Local teacher and deployed US Air Force Sergeant win wedding contest
Sparta First grade teacher Theresa Peck and her fiancé Kevin Lewis became the second winners of a Dream Wedding. The couple, together for nearly eight years, has spent seven years in a long, long distance romance. Kevin is a member of The United States Air Force and has had the elite honor of performing funeral services of those who have died serving our country. After Kevin’s childhood friend was killed in Iraq, he was determined to honor him by transferring to a unit in Afghanistan. Before deployment, Theresa and Kevin were married in their living room by a judge, but Kevin was determined to give Theresa the church wedding she always wanted. Theresa began planning the wedding on her own, when she heard about “The Dream Wedding Team,” a team of local wedding experts consisting of Photography, Videography, DJ, Florist, Bridal Store, and Jeweler. The Dream Wedding Contest was inspired through Anthony Ziccardi Studios, a Sparta photography studio specializing in wedding photography. “After having our own wedding and seeing how expensive it was, we wanted to give back to another couple that were truly deserving,” said Anthony Ziccardi’s wife, Sarah. When Sarah Ziccardi presented the idea of offering a free engagement and wedding photography package to her husband, Anthony Ziccardi expanded the contest to include several other vendors who now make up “The Dream Wedding Team.” This was the second year for The Dream Wedding Contest. In August 2011 local couples completed an application describing why they were deserving of a dream wedding. They received over 100 letters from couples all over northern NJ. The dream team read every entry and narrowed it down to 4. The 4 finalist couples were contacted and received a Free engagement photo shoot. Then the four finalists with their photos were posted online and the voting began. For 10 days the couples had the opportunity to have friends and family vote online for them to win. Theresa and Kevin received over 1600 votes. As the grand prize winners, Theresa and Kevin will receive the Anthony Ziccardi Gold Photography Package with a Free engagement shoot valued at $3,500; a DJ and dance floor lighting from Global Productions in Augusta valued at $2,000, $1,000 worth of flowers from Sussex County Florist in Sussex; a videographer and an edited DVD from George Segale Productions in Sparta, valued at $1,500; the choice of a bridal gown up to $1,200 from Sew â N Sew in Lafayette; and $1,000 in bridal jewelry from D’Andrea’s Jewelers in Wantage. The three runners-up received a free engagement photoshoot, valued at $500, from Anthony Ziccardi Studios and 25 percent off any Dream Wedding Team vendor service. Anyone who entered also received 10 percent off all vendor services. To find out how you may become the next winner, visit www.thedreamweddingteam.com or call 973-726-4111