In the beginning

When Jessica Stuart, 34, of Phoenix, Ariz., met Dustin Maas, 41, from Albuquerque, N.M., she was involved with someone and so was he.

It was 2005, and Dustins very first words to me were Hi. Im Dustin, and Im engaged. I looked at him and thought Okay? Whatever. Way to go! said Jessica. A cardio ultrasound technician, Jessica was asked to show the newly arrived Dustin, a cardio ultrasound application specialist, some work-related sites.

He says that his first glance at Jessica got him tongue-tied.

Our first date was probably nine or 10 months later. Both of our relationships fell apart at the same time, and all of our friends encouraged us to go out, said Dustin. They were right. A first date and weve been together ever since.

An engaging question

In 2010, Dustin asked Jessicas parents for their blessing. He was ready to propose. Her birthday is on Dec. 31, and we usually combine it with a New Years Eve celebration. This particular celebration was no different except that it was.

Dining with friends, it was well before midnight and Dustin wanted to call it an evening. Jessica didnt. As I saw it, we were having a good time, lingering after a five-course dinner and preparing to greet a new year. Why the rush? asked Jessica.

She acquiesced. I finally get her alone, and I offer her a box of chocolate covered cherries. She loves them, Dustin said. I had, very cleverly, I thought, hidden an engagement ring in the box. I envisioned her grabbing a handful of the candies and discovering the ring. But no! She tells me shes stuffed. I offer them again. No, Im full, she repeats.

Perplexed, Dustin grabbed the ring from the box and proposed the old fashioned way, or what the couple refers to as the sweet attempt. It worked. She readily accepted.

Im always trying to surprise her… said Dustin.

…and every time he tries, I ruin it, finished Jessica.

Their engagement lasted for three years. Family and friends began to wonder if there would ever be a wedding. Jessica wanted something simple. A Justice of the Peace would have been fine with her. I had to convince her that that, after waiting for so long, her parents deserved to see her walk down the aisle, Dustin said. She agreed especially after seeing Cannon Beach.

A wedding (at last):

My best friend and I came to Seaside to play in the annual beach volleyball tournament, and Jessica was with us. Jessica and I had some time to tour around the coast. We came across an overlook above Cannon Beach, and I said we should get married here, said Dustin. Jessica agreed.

They found invitations online at Wedding Paper Divas. We chose some big bold letters that read At Last. We had been teased for a long time about when and if we would ever get around to getting married, Jessica said.

They made a trip to Cannon Beach via Portland in February, and again in June to finalize details for their August 2013 wedding. They chose Surfsand Resort as their wedding hub for an on-the-beach wedding. Terri Lindsey, the resorts wedding catering manager, became their coordinating link.

Jessica wore a white, strapless, mermaid-style gown and slipped on flip flops with big white bows after a barefooted ceremony. Dustin had long eyed a British designer Ted Baker suit. Their wedding provided a reason to buy it. Better yet, just before the purchase, it went on sale.

Face Body Beauty came from Portland do to do hair and make up for Jessica and her mom and a touch up for Dustin. Botanica Floral Design of Portland did bouquets, boutonnières and floral arrangements delivering the flowers and a Portlands Dream Cakes wedding cake, too.

At 4:15 p.m., a thick fog bank gave wave to a gleaming sky with Haystack Rock in the background. At 4:30 p.m., 41 guests gathered to take their seats on the beach. Both bride and groom agreed that the real super star of the wedding was Jessicas 83-year-old grandpa, whose health at the time of the wedding was a concern. Surfsands Lindsey came to the rescue; a permit to drive on the sand allowed Jessicas aunt to deliver the man Jessica calls Grandpap to the wedding site. A former iron worker and horse handler, he arrived dressed up in a new pair of Wrangler jeans, a western shirt, tennis shoes and a baseball cap and was ready to party. Every girl there wanted to take him home with them, said Jessica.

Six little flower girls led the way, accompanied by a recording of Israel Kamakawiwooles ukulele-backed Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Cannon Beach photographer Julie Adams and her associate, Michael Costello, were waiting to snap Dustins first look at his bride, mirrored as Jessica first saw her groom.

Chris Fox, a friend of Dustins, came from Portland to officiate what all in attendance agreed was a heartfelt service.

Following the ceremony, guests were escorted to Haystack Gardens for cocktails, hors doeuvres and conversation while the bride and groom headed up the coast for additional photos.

The newlyweds returned to their guests at Haystack Gardens on a beautiful early evening surrounded by the love and laughter of family and friends – and a brand new watch for Jessica. Matching Dustins, it was gift from her groom who had, at last, surprised her. Their day, their wedding and their reception was everything they had hoped for and more. Their guests agreed.

And the memories continue. Jessica and Dustin returned to Arizona, delaying a honeymoon. We wanted another destination to look forward to, said Dustin. Recently, they returned from two weeks spent in Thailand. Like their wedding, the honeymoon couldnt have been better, and to both of them, that wasnt a surprise.