This Experience started on Thanksgiving day!

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The Belmont Wedding experience is a way that the wedding community as a whole gives back! The experience usually evolves into something so much bigger than it was initially meant to be. We gift the venue, catering, flowers, DJ services, photography, cake, coordination, rentals and so much more!!!

Your wedding should easily exceed $20,000.00 when we're done!

But who wins? 

Well this one is hard. We title it as a "deserving couple", but what justifies deserving? This is where it gets interesting. What does deserving mean to you? Deserving is a word that so many can decipher so many different ways, which affords us the opportunity to hear so many different stories. As a venue, we see so much love. But what about the people we never get to see? The people who simply could never afford that huge wedding? The people who simply cannot take that financial dive? We want to meet them. We want to understand their story and hopefully provide an opportunity. 

The three couples that have won in the past all use one sentence to sum up the experience - "It was life changing!".

Now we will have our forth winners soon and just as the previous three have said, "We had no idea we were going to win!".

You won't know until you try! Over 300 couples entered their story, they let us get to know them. Now we are down to our top ten. All of their stories are listed below. Please get to know them. Saturday, these ten are going to be narrowed down to three!!!!

Submission entries were closed on January 3rd at noon.

Good luck to the top ten!

 The reason why we are the most deserving couple is how much we both endured throughout our lives before we met each other and how our relationship improves everyday. Before I met Brandon, my life felt like a whirlwind. My father and grandfather both passed within a month of one another earlier in 2021 and it devastated me. My father’s battle with brain cancer had come to an end and my grandfather reached the end of his fight with dementia. My life felt chaotic as I desperately tried to make sense of the immense loss I felt. Almost out of nowhere, Brandon came into my life and calmed the storm that was my life. He walked along side me and helped me make sense of all the pain I had felt. We had similar upbringings, similar life experiences, and I finally felt like someone fully understood me. Even though I grew up in Asheboro and he grew up in Mt. Airy, we were going through the same things around the same time. I also felt like I could understand Brandon with such perfect resonance because of our similarities. He helped me fall back in love with life again as well as showed me what true love is. What we love is special, organic, and genuine bond that we have with one another.

One of my goals in life was to find love as strong as my parents and my grandparents had. They were the embodiment of the verse “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” I honestly feel that in Brandon and I finding one another we have found a love that encompasses that verse as well.

The love we have comes once in a lifetime and I’m so happy we get to spend a lifetime together making each other happy as we grow in love with one another.

 Jevon and I have been together for 5 years. Our daughter together is 2 1/2 and was just diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. She has a great support system in a half brother Jaden who turns 20 tomorrow and a half sister Haylee who is 13 and a whole group of supportive family on both sides. We have been to several wedding shows together but Sophie isn’t up to the crowds so we usually give up but are in love with the “Boss” idea where we don’t have to piece together a whole wedding. Jevon just opened a group home for mental health patients and we are supporting his dream of helping people and he is in the works of opening a second one. I work full time as well and we both are supportive parents to Sophie and love each other and can’t wait to get married but are saving to make that happen since we have been engaged a year. 

Our story starts like all the great Hallmark movies, with an unexpected pregnancy after only dating 3 months. We felt like we hardly knew one another, and I can confidently say we had no clue at the time that we would one day be getting married. I had JUST graduated with my bachelor's degree and had full plans to begin grad school in the fall and Cody had another semester. Though in the face of tough decisions Cody never hesitated to step up to ensure I didn't give up my dreams while also allowing me to be the mother I had always dreamed of being. You see I lost my mother very young and on one of our very first dates I remember telling Cody how much I couldn't wait to be the mom I grew up wanting one day. (I'm sure he was ready to run for the hills). Anyways, we celebrated our one year anniversary and 5 days later we welcomed our sweet girl into the world. Becoming parents together both bonded us and pushed us apart in a way I can hardly put into words. We hit a rough patch after our daughter turned one, but Cody never gave up on me. He was the one suggested relationship counseling and encouraged me to start my own therapy to work through all my postpartum thoughts and anxiety. We ultimately decided after 2 years together to take a break, one that neither of us wanted but we knew if we continued going at the rate we were, we would have never made it another year. We knew we were not setting a positive example for our daughter on what a happy and healthy relationship was, and that was the most important thing. So, I moved out and for 3 months put our relationship on hold and simply navigated how to effectively co-parent. One night he had come to drop off our daughter and found me trying to put together a bed that I had recently bought. He offered to build it for me and that night we had so much fun doing something as simple as building a bed. It was that night when he left to go home, I remember asking "what the heck are we doing? we are so obviously in love why are we not working on this". After many long talks we were able to identify what had been pushing us apart the last few years. We were young and hardly had the chance to date before we had our daughter, and after her we truly did not make our relationship a priority. So we started "dating"; im talking coming to my house to pick me up, goodnight kiss at the door dating. We gave ourselves the relationship we never got before we had our baby. Have you ever gotten to fall in love with the same person twice, because wow. After 10 months living apart I moved back in with all new framework in place for our relationship.

