After the engagement, the biggest responsibilities a couple faces are the planning and decisions that go into a wedding and reception. For some, assuring that all the aspects of a wedding day run smoothly and enjoyably supercede any preoccupation with expenses.
But for others, the planning and execution of a reception can be a substantial financial burden.
For Agnes Nealen, 30, and fianc?(c)e John Starr, 34, residents of Amherst, a little help from a local television station will hopefully help the celebration of their special day become a dream come true.
"My husband asked me to make him a sandwich while we were watching (Buffalo ABC affiliate) WKBW AM/BUFFALO and we saw an advertisement to enter a wedding contest called the 'Natural Wonder Wedding Contest,' so we entered by writing an essay and sending in a picture," said Nealen, currently a dental hygienist at Lancaster Dental.
The winner of the competition will receive a free reception for 100 people at Top of the Falls Restaurant in Niagara Falls N.Y., as well as a four-day honeymoon on the Delta Queen Steamboat in New Orleans. Nealen said they will be required to pay taxes as well as the cost of alcohol, but winning this contest would help them a great deal.
Starr is a driver for Gui's Lumber, an associate of Ace Hardware. Nealen is a graduate of Erie Community College North and she completed her dental hygienist rotations on UB's South Campus.
"At the time, UB's campus was a lot nicer than ECC and the dental students were very nice to work with," said Nealen.
Nealen and fianc?(c)e Starr are one of 800 couples that entered a contest sponsored by WKBW to win a free wedding reception by getting people to vote for them online. After being interviewed, the couple became one of the three finalists in the running for a free reception.
Nealen and Starr met after a blind date set up by Starr's cousin in November of 2002. Little did Nealen know that this man would be the one to propose to her one year and one month later.
"On our first date, John was playing heavy metal music in the car and I was like 'oh my god,'" said Nealen, giggling. "Then he put on a CD by a local band called Seven Day Faith and I realized that he did have a softer side so I thought I would give him a second date."
There are three couples in the running for the free reception and after the most recent vote count, Nealen and Starr are in third place. The couple said they need the help of their community to make their dream of a beautiful, affordable wedding a reality.
Nealen and Starr said they have spent countless hours advertising their need for people to take a minute to log on to WKBW's "AM/BUFFALO" site and vote for them.
And trying to win a reception is hard work.
"I feel like a politician. We're traveling all the time, kissing children and doing the whole deal to win this competition and to get people to vote for us," said Starr.
"I expected a simple competition where we'd earn a few votes and win but it's not that easy."
Starr and his fianc?(c)e have been all over town, advertising through newspapers, news stations, radio stations, local businesses, as well as putting up signs and posters wherever they can.
"I think we deserve to win this competition because Agnes and I have just worked so hard. I don't think I have ever worked so hard in my life," said Starr.
Voting ends on Wednesday, April 7 at midnight and Nealen and Starr are encouraging people to vote either online at WKBW.com via the AM/BUFFALO link, or by post cards addressed to: Natural Wonder Wedding, WKBW-TV, 7 Broadcast Plaza, Buffalo, N.Y 14202.
"What's nice about winning is that we would be a step ahead to building a life together and starting a family," said Starr.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
