Empire State Building and The Knot Announce the 14 Couples to Wed Atop the Landmark on Valentine’s Weekend

On Valentine’s weekend, 14 lucky couples from across America will say "I do” at the 16^th annual Empire State Building Valentine’s Wedding event, presented by the iconic landmark and The Knot. The winning couples were selected in a nationwide contest hosted on TheKnot.com. They will exchange or renew vows February 12-13, the only weekend the Empire State Building opens its doors for weddings.

"Our Valentine’s weddings event is a popular tradition at the Empire State Building,” said Melanie Maasch, Director of Brand Development and PR at the Empire State Building. "Now in our 16^th year, with the help of The Knot, we are once again making dreams come true by creating remarkable weddings for our winning couples.”

The Knot editors will lend their style and wedding expertise by creating the romantic wedding ceremony and reception décor. To help pull off this once-in-a-lifetime event, The Knot handpicked some of Manhattan’s best- in-class wedding professionals. Among those selected, The Knot has enlisted décor expertise from Hatch Creative Studios, Gio Draping and Events, award-winning lighting company, Bentley Meeker Lighting and Staging, along with Chandelier Events to help pull it all together and transform the event space into the perfect Valentine’s Day wedding scene. The event will be catered by Shiraz Catering, who will provide an inventive take on typical cocktail fare. The band, Lapis Luna of Elan Artists will provide the music and the entire event will be captured by the photography talent of Allan Zepeda and Carlos Valeras, also of Elan Artists.

As part of their prize package, brides will receive wedding dresses from Justin Alexander Bridal, shoes from BridalShoes.com, hairstyles and makeup from by Paul Labrecque Salon and Spa, and Simon G. will provide the diamond jewelry to wear during the ceremonies. Grooms will be attired in After Six tuxedos with shoes by Barclay Shoe Co.

Following each private ceremony, officiated by Kelly Lemons of New York, couples will enjoy a champagne toast and wedding cakes created by the bakers of TLC’s popular show "Cake Boss,” which will feature the weddings in an upcoming episode. The newlyweds will be photographed at the world-famous 86^th floor Observatory.

"The Knot is thrilled to be working with the Empire State Building to host this event for the first time,” said Rebecca Dolgin, executive editor, The Knot. "This year’s winners have compelling and heart-warming love stories that are worthy of a special day atop this romantic landmark. We are so excited to help create a memorable experience for them.”

On February 12 from 7 a.m.-9 a.m., the grand prize winning couple will be the first to marry atop the Empire State Building (ESB), and 13 winning couples will walk down the aisle on February 13 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

