We all love happy endings, and after Dancing with the Stars reality television star Melissa Rycroft was dumped on The Bachelorette by Jason Mesnick, we got one.  After being unlucky in romance, this past weekend, Rycroft married her long time love Tye Strickland in a sunset ceremony on the beach.  Rycroft and Strickland met in their hometown and dated on and off for two years, parting ways prior to the airing the of The Bachelorette.  Just four months after her humiliating rejection and break up with then fiancé Mesnick on the air, tides turned and Strickland popped the question to Rycroft at White’s Chapel in Southlake, Texas.  Opening a ring box with an internal light for added effect, Strickland presented her with a stunning $60k platinum engagement ring; how could she say no!  The band is crowned with a center 2-carat pear shaped diamond, surrounded six baguettes, and 94 round diamonds.

After getting engaged, Rycroft and Strickland joined their parents for a celebration and dinner at the nearby Brio Tuscan Grille, then joined twenty of their friends at the Dallas restaurant Cretia’s, walking into a round of applause.

In preparation for their big day and to say farewell to singlehood in style, the couple flew to Las Vegas for a joint bachelor/bachelorette party.  Rycroft and Strickland stayed at the luxurious Palazzo hotel and early in the evening the couple attended the Jersey Boys Show.  Then, in traditional bachelor/bachelorette party style, the girls headed for an evening of fun at Palazzo’s Lavo, while the men partied the night away at Tao.

Approximately six months after Rycroft accepted Strickland’s proposal, and the amazing platinum and diamond engagement ring, the two made their relationship official.  The wedding ceremony was held on December 12^th in Isla Mujeres on the coast of Cancun Mexico.  Every detail was attended to; Rycroft wore a beautiful mermaid style, white flowing, Alfred Angelo wedding gown and carried a bouquet of peach and white roses.  With tears in her eyes, she was escorted by her father to the alter on the beach at the end of the dock to the traditional wedding song, “Here Comes the Bride.”

In keeping with the casual beach theme, Rycroft’s bridesmaids wore peach colored bridesmaid dresses, while Strickland’s groomsmen wore causal khaki pants and sea foam green button down shirts; all members of the wedding party walked barefoot.  Also in tears, Strickland waited for Rycroft at the alter wearing a causal khaki suit with a peach rose, white button down shirt, and no tie.

Rycroft and Strickland timed their beach wedding ceremony perfectly.  The anticipated event took place in the late afternoon, ending with Rycroft and Strickland’s vows being repeated with the setting of the sun.