Your fiancee is right, you never paint brick. First thing I would do is rip out those thorn bushes. The metalwork could be replaced with pillars (hollow) that surround the existing posts. Or, plant clematis around them. I would replace the thorn bushes with colored gravel and have low growing plants with small solar lights. The paint could be changed to a warmer cream color.

Well, the first thing I would do is get rid of the hedge that's hiding the entire front of the house. As far as "to paint, or not to paint" the brick, once it's painted, you will have to keep up the maintenance on it, so trying to work with it might be a better option, unless... you really just hate it. The back of my house is a brick patterned stucco that's painted a very similar beige. I just hated it, and all year I was talking about painting it. The color just depressed me, and then I heard that if you paint your patio/porch ceilings blue, it will keep bugs away. So, the ceiling went from white, to Vast Sky by S-W. I LOVE it! Not only did the blue make my eyes incredibly happy, but all of the sudden, this hideous beige looked absolutely scrumptious! It reminded me of vanilla ice cream with a little chocolate mixed in. It looks so good, it looks edible. So now, after hating this color all year, I'm in love with it, because I change the color next to it.

So perhaps, changing the colors next to it, will change your mind about the brick, since they have to be painted anyway.

I would look at painting the siding above the brick and think about some landscaping...Do u want to keep those shrubs in front of the house? They seem to be blocking a view of the home.

Here are some ideas, the cat tail lights are so cool. I don't know if you have a green thumb, but you can't kill hosta! Good luck and congrats on the house and your upcoming wedding! Don' know what happened to the hosta photo, this is salvia which is a very hardy plant.

Some column ideas and the hosta plant. Click on the image of the column..

I agree with removing the hedge...I'd paint the bricks a light gray along with the stucco..then paint the shutters and the trellis black...leave the trim white.

Here's the color scheme I would do...

I don't think you will need to paint the bricks. New landscaping that clears out the hedge and softens the hardscape's edges. New paint on siding and trim (pick a color similar or complementary to the brick). New, fun color on the door and shutters. Do something with the supports on the facade. Either refinish or replace with something less curly-cue. If you do all that and still dislike, then paint the brick. As far as beige/bone colored brick goes, this is the least offensive one I've seen in a long time.

Please do not paint the brick, I come from a long line of bricklayers and the upkeep is a nightmare. Especially if you live in a climate where the summers are hot and the winters are cold. Not sure of your climate..

a border of something along the driveway to draw the eye toward the house - a a trailing groundcover, flowering if your climate allows; same lalnting around the base of the tree - definitely take out the shrubs.; maybe a bright color on the door and a compliment on the shutters?