Tammie Do was once a self-described commitmentphobe who feared losing her independence in relationships. Until, that is, she started dating Patrick Sylvester.

I never thought for a minute Id marry him, said Tammie, who met Patrick in 1998 at a business convention. Both own executive recruitment companies. Tammie's Chicago firm employs 20; Patrick's Philadelphia firm employs 50. The pair saw each other over the years at conventions, but it was strictly business until February 2005, when Patrick, 42, asked Tammie, 38, to dinner.

I thought wed discuss business, said Tammie, who was born in Saigon and moved to the United States at age 5. But during that first date the pair realized they had a lot in common.

We both have an edge, were both low-conformity, Patrick said. Very few people have that much in common that fast. A commuting relationship quickly ensued.

Soon, each wondered if they could share more than just great weekends together. They decided to find out when Patrick invited Tammie on a 10-day business trip to Hong Kong. If they could travel together, they figured, they could survive anything.

The trip went well. So well in fact, that in August 2005 Patrick surprised Tammie with a 9-carat yellow diamond engagement ring, which Graff delivered to him the day before in an armored truck.

Tammie and Patrick wanted to hold their ceremony and reception at the Millennium Park Rooftop Terrace, a Chicago landmark. But a wedding had never been held there before. Difficult negotiations followed. Patrick had to talk them into it, Tammie said.

Tammie hired wedding planner, Susan Cordogan, who matched her up with Kehoe Designs. Tammie wanted an edgy, contemporary look, which was turned into reality. It was everything I could imagine, she said.

Millennium Park's tented rooftop was turned into an affair to remember with a 20-foot water wall behind the bar, water and special lighting underneath the dance floor, and Lucite tables with orchids and candles floating underneath the tabletops.

Cordogan also introduced the couple to producers from the television network VH1, who asked to videotape the wedding for a series called My Fabulous Wedding. Six weeks before their big day a TV crew arrived in Chicago to follow Tammie and Patrick around for three weeks of wedding preparations.

Tammie had already picked out a Monique Lhuillier wedding dress, but VH1 wanted to tape her trying on dresses. So, Tammie returned to The Ultimate Bride, a Chicago bridal salon, to recreate the moment. During a fitting for the cameras, she tried on a Jenny Packham dress and fell in love with it. Tammie decided to change gowns and wear the Monique Lhuillier to the rehearsal dinner instead.

Tammie and Patrick said I do on September 30. Tammie says her favorite moment came during the reception when an announcer welcomed the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Sylvester. As the couple entered the reception area, waiters and waitresses lined-up on either side of the doorway and simultaneously popped the corks on a dozen champagne bottles. I thought, wow, I'm actually married, Tammie said.