Wendy Kromer seemed to have it all -- except a soul mate. So she logged on to an online dating service and found Scott Schell. After a week of e-mailing, they decided to meet. They found they had two significant things in common: Each is the fifth child in a large family; Scott had lost both his parents, and Wendy, her mother. After dating for a year and a half, Scott surprised Wendy with an engagement ring on Valentine's Day.

A cake designer, Wendy arranges the pies she opted for.

Wendy prepares to leave her childhood home for her September 2003 wedding. Her ride: her brother's 1950 Buick.

The wedding party poses on the lawn near Wendy's childhood home.

Wendy and Scott are married on the patio of a Sandusky country club. The bride's gown, an ivory slip dress with Alencon lace overlay, is by Monique Lhuillier. Her veil is by Kelly Christy. The bridesmaids wear simple white linen dresses by Watters & Watters and pink silk shawls. The groom wears a tuxedo that once belonged to his later father, Herman.

Guests at the reception enjoy a perfect summer evening.

Some nattily attired young men were among the twenty children in attendance.

Locally grown flowers made up the centerpiece for each table. For vases, Wendy used her mother's collection of vintage canning jars and added bottles gathered from antiques stores, thrift shops, and flea markets.

Individual miniature pecan and cherry pies were baked by family members in Wendy's pastry shop.

During the reception, the newlyweds, in full wedding attire, get ready to take a spin on the gifts they bought for each other: bright red retro-style bikes.

Location: Plum Brook Country Club
Bride's Dress: Monique Lhuillier
Veil: Kelly Christy
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Watters & Watters
Bicycles: A&B Hobbies and Cycles, 419-625-4242