New Contest Will Give Local Military Couple The Wedding Of A Lifetime

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A military couple with a connection to Pittsburgh will receive an all-expense-paid wedding of a lifetime.

It's all thanks to a new contest.

From the venue, to the flowers, to the dress, saying, "I do," can end up being pretty pricey.

"Every detail that a bride needs from invitations to a wedding dress to the dinner, the reception, everything is taken care of, totally paid for," Kim Racan, of Studio E Entertainment, said.

The dream wedding will be held at Hotel Monaco on William Penn Place in the heart of Downtown.

"This wedding is going to be on Dec. 13, it's going to be in our beautiful Sheffield Ballroom for 100 people that the couple chooses," Hotel Monaco General Manager Rob Mallinger said.

As for the lucky couple, that will be up to the public.

The wedding will be the result of a new contest to honor veterans. The idea came from out of the Warriors Rock concerts put on by Studio E Entertainment and Operation StrongVet.

"People don't really understand and realize the sacrifice military families make when one member of their family is deployed. This is our way and the hotel's way and all the vendors' way of acknowledging that and giving back and understanding that these people make a huge sacrifice. Not just the person that's on the front lines, but the whole family and their support system," Roy Cheran, of Operation StrongVet, said.

Military couples with a special story and a tie to Pittsburgh..can apply by Aug. 31.

Three finalists will be selected and then the public will have the final vote.

The winners will be announced at the Warriors Rock concert at Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall on Sept. 11.

"We thought well, how could we lighten the load that everybody feels that day and bring some joy to people, especially a military family and it just fell together. It's one of those things that you think about and you think this really makes sense," Cheran said.

"I'm glad that I'm not the one who has to select the winner. Every story is great for a different reason. We do require them to submit photographs as well, so it's really fun because you can see the couple and you can really feel their story," Mallinger said.

Get more information on the contest by visiting Hotel Monaco's website here.

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