Friday, February 7, 2014

We are so excited to announce the three finalists for the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway!!!
Please read the following 3 stories and then follow the link to vote on who you believes deserves the $65,000 + wedding of a lifetime.  Then follow their story as every aspect of their wedding is a competition between the top wedding vendors in Maryland.  You, the public, get to vote on which vendor's idea you like the best.  Then watch is culminate in one of the most spectacular weddings you have ever

{ Michael & Kerrie }

{ Michael & Kerrie }
Last Sunday, my fiancée and I attended the Wedding Expo 2014 at the Holiday Inn FSK in Frederick, Maryland. While visiting the numerous vendors' table, we came upon the Wedding411 table and were greeted by a very friendly and informative woman. After a very pleasant discussion, I was given a large card with information concerning "The Ultimate Wedding Giveaway," and I found this to be an extremely fortunate occurrence.
My name is Michael T. Neal and my fiancée is Kerrie L. Clark. We became friends over 25 years ago and I had a "crush" on her from the outset, but as is all to often the case, life sent us down different roads. Over the years, we maintained our friendship and as fate would have it, our paths crossed once again some 8 years ago, and we began dating and have enjoyed a wonderfully fulfilling relationship ever since. Actually, it is so much more than that to me. You see, Kerrie has a daughter that was only five when we began dating, and I now have the family that I was lacking and so desperately desired as a child. Over the years, we have discussed marriage several times often at her daughter's insistence, but I must admit I always differed the topic to a later time for one reason or another. In reality, perhaps my insecurities got the better of me, but I was concerned that I could not give her and her daughter the kind of life that I felt they deserved. You see, my fiancée is truly an amazing woman! I am sure every prospective husband feels this way for his future bride or at least he should, but I honestly believe this to be a fact, and her daughter has quickly become a daughter to me. Several months ago, we received devastating news. After an extended period of not feeling well and intense medical investigation, I was diagnosed with a rare incurable blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma, which accounts for only 1% of all cancer cases annually. Just when we believed things could not get worse, they did. According to experts at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the type of cancer I have is generally considered to be a far more complex and aggressive hematological malignancy than just typical Multiple Myeloma. The doctors actually believe that I have an undefined type of blood cancer that is somewhere between lymphoma and myeloma. I thought I was being responsible and cautious by waiting to pop the question. I wanted to wait for that mythical "perfect time" to ask for her hand in marriage - a time when I knew for certain that I could provide Maddie and Kerrie with the life that I wanted them to have. I now realize that in life there is never a "perfect time." You have to make the "perfect time," and in our case, my health has dictated the time is now. Accordingly, I decided to propose to Kerrie this past New Year's Eve. With great assistance from a few close friends and with her daughter's blessing, I surprised Kerrie in the middle of the New Year's Eve celebration at the Holiday Inn FSK in the very ballroom where I learned of this contest. During a pre-selected song (our queue), all of the couples in our group joined the crowd on the dance floor to dance. After the completion of the song, the band graciously cleared the dance floor while all of the couples in our group remained. Kerrie, not having the faintest idea of what was about to happen, tried repeatedly to leave the dance floor. Our friends actually had to corral her so she did not run off! She was worried that I had something embarrassing planned for her as I am known to be a prankster, but never thought I was about to propose. The event organizer provided me with a microphone and I dropped to one knee, presented the customary diamond ring, and proceeded to pop the question. I was thrilled when I heard the word "yes" through her tears. Ironically, we chose to attend that night because the evening's festivities where a fund-raiser for the Patty Pollatos Fund, which is a local non-profit that offers support to individuals struggling with the financial burdens associated with cancer and other debilitating illnesses. I believe I found my "perfect time!" The seminal individual in my life was my dearly departed grandfather - a true John Wayne type! He along with my grandmother was the only reason I prevailed over the strife endured in a broken dysfunctional home life. Before the dear Lord called him home, he raised my father to be a decorated Marine Corps war hero in Viet Nam and he taught me many valuable lessons. Chief among them were what he considered to be the two most valuable and noteworthy character traits an individual can demonstrate: courage in both forms (moral and physical); with a very close second being loyalty. These core values have been the focal point of my life; though, I find that very few people, myself included, demonstrate them to the exemplary level that he did. As I mentioned before, I honestly feel that my fiancée is a truly AMAZING individual! Though redundant, it bears mentioning once again. In a day and age in which many self-absorbed individuals would have abandoned me after hearing my rather bleak diagnosis, Kerrie not only remains loyal to the love we share, but has demonstrated courage not far removed from the type that my father displayed on the battlefield - to see me through this ordeal to the end regardless of the outcome! She has taken the lead when I have fallen behind and now supports our family financially and emotionally nearly by herself. To say the least, this has been an extremely difficult time both financially and psychologically. In writing this, it is my sincerest desire that you kind folks will see Kerrie through my eyes, and in turn feel as though she is deserving of the kind of special day that only "The Ultimate Wedding Giveaway" can provide, or as you put it on your contest card - "an experience of a lifetime!" I personally would like to thank you for your consideration.
