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What was Karen's strategy
for pulling off this high-speed wedding? Keeping her perspective.

Speedy Shopping
Of all the fast-planning to-do's, Karen's dress hunt was, surprisingly, the easiest -- and fastest. "I bought it on my lunch hour the day we got engaged," says Karen. Knowing that an evening gown from a department store might be a faster fit than a traditional wedding gown, she went straight to Bloomingdale's. And it paid off. Within 90 minutes, she walked out with a champagne-colored, floor-length lace sheath, complete with flowing gossamer "train" for under $300. "My headpiece was really simple and inexpensive, too," says Karen. "My sister found a faux-pearl headband and my seamstress attached tiny white and peach silk flowers to it. It was understated and perfect."

The key
What was Karen's key strategy for pulling off her high-speed wedding? Keeping her perspective. With so much to do in so little time, Karen had many frazzled moments, but she didn't let them interfere with her enjoyment of her wedding day. "Once I slipped that dress on, the shadows under my eyes disappeared, the hair fell into place and I looked and felt wonderful," she says. "Because ultimately, the day wasn't just about Geoff and me," she says. "It was about the people who shared it with us, the people we loved."

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