Bride: Tonie Mai King, 26

Groom: Jimmy Andrews, 26

Occupations: King, financial investor; Andrews, engineering student

Homebase: New York City

Wedding Date: January 3, 2009

Wedding Location: Maputo, Mozambique

Teenage Love Affair: Sometimes a book shouldn't be judged by its cover. At least that was the case for Tonie Mai. When she met her now husband Jimmy (she was 16, he was 17) the young bookworm was not impressed. "I thought he was a playboy," Tonie Mai reveals adding that there were many girls vying for his attention. Jimmy counters, "There was lots of eye-rolling. I guess she thought I could only be trouble since I had a 'reputation' so she just turned her nose way up. I thought she was stuck-up but I also thought she was cute! I love a challenge." Eventually the pair began courting. Their relationship blossomed quickly and even continued when Tonie Mai left for the States to study at University of Pennsylvania and Jimmy trekked to Paris to pursue post-high school dreams.

Cross-Continental Romance: Managing a relationship from different corners of the globe wasn't easy but the determined duo pulled it off. "It was pretty rough at first but I just tried to focus," admits Jimmy. He adds, "With her frequent ‘surprise' visits to Paris, I really couldn't even think about misbehaving. It just wasn't worth it!" Upon graduation from UPenn, Tonie traveled further north to New York City for graduate school at Columbia University. Still, Tonie Mai and Jimmy held on and despite naysayers who thought the pair was too young for such a serious relationship, Jimmy proposed to his sweetheart in February of 2005 after surprising her with a romantic dinner.

African Pride: The couple quickly decided to return to their native continent to exchange their vows. Their final decision was the capital city of Mozambique, Maputo. "We wanted to showcase a country that was thriving and highlight something different about Africa," explains Tonie Mai. "Maputo is very international which is exactly what we are," she adds. The couple ensured their guests had a blast with a schedule of jam-packed activities for an entire week. From spotting the Big Five in Kruger National Park to partying it up at Maputo's hottest nightclub Coconuts, the lovebirds left no stone unturned for their guests.

Sweet Sunset: Tonie Mai used the rich hues of a traditional African "sundowner" (sunset) as inspiration for her entire wedding day. The ceremony took place in the Hotel Cardoso garden which boasts the best sundowner views in town. During the cocktail hour, guests sipped on South African wine and champagne cocktails. For dinner, a seafood spread of tiger prawns, lobster tails and Mozambican Bacalau (a codfish dish) was served. A live dance/drum group performed and local talent Mazuzu serenaded the newlyweds. The wedding cake was a breathtaking four-tier of baked goodness with the Liberian fruitcake tradition (to appease the bride's mother) added to a common Western vanilla cream, carrot and caramel offering.

Budget Bridal Bite: Tonie Mai did have a wedding planner to assist her in creating this magical day but still the bride insists that she is a fan of DIY projects to execute fabulous nuptials affordably. "You do not have to break the bank to look nice," warns Tonie Mai. The number cruncher scored her bridal gown at a trunk show for $2,000, however, the dress retailed for $7,000. She is also a proponent of destination weddings to cut costs. "In the States our wedding would have costs about $100,000. We were able to have that same wedding for a fraction of the cost with a gorgeous backdrop and also give our guests the vacation of a lifetime," says Tonai Mai.