Local Military Couples Get Chance At Dream Wedding
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – One local military couple will get their dream wedding thanks to the Hotel Monaco.
And you can help decide who gets it.
Several organizations are teaming up to give the couple their dream wedding, including Bonnie Walker Events, Revolution Events, Studio-E Entertainment and The Harry Panos Fund for Veterans.
"People don't really understand and realize the sacrifice that military families make when a member of their family is deployed," says Roy Cheran, of Operation Strong Vet. "This is our way, and the hotel's way, and 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 line, but the whole family, their support system."
Organizers have narrowed it down to three local couples who will get an "all-expenses paid wedding of their dreams."
"Every detail that a bride needs, from the wedding dress to the dinner to the reception, everything is taken care of, totally paid for," says Kim Racan, of Studio E Entertainment.
The winners will be announced on Sept. 11 at the Warriors Rock Concert at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall.
The final three couples include:
Steven and Savanna started out as friends. They're originally from New Castle and had been friends for years. But when Steven was deployed overseas, Savanna became his support system.
Their friendship quickly blossomed into a romance, even though they were thousands of miles apart. And when Steven returned home safely in February, they knew they were meant to be together.
The two now live in Fort Hood, Texas, where Steven is stationed with the U.S. Army.
Matthew and Hannah are from McKeesport. They met shortly after Matthew returned home from a grueling deployment in Iraq.
He was distraught and depressed, but in Matthew's words, Hannah helped him fight his "demons."
They now have two children together, a 4-year-old and an 8-month-old. But their infant son was recently diagnosed with "spinal muscular atrophy," introducing new challenges into their daily lives. All their time and effort goes to caring for their children.
They say, winning the dream wedding would mean the world to them.
Finally, there's Ryan and Kristen. They met in Pittsburgh on Veterans Day last year.
Both serve in the Armed Forces. Ryan works for the 911th Airlift Reserve Wing, and Kristen serves in Pennsylvania's Army National Guard. They say, they're each other's support system.
Ryan says, Kristen is a beautiful soldier, inside and out, and that she deserves to have a special wedding day that she'll remember for her entire life.
You can read more about the couples and vote on the Hotel Monaco's Facebook page here.
"This wedding is going to be on Dec. 13," says Rob Mallinger, of The Hotel Monaco. "It's going to be in our beautiful Sheffield Ballroom for 100 people that the couple chooses. "
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