• Grand prize winners: Kristy Magers and Captain Greg Adams – February 12 at 7 a.m. (Oceanside, CA): Greg is a Captain in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton, and was serving in Iraq when their daughter was born. The couple says a wedding atop an American icon will be the ideal spot to bring their two families together. The newlyweds will enjoy a complimentary two-night stay at the STRAND, a new Manhattan hotel with stunning views of ESB; and an all-inclusive, six-day/five-night honeymoon at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso in Riviera Maya, Mexico.
• Helen Cruz and Pete Cosme – February 13 at 7:30 a.m. (Astoria, NY): Pete and Helen have been dating since Valentine’s Day 1998. The native New Yorkers have completed four NYC Marathons together and don’t let their baseball rivalry get in the way of their romance (he loves the Mets, she’s a Yankees fan). There is nowhere they would rather be married than at ESB.
• Jenna Guccio and Enyelson Feliz – February 13 at 8:30 a.m. (New York, NY): Since getting engaged in April 2009, Enyelson and Jenna have been thinking about what kind of wedding to have. When they heard about the contest they decided this was exactly what they wanted. They live in New York, work in New York and fell in love in New York, so they felt there is no better way to tie it all together (and tie the knot) than at ESB.
• Holly Hynes Zulakis and Jim Zulakis – February 13 at 9 a.m. (Teaneck, NJ): The couple will renew their vows of 30 years, and say they’ve been having a love affair with New York City for the same amount of time, so renewing their vows at the city’s most romantic building is a perfect tribute to their love.
• Roxana Delgado Montes and Richard Catapano – February 13 at 10 a.m. (Whitestone, NY): They met at work but there was one problem: Roxana didn’t speak English. After a few dates flipping through translation books and playing charades, they fell in love. Richard entered the contest because he feels the ESB is a symbol of strength and hope, and he wants to make all Roxana’s dreams come true.
• Toni-Marie Comando and Nick Capparelli – February 13 at 10:30 a.m. (Rockville Centre, NY): These high school sweethearts always knew they were meant to be together. Nick and Toni reunited several years later, and say that being married at the ESB will be the start to a lifetime of happiness.
• Monique Thompson and Russell Hill, Jr. – February 13 at 12 p.m. (Somerset, NJ): These former high school sweethearts reconnected 22 years later on Facebook. They’ve wanted to share a trip to NYC since a school field trip here was cancelled, so this wedding is the perfect way to share that experience and celebrate their love.
• Anne Vu and Joseph DeBellis – February 13 at 12:30 p.m. (Kew Gardens Hills, NY): Anne entered this contest to show her fiancé that dreams can come true. Joseph had to leave his beloved job in the NYPD after a serious injury, and she feels there is no better way to lift his spirits than to have their wedding at the ESB overlooking a city to which Joseph has devoted his life and career.
• Yoko Shimm and Joey Shimm – February 13 at 1:30 p.m. (Tenafly, NJ): Joey and Yoko had their first date at Empire State Building and after just five more dates he popped the question there! They cannot think of a more fitting tribute to their grand love affair than to renew their wedding vows of 16 years at ESB with their two sons by their side.
• Olivia Morales and Tim Geaghan – February 13 at 2 p.m. (Brooklyn, NY): They have been dating for twelve years but their busy school schedules have kept the academics from finding time to get married before now. The ESB holds many memories for the couple and they are excited for their big day.
• Stacey Ashton and Adam Ornstein – February 13 at 3 p.m. (New York, NY): Adam made an oath with friends 13 years ago that wherever they were at age 30, they would meet at the top of the ESB. He then met Stacey and they shared their first kiss with the building in the background. Adam turns 30 this year; he and his friends will get to fulfill their original oath at his wedding.
• Lydia Villalobos and Aaron Garcia – February 13 at 4 p.m. (Alice, TX) They started dating four years ago on February 13. Last year while visiting ESB for their anniversary they witnessed the weddings event and both agreed this would be the perfect place to get married.
• Marcelina Henriquez and Pat Dupee – February 13 at 3:30 p.m. (Haverstraw, NJ): It was love at first sight, but their original wedding was put on hold after Marcelina’s mom suffered a stroke. This ceremony has motivated her mom through rehabilitation and she plans to join the newlyweds on the dance floor.
• Sonia Arriola and Bryan Langlotz – February 13 at 4:30 p.m. (New York, NY): Hoping they would get engaged soon, Sonia entered the contest before Bryan even proposed! Thankfully, Bryan popped the question on Christmas Day in Central Park. The couple says that winning this contest is the best luck they have had since moving to New York City over a year ago.

About Empire State Building

Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, the Empire State Building is the "World’s Most Famous Office Building.” With new investments in infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market. The Empire State Building was named America’s favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. The Empire State Building Observatory is one of the world’s most beloved attractions and is the region’s #1 tourist destination. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.esbnyc.com.

About The Knot

The Knot Inc. is the premier media company devoted to weddings, pregnancy, and everything in between, providing young women with the trusted information, products, and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives. Our family of premium brands began with the industry’s #1 wedding brand, The Knot, and has grown to include The Nest and The Bump. Our groundbreaking community platforms and incomparable content have ignited passionate communities across the country. The Knot Inc. is recognized by the industry for being innovative in all media -- from the web to social media and mobile, to magazines and books, to television and video. For our advertisers and partners, The Knot Inc. offers the consummate opportunity to connect with our devoted communities as they make the most important decisions of their lives.

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