We have both worked so hard to grow as both individuals and as a couple, and that truthfully is what makes relationships and marriages last. Growing with your partner no matter what life throws at you. I truly never expected a proposal, I just honestly assumed we would just always be together the way things were. The night he proposed I asked him if he wanted to just elope, he looked me square in the face and said, "we did not work this hard and make it this far to not have a wedding". He was right we do deserve a wedding, a wedding where all of the individuals that have supported us as a couple through good and hard times can celebrate. A wedding where Cody and I can celebrate all that we have put into the relationship and the future we will soon have as husband and wife.

Therefore, wedding planning began and quickly halted, WEDDINGS COST SO MUCH MONEY. I mean we knew it would cost a pretty penny but WOW. His family offered to help with what they could, which we are so thankful for. My dad however, while he loves Cody and I both; does not understand the wedding concept. He even asked me (his only daughter) why not get married at the courthouse. Cody and I discussed it and while I thought Cody would be upset that my family was not onboard with chipping in, we both agree that we believe my dad is upset he can't afford to help the way he would like to. Cody promised me then we would have a wedding and it would be nothing less than what we wanted.

So in turn, Cody and I have been budgeting like crazy to save for the wedding. We have both been working so hard for this. Truly I think the wedding is more for Cody than myself some days-he is having so much fun planning with me. Which is so refreshing, he makes me feel so lucky. He has been working so hard, extra jobs, and long nights. Winning something like this would just take so much of the physical and mental hardships of paying for a wedding.

Weddings signify so much more than just becoming a husband and a wife. It represents love, mutual respect, equality and sacrifice.

 My name is Chelsea Greeson and I am submitting this on behalf of two incredible people. As someone who has watched this couple grow individually and also watch their relationship progress over the past 6+ years, I can confidently say that these two are genuinely deserving. When I heard the radio pitch on my ride to work Thursday morning, December 15th, I knew I had to take it upon myself to tell a little bit of how their story has unfolded and give them the possibility of a beautiful wedding day they’ll never forget.

Who are Kyle and Spencer?
Spencer is compassionate, understanding, selfless, and everything good about a good human being. She grew up with her older sister, Elise, as her best friend. Elise was born with special needs that require her to be completely dependent on a caretaker and they were raised by their single mother. Spencer is an advocate for the special needs community and has worked to raise awareness of inclusion and progression when it comes to adults with special needs. After knowing Spencer for some time, I’m still in awe of her ability to make every person she comes in contact with feel as though they’ve known her forever. She stands up for what’s right, always, and she’s fiercely loyal to the people closest to her.

Kyle is a wild child in the most literal since. He’s charismatic, lively, and even a little rambunctious at times. If he’s in a room - everyone knows it. He’s proudly, openly, and loudly his most genuine, goofy self. What a lot of people don’t see if that Kyle is also attentive, thoughtful, and sincere. He loves hard and would do anything for the people he cares about. One of my favorite versions of Kyle is when he’s with Spencer’s sister, Elise. He’s her best bud, he never dims her shine, and they love to exchange (sometimes inappropriate) jokes and crack up like no one’s watching.

Backstory
Kyles father passed away a few years ago. His dad was his best friend & idol. Although it was sudden, tragic, and unexpected, and Kyle wasn’t typically one to be emotional, he processed it all with his heart on his sleeve - never once hiding or feeling ashamed of his emotions. He used this tragedy as an opportunity to draw the people he loved nearer to him and show people a softer side of himself that not many had seen.

Spencer’s mom was diagnosed with cancer when she was very young but went through treatment, overcame it, and was cancer free. Her mom has been Elise’s primary caretaker 24/7 while also enjoying life and never missing out on an adventure. Earlier this year, her mom started have some back and abdominal pain and thinking it could just be something as simple as a fractured rib or some minor arthritis, she went to the doctor for some relief. Unfortunately the news was much more serious than anticipated. After many tests and scans, they found the cancer had returned and that it is rapidly spreading throughout her body.

The Proposal
Kyle had been ready to propose to Spencer for what seemed like forever!! And the news of Spencer’s mom, although devastating, made us all a little more aware & appreciative of life and how valuable time spent together is. I couldn’t have been happier when I heard the news that he finally put a ring on it - it was about time!! And while Spencer was thrilled, in true Spencer fashion, her humility was ever present and planning a wedding has been on her back burner. I’ve seen the Pinterest boards and I know she has a vision of what her big day will be like. The aesthetics, flowers, colors, etc., but in conversation about solidifying any plans, going dress shopping, or touring venues, she just mentions how it’s just not going to be possible & I can tell she doesn’t want to get her hopes up. Her moms treatment comes first. She has no clue how they’ll afford to pay for a wedding right now. She’s done her best to enjoy this season of life but also while preparing for her mothers passing and the inevitable possibility of having to make a life altering decision - moving her sister to an around the clock care facility or taking on the vast responsibility of becoming her primary caretaker.

