B.I.O: Laurel Kemper, Duke Kennedy

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Laurel, 26, is a project manager for nonproliferation programs at the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation. Duke, 29, is a project engineer at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. They plan to live in Rockville after their wedding.

» The Main Event: The couple will marry May 9 in the bride's hometown, Boise, Idaho. During the Christian ceremony, they will stand on the same special rug that Duke's parents and grandparents stood on when they got married.

» The Proposal: On Oct. 30, 2008, near the end of a vacation in Austria, Duke took Laurel to an elaborate dinner at Zum Schwarzen Kameel, a historic Viennese restaurant in operation since 1618. "They sat us in the middle of the dining room," Lauren recalls, "and our waiter walked us through the chef's menu of pigeon and veal knuckle. After the first of five courses, Duke asks me if I would make him the happiest man on Earth. Of course, I said yes and tried to remain calm as he gave me his grandmother's ring and told me how much he loves me."

» Honeymoon: The couple have selected a familiar spot: Duke's family's cabin in Maine. "I love being on the edge of the ocean, enjoying the waves on the rocks," he says. "It's very peaceful, just like the state slogan, 'The way life should be.'"

» Making it Unique: "We will have an arrangement of two long tables at the reception to make the dinner more feast-like," Duke says. "We hope that our wedding favors will be unique. We're considering CFL light bulbs and potassium iodide tablets."