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[ Brooke & Joshua }

[ Brooke & Joshua }
When and How They Got Engaged
As a little girl when I would visit my grandmother in Florida, I used to wear her emerald diamond ring (emerald is my birthstone) and walk the beach and pretend I was engaged. I would wonder what my husband would be like and who he would be. Well after years of searching, on-line dating sites, blind dates, and heartbreak, I found my soul mate. I mention the ring because it is so dear to my heart and special as it was a gift from grandpa to my grandmother for their 5th anniversary. They had a wonderful marriage filled with love and friendship. My fiancé, Josh, knew how much the ring meant to me and the sentimental value it held. My grandmother passed away at the age of 90 and left me the emerald ring. Josh and I decided to take a trip to Florida a few months after my grandmother passed away. On May 4th, 2013 we took a walk on the same beach that I would wear my grandmother’s emerald ring as a little girl and dream about my future husband. As we were walking along the beach, I noticed I was talking to myself. I turned around and Josh was on his knee. As I looked down, I saw my grandmother’s ring in his hand and I knew that this was my life partner. This is just one example of how amazing and sentimental Josh is.
Brooke & Joshua's compelling sotry as to why they deserve to win the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway...
Now, why are we a deserving couple? I would like to tell you a little bit about us: Josh was in the Marine Corps and was deployed twice to Iraq. He was in dangerous and life threatening situations during his deployment. He sacrificed his dream of starting a family and finding his bride to serve our Country. Josh never thought he would live to find the woman he would marry, let alone have the chance to walk down the aisle. Josh is one of the most kind hearted men I have ever met. He would go out of his way to help anyone. He always puts everyone else first before himself. Now about me, I dedicated a good portion of my life to my passion, which is working with civilian and military families who have children with special needs and/or disabilities. I grew up with learning disabilities myself and understand the struggles that a child faces when they learn differently and are bullied. I never wanted any child to feel that he/she wasn’t special or that he/she could not succeed in pursuing their own goals.
With that being said, I devoted so much of my time to working with a non-profit organization which helps individuals with disabilities, that I realized I could be missing my future husband. I decided to sign-up for dating websites and agreed to go on the ever so fun “blind dates”. As years went by and with no success, I started to honestly feel doubtful. I wanted a marriage like my parents who have been together for over 41 years. I decided to try on-line dating one more time and there I saw an e-mail from Josh. It took me a month to actually go out on a date with him because of all the heartbreak I had from past relationships. My friends encouraged me to give him a chance. When Josh and I met for our first date, it was like we knew each other for years. It was different than any other date I had ever been on. We talked for hours and the rest is history. Josh is now a Combat Medic in the Army Reserve and I still work seven years later with the same non-profit organization.
Last year, I started working with wounded warrior families and their children to provide much needed respite. There was one particular family that fell dear to my heart. The family was struggling as the dad had severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from serving in the war. He was deployed four times and has four children. The family was really struggling as dad had to be put in a home for veterans with PTSD. I decided to take the children out for a day of fun for the holidays, so mom could take some time for herself. When Josh found out I was doing this, he immediately said he was coming to help. Now for most men the idea of a day off would not be spending it with four children under the age of eleven (two of whom have disabilities), but not Josh. He was so excited to come and help. This is the kind of man he is. He gives back to so many people in so many ways. Josh said to me he knew he loved me the moment he saw me with children. That meant the world to me because Josh understands my passion for helping children with special needs and/or disabilities. Further, with a passion for helping others and our appreciation of the dedication of our military, we got a German Shepherd who we are training to be a therapy dog to visit with the Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed in Bethesda, Maryland.  
Josh and I would love for nothing more than to share our special day with our family and friends. Unfortunately, with me working for a non-profit organization and with Josh now a veteran of Iraq and in the Army Reserve, finances are very tight. I know Josh would love nothing more than to provide me with my dream wedding and I would love for nothing more than for Josh to have his dream wedding. I have never felt more loved and safe than when I am with Josh. He did not have it easy as a child, he has gone through two deployments in Iraq, and then learned his father had terminal cancer.