Why them?
Witnessing Kyle be Spencer’s biggest supporter and source of comfort and peace during this difficult time has been a true testament of his love. I might would even dare to say he’s more excited one of the pair to curate the most perfect wedding. Most importantly though, this opportunity would give Spencer the chance to breathe a little easier during this monumental time of her life. My hopes are to be able to see Spencer’s mom attend her wedding, walk her down the aisle, and watch her begin her new journey of the next chapter with the love of her life.

Sincerely,

A friend of 2 deserving lovebirds

DISCLOSURE: I, Chelsea Greeson, am submitting this on behalf of Spencer Despain and Kyle Pagani. If chosen as the recipient of this contest, all benefits will go to the 2 above mentioned individuals. Their contact information can be provided if selected as the recipients.

 We met in 2016, I was his bank teller. He had the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen. I had a 3 month old son (Colton) and he had a 5 year old son (Jayden). Our relationship was unlike any that I had ever had. Dominec is such a kind, caring and wonderful person. He always put everyone before himself. Our relationship begin fun. Taking trips to the beach, out of town shopping, and just enjoying life with our babies. In 2018 our whole world changed. Jayden was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes. We learned to count carbs, give insulin shots and wake up several times during the night to check glucose levels. Our family overcame and Jayden thrives! He loves sports and makes A’s in school and is such a kind soul like his dad. 2019 I was diagnosed with a rare spine disease and a rare brain disease. I was working at Elon University at the time. I had several appointments every week and working full time took a toll on my body. I became disabled and needing spine surgery. I no longer had the energy or strength to continue working. Dominec has stood by my side and has loved me through it. He has taken care of me. He has feed me when I could do it myself, he has push my wheelchair at the age of 29 and he has taken care of our family on days when I couldn’t take care of myself. He has supported our family on 1 income and never complained. We have had a lot of mountains blocking our way but we have moved them together as a family. Unfortunately, with his income and me on disability we aren’t able to afford a wedding. Especially not the one this amazing man deserves. I have never felt such complete love. I am honored to be his fiancé and I can’t wait until I am able to walk down an aisle to meet him. I would love for my grandfather to be able to walk me down the aisle to the man who my family and I prayed for. Our journey started 6 years ago on 10/13/2016 and we have forever to go. 

 In June, our world turned upside down. I went from working a full-time job as a Veterinary Technician, being a full-time college student, having a side hustle on days off, planning a wedding, and making time for family and friends to having all independence stripped away from me. Due to seizures and my new epilepsy diagnosis overtaking my life, I have been out of work, can no longer drive, and am advised to be supervised most of the time.

Prior to my diagnosis I was full of energy, loved spending time in the outdoors, and more so, doing anything to do with animals, whether it be mine or a stranger's. My biggest passion is animals but, more importantly, helping them. Many people don't enjoy going to work, but I LOVE my job at Kings Mountain Animal Clinic and misses it dearly.

Fortunately, I am not in this battle alone. Due to having to cancel our beautiful winter themed wedding we had planned, we “eloped” in August and had a three people ceremony in a random gazebo. Eric is a Godsend, he has been there with me every step of the way and is my true soulmate. He puts me first and has taken personal leave from his own job to care for me. Even though he is wonderful to me, all the financial strain has been put on him. He is working very hard and doing the best he can. As you know, a one-income family is tough, even without medical expenses added on top, much less trying to pay for the wedding that we had planned.

I have not been able to work since June 24th and have no income coming in to pay for doctor visits, medication, and all the testing they have done and the future testing that will be occurring soon. Eric and I gave up our dream wedding due to my medical issues. We’ve had to utilize of our wedding money for medical expenses, which has now all been exhausted, but the medical bills keep pouring in, and my next round of testing is thousands of dollars. We still have no answers as to why this happened at 23 years old, I’ve had well over 100 seizures since June. I will also spend Christmas with 32 EEG leads attached to her head for seven days, unable to leave the house to be with family for longer than two hours.

With no end in sight and it being neurological, we are unsure how long our struggle will be. We are just hoping for a new form of normalcy. Eric and I would one day love to have the proper wedding that we’ve always desired and for me to finally wear the dress I purchased. Although this story seems mostly about me, I believe Eric deserves it more than anything to have his wedding he envisioned. Every seizure I have, I wake up seeing his face. Any day that my hands are numb due to a seizure, he’ll open anything for me, hold anything. Eric always puts my needs before his own, and for that, he deserves to have his dream wedding as well. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider us and for reading our story. I apologize if it is too long but life has been a whirlwind in just a short six months.