ROSE PARADE FLOAT VENUE FOR I DOS Wedding bells rang in the 2013 New Year for Nicole Angelillo & Gerald Sapienza, the Virginia couple who won the Farmers Insurance first-ever Dream Wedding Contest. More than 52 million TV viewers watched the couple say “I Do” atop the Farmers Insurance “Love Float” in Pasadena, California during the 124th Tournament of Roses Parade on New Year’s Day. Imagine 900,000 spectators lining the parade route as the float, 25 feet tall, 55 feet long and 18 feet wide, decorated with about 16,000 roses and carnations, carried the happy couple into matrimony. Nicole had a crush on Gerald in high school but fate didn’t bring them together until a decade later. The couple entered the contest, supported by family, friends and community. Contest entries were narrowed down to four finalist couples and voting opened to the public via Facebook. The hearts of voters across the U.S. were captured by Nicole & Gerald’s love story and the rest of their wedding story is now truly history! Query for Gerald: How many roses are you planning to give Nicole for your first anniversary? Photos courtesy of The Yodsukars | theyodsukars.com Photos: Loren Paul, courtesy of Sayli & Jon Gibbs PRESIDENT OBAMA, WEDDING VENUE CRASHER? From possible hysteria to history... Picture this. You have planned your event of a lifetime for months. The venue is Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa in the historic Flynn Barn built in 1871, a building on the U.S. National Registry of Historic Places. It’s coming up to U.S. election day and to your surprise — and dismay — you learn that the barn area has been chosen for a last-minute reelection campaign rally by President Barack Obama. You’re getting worried because you have to consider the possibility of what might happen to your wedding plans, because the President’s morning event could run longer than expected and create problems if it overlaps with yours. This was the scenario facing Sayli and Jon Gibbs when they were scheduled to take their marriage vows. Happily, the rally ended in a timely fashion. However, the couple were advised the parking lot for the venue would be closed to cars, so the bride walked across the lot carrying her wedding gown. A gentlemanly gesture by the President included a memorable gift of a silver mint julep cup and tray, each with the presidential seal, along with a penned note offering best wishes to the bridal couple saying, “Congratulations on the wedding. Michelle and I wish you a great life together. Barack Obama.” This is a wedding story deserving to be passed down for generations to come. Wedding Essentials 2013 15