, a graduate of North Harford High School and Florida State University, is owner and operator of Physical Equilibrium in Manhattan. Burya graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is employed as an architectural lighting designer with Tirschwell & Company Inc. in Manhattan. The couple is planning an October wedding in Central Park.

I can't believe I'm actually at this point. I mean I know it's wedding shower season, but for it to be my wedding shower was an eye opener to how close we actually are to my May 25 wedding. My surprise shower was lovely! I had a hunch when it would be, so I came dressed appropriately (which I was very happy about later since it allowed for some great photos). The evening, themed “Nacho Average Bridal Shower,” was complete with a nacho/fajita bar, sangria, margaritas and a sombrero.

I've always liked to get work done in short, aggressive bursts. From term papers in high school to cleaning the apartment last Saturday - I'll wait, wait, wait and then with head down and eyes narrowed, blitz all that needs to get done in one fell swoop. When moving to Baltimore, Sam and I looked at 15 apartments in two days. We were practically delirious when we signed our current lease, so I count us fortunate to have made a good choice. Shopping for a wedding venue was not much different: one Saturday, four locations.

Donna Jean Dean, of Joppa, has announced the engagement of her daughter, Jacklyn Rose Hendrix, to James F. Baumgardner of Lancaster, Pa., son of Larry and Doris Baumgardner and father of Sophie Baumgardner. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Harford Technical High School and Harford Community College and is working on her bachelor's degree. The prospective groom served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked in security. He is attending Barber School. A September wedding is planned.

One of my best friends (and bridesmaids) recently got engaged and wonderfully asked me to be a part of her big day. I'm so excited for this experience because, so far for me, it's been “always a bride, never a bridesmaid.” So as I wrap up my experience as a bride, I want to make sure I transition smoothly into being a bridesmaid and making my friend's experience as great as she has helped make it for me. Some of the things I've already thought about...

Wedding date: Feb. 9, 2013 Her story: Megan Quick, 36, grew up in Oaklyn, N.J. She is a registered nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Her father, Michael, works for Susquehanna Bank and her mother, Doreen, is a retired medical receptionist. His story: Aaron Shirk, 39, was born in Vietnam and lived in various countries. He is a computer engineer for Bill Me Later in Timonium. Both of his parents - Peter Shirk and Roxie Gilmore - worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Wedding date: Feb. 9, 2013 Her story: Dana Perzynski, 28, grew up in Columbia. She is an associate planner with Ayers Saint Gross, an architectural and planning firm in Baltimore. Her mother, Karen Kurzawa, is a commercial interior representative; her father, Paul Perzynski, died in 1996. His story: Graham Johnson, 30, grew up in Davidsonville. He is a vice president and commercial relationship manager at SunTrust Banks. His father, Todd Johnson, is managing director of investor relations for National Real Estate Advisors; his mother, Gail Johnson, died in 2008.