Winning this wedding would mean the world to us. We both have hearts of gold and give so much to others. I would love for just one day to give Josh everything he has dreamt of on our wedding day and he would love for nothing more than for me to have the wedding of my dreams. We want so much for our family and friends to feel the love that we have for each other and to celebrate two soul mates coming together as one.  Last, but not least we feel it would be so special to have the public involved in planning our wedding and to see first-hand the love that we have for each other.   
Now, why are we a deserving couple? I would like to tell you a little bit about us: Josh was in the Marine Corps and was deployed twice to Iraq. He was in dangerous and life threatening situations during his deployment. He sacrificed his dream of starting a family and finding his bride to serve our Country. Josh never thought he would live to find the woman he would marry, let alone have the chance to walk down the aisle. Josh is one of the most kind hearted men I have ever met. He would go out of his way to help anyone. He always puts everyone else first before himself. Now about me, I dedicated a good portion of my life to my passion, which is working with civilian and military families who have children with special needs and/or disabilities. I grew up with learning disabilities myself and understand the struggles that a child faces when they learn differently and are bullied. I never wanted any child to feel that he/she wasn’t special or that he/she could not succeed in pursuing their own goals.
With that being said, I devoted so much of my time to working with a non-profit organization which helps individuals with disabilities, that I realized I could be missing my future husband. I decided to sign-up for dating websites and agreed to go on the ever so fun “blind dates”. As years went by and with no success, I started to honestly feel doubtful. I wanted a marriage like my parents who have been together for over 41 years. I decided to try on-line dating one more time and there I saw an e-mail from Josh. It took me a month to actually go out on a date with him because of all the heartbreak I had from past relationships. My friends encouraged me to give him a chance. When Josh and I met for our first date, it was like we knew each other for years. It was different than any other date I had ever been on. We talked for hours and the rest is history. Josh is now a Combat Medic in the Army Reserve and I still work seven years later with the same non-profit organization.
Last year, I started working with wounded warrior families and their children to provide much needed respite. There was one particular family that fell dear to my heart. The family was struggling as the dad had severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from serving in the war. He was deployed four times and has four children. The family was really struggling as dad had to be put in a home for veterans with PTSD. I decided to take the children out for a day of fun for the holidays, so mom could take some time for herself. When Josh found out I was doing this, he immediately said he was coming to help. Now for most men the idea of a day off would not be spending it with four children under the age of eleven (two of whom have disabilities), but not Josh. He was so excited to come and help. This is the kind of man he is. He gives back to so many people in so many ways. Josh said to me he knew he loved me the moment he saw me with children. That meant the world to me because Josh understands my passion for helping children with special needs and/or disabilities. Further, with a passion for helping others and our appreciation of the dedication of our military, we got a German Shepherd who we are training to be a therapy dog to visit with the Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed in Bethesda, Maryland.  
Josh and I would love for nothing more than to share our special day with our family and friends. Unfortunately, with me working for a non-profit organization and with Josh now a veteran of Iraq and in the Army Reserve, finances are very tight. I know Josh would love nothing more than to provide me with my dream wedding and I would love for nothing more than for Josh to have his dream wedding. I have never felt more loved and safe than when I am with Josh. He did not have it easy as a child, he has gone through two deployments in Iraq, and then learned his father had terminal cancer.
Winning this wedding would mean the world to us. We both have hearts of gold and give so much to others. I would love for just one day to give Josh everything he has dreamt of on our wedding day and he would love for nothing more than for me to have the wedding of my dreams. We want so much for our family and friends to feel the love that we have for each other and to celebrate two soul mates coming together as one.  Last, but not least we feel it would be so special to have the public involved in planning our wedding and to see first-hand the love that we have for each other.
{ Katie & Kristi }
{ Katie & Kristi }
How we met:
Kristi and I first met when we were 9 and 10 years old. We both played for the Soccer Club of Baltimore Flames. Stored in a drawer at my parents’ house, I found an old team picture with both of us in it. Kristi and I are both looking to the side instead of at the camera. We joke than an attractive girl must have been walking by because ours were the only heads turned. We also say that maybe we’ve always been looking in the same direction together.
