One Astoria couple is hoping that US Weekly and WeddingChannel.com will be able to give them their dream wedding.
Matthew Ossenfort and Jeffrey Denke had been good friends for about two years before becoming a couple about a year ago. Ossenfort said that it wasn’t until he and Denke grew closer as friends that they understood the potential for a relationship. Six months ago, the two got engaged.
Knowing of the engagement, a friend of the couple sent them an e-mail about the second annual Dream Wedding Contest, which is held by US Weekly and WeddingChannel.com.
“I think he was probably somewhat joking,” Denke said of the friend’s e-mail.
However, the two decided to fill out the application anyway, even though they were not even sure if it was open to couples of all orientations.
At the beginning of June, Ossenfort and Denke found out that they had been selected as one of 10 finalists.
“I jumped up and down in excitement for the first time in my whole life,” Ossenfort said.
The two are the first same-sex couple to be selected as finalists.
“It’s just nice to know a large company such as US Weekly and WeddingChannel.com are open minded enough [that] it doesn’t matter what our sexual orientation is. It’s wonderful progress and a nice feeling.”
The finalists are now online and the public can vote for who they want to win. Voting will be held through June 18 and the winner will be announced on June 25.
Ossenfort said that the couple loves the idea of getting married at the Cloisters in Manhattan and that they want their wedding to be “an exciting, great big party with all of our friends and family.”
Denke also said that a dream of his is to have Joan Osborne perform at their wedding. He said that she does a cover of the Bob Dylan song “To Make You Feel My Love” that is the couple’s song.
“That’s not an everyday wedding thing,” Denke said.
To read more about Ossenfort and Denke’s story or to vote for them, visit www.usmagazine.com.wedding.
