Dream wedding: Air Force couple, contest winners wed at Empire State Building

Published Feb. 23, 2011
By Senior Airman Amber R. Kelly-Herard
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- When Stephanie Wu entered a dream-wedding contest on a whim, she had no idea it would lead to the chance of a lifetime -- to marry her fiancé, Capt. John Wu, at the Empire State Building in New York City on Valentine's Day this year.

She and Captain Wu, 375th Medical Support Squadron, both Louisville, Ky., natives, had originally planned on getting married this May in their hometown, but that all changed after receiving the most votes in a contest put on by TheKnot.com.

The Wu couple found themselves not only as one of 14 couples selected to get married at the Empire State Building, but as the grand-prize winners they also received a four-day honeymoon to the Bahamas.

As a part of their grand-prize package, they were the only couple to win the privilege of being wed on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building--the observatory deck overlooking New York City at sunrise as they said their nuptials.

To enter the contest, she simply had to tell their love story--the rest was up to the voters. Stephanie, a full-time student at Keller University, and Captain Wu were actually neighbors when they met in July of 2009. Neither was looking for a relationship, but their friendship developed and in November of 2009 they began dating.

On Captain Wu's 25th birthday in July 2010, the now Mrs. Wu hosted a party for him. During the party, he had talked her into going next door under the guise of his parents wanting to speak with her.

"I thought it was weird, but I said okay," she said. "Then we went to the seminary where we first began dating, and I heard 'Fireflies' by Owl City, which is our song, playing."

He dropped a penny to throw his future bride off when he went down to one knee to "pick it up."

They started talking about their relationship and then he opened the curtains to a nearby window.

"I saw 'Will U Marry Me' in flickering Christmas lights that looked like fireflies. When I turned around he was down on one knee."

Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Wu entered the contest and the rest is history.

"Getting married at the Empire State Building is something that is so unique and special and beyond my dreams that I could have never set up myself. It really is a blessing," said Captain Wu. "Being there at sunrise with no one but our family and friends by our side was a chance most people don't get.

"I also went to New York University, but Stephanie had never been to New York, so for our first memory there to be our wedding is a great first memory as a married couple."
Since the newlyweds were only able to have a select number of guests in New York they are planning a vow renewal and reception in Louisville for the remainder of their family and friends to join in the marriage celebration.

Captain Wu plans on continuing his Air Force career through to retirement and Mrs. Wu wants to follow him as they build their lives together.