We played on the same soccer team for a couple years and then we went our separate ways.  At some point when we were both in our twenties, we started seeing each other out at the bars and at Baltimore Pride just about every year. We always hugged and chatted for a little bit and there was always something about her, but at least one of us was always in a relationship when saw each other. About a year before we started dating, I ran into Kristi at Bourbon Street in Baltimore and we hugged and chatted and we happened to both be single. We were friends on Facebook, so I sent her a message a few days later asking if she would be interested in going out on a date with me. She turned me down because she and her ex had just broken up and she didn’t want to start anything. We went our separate ways again…
We saw each other out a couple more times that year and then one day I was bored at work and I logged on to my Okcupid account I had started months before. I clicked on the tab for people who had looked at my profile and Kristi Korrow came up. She had been checking me out. I asked a few friends if they thought I should send her a message and they said “why not” so I did.  Okcupid matched us at a 96% enemies and 0% match, so sent her a message and said: “Hey :) You think we should go out for drinks and see if okcupid is wrong about us being a 0% match and 96% enemies?” She said yes. Asking her out again was the best decision I have ever made. We went on our first date on July 11, 2012 and on December 14, 2013 I asked her to marry me.
When and how we got engaged:
I came home one Monday evening in November 2012 and found Kristi standing out front with my dog, Gia, about to walk her.  We were not living together yet, and it was not typical for Kristi to be walking Gia for me.  She had been feeling sick that week and we were not quite at a point yet where I felt like I could ask her to take on shared responsibility for my dog.  We had been dating for about six months. I told Kristi to go inside and not worry about walking Gia, but she insisted on taking her. She told me to go inside and relax.
I walked in and found all different colored hearts cut out of construction paper taped all over the walls, mirrors, T.V., etc.  They said different things like: “because you’re a dream come true,” “because you challenge me,” and “because my heart knows no other way.”
All of the phrases written on the hearts started with because.  My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest.  I didn’t think I could wait one more minute to tell her how much I loved her.  I sat down in a chair and just waited for the door to open.
When Kristi walked in the door, she was smiling. She sat down in front of me and said, “These are just some of the reasons why I love you.”  I don’t even think I let her finish her words before I said, “I love you too.” I had wanted to tell her how in love with her I was for weeks before that. And it’s funny because I can’t remember exactly when I knew I loved her because it feels like I always have. Even after our first date, I knew my life had changed forever.
So when we started looking at rings in the fall, I knew I wanted to propose first and surprise her and I wanted to do it in a really special way.  I spent lots of time brainstorming and came up with what I believe was the perfect proposal.  I planned for us to do a Christmas card with our friends and family spelling out Merry Christmas, but secretly we had on shirts underneath our sweatshirts and sweaters that spelled out “will you marry me?”  She was completely surprised, and it was the best day of my life (so far).  For a New Year’s present, Kristi made a compilation film of our engagement day using the video I had a friend take with a phone and the pictures we had taken.  The video captures what I could never put into words, so please watch and enjoy!  
Why we are the deserving couple:
Kristi and I are the deserving couple because we are good people who work hard and neither of us makes a lot of money but that does not matter to us. We are both so passionate about the work that we do and we put our hearts and souls into helping the kids we work with. I work for a nonprofit organization called Cool Kids Campaign, which is dedicated to helping kids with cancer and their families. I also teach English at the Community College of Baltimore County part-time and I volunteer for Camp Sunrise, which is a camp for kids with cancer.  My mom went through cancer treatment when I was in high school and her fight inspired me to want to help other families going through a similar situation. I am so blessed to work for an organization that helps children going through cancer treatment and their families. I get to be a part of helping so many kids and parents smile and it is the best feeling in the world.
Kristi teaches English at Dulaney High School in Baltimore County and she is also the women’s varsity soccer and lacrosse coach. Kristi has every game her team plays video taped.  Not only does she teach, do all her lesson plans, and so much grading, but she also spends so much time watching her games so she can really see each play and figure out how to best coach her team and how each player can improve. She is so dedicated to every single player and to her teams. At the end of each season, she spends days looking through film and pictures from the season and she makes a video of the whole season to play at the end of the year party.  She puts so much time into her work because she truly loves what she does.
Despite our many differences, one of the things that draws us together is our passion for our careers and our love for helping other people.  We have chosen career paths for the love of what we do and not for the money.
Our journey together has been so incredible. We both came out to our parents years ago and both of our parents were not exactly thrilled. Now almost a decade later, we have the support of our parents, our extended families, and we can legally marry in the state we were both born and raised. It is a beautiful time in our lives and we would love to share it with all of the people who have supported us and helped us get to where we are today.  Winning a free wedding would allow us to do that. Thank you so much for considering us for the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway.

To vote on which couple that you would like to see win this wedding please visit:

www.facebook.com/Wedding411ondemand?fref=ts
or our website www.riverhouseateastonclub.com