THANK GOODNESS FOR ex-girlfriends and wingladies: Marissa Dondoe and Patrick Maher wouldn't be where they are today without them. Patrick's ex invited him to watch a football game at a bar with friends and co-workers, one of whom was Marissa. They clicked immediately ("I thought he was nice and had a good story," Marissa says), but he left the bar without her number. He had to ask the ex for Marissa's e-mail address. "But Marissa didn't quite remember meeting me — she was a bit drunk when we first met at the bar — and she had been on a few bad first dates." So, if not for another mutual friend's egging Marissa into saying yes to a date, they'd never be getting hitched this summer.

Marissa, 26, is an analyst. Patrick, 27, is a exercise physiologist. They live in Bethesda and will marry Aug. 28.

Written by Express contributor Rachel Kaufman

Anannya, 28, is a senior operations analyst. Daniel, 26, is a clerk. They live in Falls Church.

» The Main Event: Two weddings: one informal, in San Juan, Puerto Rico on March 20; and a second, formal Indian ceremony, March 27 in Tysons Corner.

» How They Met: They attended the same work-related happy hour.

» First Impressions: "I thought he was very nice and extremely funny," Anannya says. "I thought she was cute and funny with a gorgeous smile."

» The Main Event: They're tying the knot in Silver Spring on March 20, with 100 family members and friends there. Monya's aunt will be the cantor.

» How They Met: At Whole Foods, where they both worked.

» First Impressions: "I saw Monya, and I knew I wanted to talk to her. But being the new guy, I was nervous to go right up to her. So, I would bring customers over so she could help us look for things in the store." "He and I shared a moment at the end of aisle two where truffles were being sampled, and I knew this was my green light to ask him to take a break with me."

» First Date: "After several months of 'Whole Foods dating,' we finally got up the courage to spend time together outside Whole Foods," Jose Luis said. They got pizza and viewed the cherry blossoms.

Lisa, 24, is a lab technician. Alex, 26, is a hardware engineer. They live in D.C.

» The Main Event: On July 17, they'll wed outdoors in an Asian-inspired garden in Monticello, Ill. "The wedding colors are royal blue and ivory to match my sapphire engagement ring," Lisa says.

» Honeymoon: Camping out in a yurt on a private island in the Adirondacks.

» How They Met: They were studying abroad in France. Alex adds: "We couldn't stand anyone else on the trip, and that brought us together."

BYRON HARTMAN SNUCK snuck Lauren Starck out to a Charlottesville apple orchard to propose, but there was a problem: The orchard was teeming with people. "I started wandering as far away as I could and luckily Lauren followed me," says Byron. Once alone, he persuaded her to turn around by lying about seeing something in the distance — when she turned back, she saw him on one knee holding the ring. "It was oh, so romantic," says Lauren. "She started crying and hyperventilating," says Byron. "She eventually said yes, though, and proceeded to cry the rest of the day."

Byron, 24, is a senior consultant. Lauren, 25, is a government affairs specialist. The couple, who met in college, live in Arlington and will wed July 31 at a Virginia bed and breakfast in the countryside.

Written by Express contributor Rachel Kaufman

Ashley, 23, is an exhibits and registration coordinator. Alex, 24, is a technical and operations manager. They live in Alexandria.

» The Main Event: They're tying the knot May 22 in Michigan, at the university where they met, Grand Valley State.

» How They Met: In climatology class. They were put into a lab group together to analyze weather, and when they took a wrong measurement, "Alex volunteered to go with me to fix it, even though the job only required one person."

Simy, 33, is a clinical coordinator. Nilo, 30, is a trial attorney. They live in D.C.

» The Main Event: March 6 is the big day, when they'll get married in a ceremony celebrating both Simy's Jewish heritage and Nilo's Catholic faith.

» How They Met: In college. She was in another relationship at the time, but they flirted casually for a few months. "When my boyfriend and I broke up, the flirting intensified and soon we were eating lunch together every day."

Marta, 25, is a senior analyst. Tom, 27, is a quality assurance analyst. They live in D.C.

» The Main Event: A May 22 semiformal, traditional ceremony.

» How They Met: They both used to work at the same place. She had a crush on his friend, "so I was trying to be friends with Tom so that I could get to know the other guy. My plans did not go as expected."

The couple will have plenty of material for future scrapbooking: for instance, their wedding, at a mansion in Mitchellville, Md. It'll be a "Jewish/Russian/Christian/Nicaraguan medley" with a chuppah built by a local artist, followed by a Mediterranean cruise.

Alex, 25, is a senior analyst. Wilmara, 27, is an office manager. They live in Bethesda and will wed June 26.

Written by Express contributor Rachel Kaufman

Mariel, 29, is a public health analyst. Stephen, 29, is a special education teacher.

» The Main Event: They'll say "I do" on March 27 in the Dominican Republic, with 100 family members and friends looking on.

» How They Met: As grad students at the State University of New York, Albany — but he was in his last semester and she was just starting. They reconnected in D.C. two years later as friends.

» First Date: It lasted 10 hours, starting at the African-American Civil War Museum, followed by lunch, coffee, drinks and, finally, dessert.