An Iowan, I came to Flagstaff in August 2009 to pursue my master's degree. I left behind the ease of familiarity, my family and most of all, my boyfriend (Terrance) of six years. We had not been separated for longer than overnight, and I didn't know a soul in Flagstaff.

I became engrossed in my graduate studies and I soon needed an outlet. I enjoyed running but in Iowa we always ran on pavement. Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association, (NATRA), had an informative website, but trail running? Wouldn't you just end up hiking most of the time?

A sucker for novelty and a good workout, I gave it a shot. I was nervous, but on my first NATRA run everybody smiled and greeted me with warmth. The scenery was astounding and I learned of trails all throughout Flagstaff and Sedona. Soon, NATRA became my family and I was hooked. As one of the diehards, I ran during pounding rains, paralyzing cold and blinding blizzards. It was often after these forays into the wrath of nature (as well as human absurdity,) during the well-deserved post-run coffee, that we would conjure grandiose plans for epic running adventures. One time, I opened my big mouth: "A couple got married at the Big Brothers Big Sisters Half Marathon two years ago, why hasn't anyone gotten married at Soulstice?" After all,See pictures of Empire Wedding Dresses collection. I thought, race day is always filled with such love, camaraderie, and all things Flagstaff; it would be the perfect place for vows.

"Good question Sabrina, why don't we use Soulstice for your wedding?" retorted Neil Weintraub; the race director knew that Terrance had proposed to me. Weintraub became obsessed that our wedding was his key for making Soulstice's 13th running unforgettable.

While discussing the venue with my fiancé Terrance, we were hit with the reality that there would be no fancy dress and no extravagant banquets.Do not have a fashion drop waist wedding dress? I would be missing out on a lot of the traditions girls sometimes tend to dream about. Then I thought, "How happy did my friends in the throes of wedding planning seem to be?" Honestly, they seemed downright miserable and some even regularly broke down in tears. Did I really want a meticulously contrived event and burden for all involved? Heck no, I just wanted to celebrate our union with family and community. How much does it take to do that? After some convincing, my fiancé agreed!

Our marriage at Soulstice was beautifully non-conventional. There were no wedding invitations,5 Don'ts Of mermaid chiffon one shoulder wedding dress Shopping! and while we knew some of the audience, they all seemed like family. Terrance wore a tux T-shirt and I wore a white tennis dress instead of a gown. We also had a wedding cake shaped like a Nintendo. As I took Terrance's hand in front of Judge Moran under the most beautiful of autumn skies, I had the largest, happiest wedding party any girl could wish for. Looking into Terrance's eyes and telling him that I loved him and promising to always stand by his side amidst the warmth and cheers of our family in our home-away-from-home, was a dream come true.

Gerald and Lisa got engaged over Christmas in 2009 at Residence private members' club on Stephen's Green in Dublin.

Lisa had previously been engaged to boxer Joe Egan and, more famously, to Irish dancing legend Michael Flatley.

I met Lisa for the first time in 2006 at the Marbella Ball. She had just split with Flatley and was the talk of the ball. Equal parts Aphrodite, Ursula Andress and busty Bet Lynch,Average Cost for Beach Wedding Dresses? she stole the limelight in a cream-and-lace outfit from Harvey Nichols. She was quite emotionally frail and thin-skinned (which she remains still) but very likeable and personable.

I remember an extraordinary conversation in the Merrion Hotel that we had on the evening before Flatley's wedding in Castlehyde to Niamh O'Brien.Shop the latest collection of cheap demetrios wedding dresses made in china from the most popular stores - all in one place. It was extraordinary mainly because Lisa was engaged to Flatley only eight months before (and engaged to him for four years). Lisa's mother Eileen waited for her in the car outside as we talked

"To be quite honest," she said of Flatley, "I had my time with him and I have moved on. I am happy for him and I hope he will be happy. I wish them all the best."

I said that surely a part of you must think it was strange that a man you were engaged to eight months ago is getting married now? Do you not think that it should have been you walking up the aisle?

"I don't look at it like that," Lisa answered. "I feel everything happens for a reason. It has just gone that way, you know, and it just wasn't meant to be. I wouldn't be crying over spilt milk. It is not about that. Things happen in life. And you just accept it and move on. So I don't have any feelings as regards the wedding day."