Dream come true
After a mutual friend introduced Francesca Francia of Rostraver Township to Nathan Harris of Coal Center, they went on a first date to the Brownsville Drive-In in June 2013. It was the beginning of an ardent, yet unusual, courtship.
The following winter, Nathan committed to joining the Marine Corps and, on Sept. 16, 2014, left for boot camp on a week-early call-up. For 13 weeks, Francesca wrote to him every day to keep his spirits up. Later that year, she flew to Parris Island, S.C., with Nathan’s parents to see him graduate.
After the graduation, Francesca returned home to Pennsylvania to finish high school and toyed with a longstanding idea of joining the military, too.
“At first, I considered the Air Force, but because I am a physical person who loves a challenge, I decided to enlist in the Marine Corps because I felt it best suited my personality,” she said.
While Nathan was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Francesca visited him in April 2015, where he proposed on Catalina Island. The couple were subsequently married in a courthouse wedding July 25.
“We both come from large extended families, so it was a little disappointing not to be able to have everyone together for the wedding,” Francesca said.
Nathan’s mother, JoAnne Harris of Coal Center, was just as disappointed, saying “Nathan is our baby boy, and this was not the wedding we’d planned for him. Only me and my husband were able to attend the ceremony.”
Even more disappointing was the fact that during the first seven months of their married life, the newlyweds spent just three weeks together. The Marine Corps sent Nathan to Okinawa for a seven-month deployment and Francia entered boot camp.
While apart, the couple could communicate with one another only by Skype, Facebook and the internet. But things later took a more positive direction when Nathan’s mother saw an ad online for a Dream Wedding contest for a military family sponsored by the Willow Room in Rostraver Township.
The ad promised an all-inclusive wedding complete with food, disc jockey, flowers, photographer and a wedding cake.
To qualify, contestants had to provide a Youtube video stating their case for winning. But, because the couple was separated, the mothers of the bride and groom organized the video, which was taped in February by Francesca’s uncle, Thad Carroto of Monessen. The day before Francesca graduated from boot camp in March, she learned she and Nathan had won the contest.
Cara Svetkovich, general manager of the Willow Room, said the event venue organized the contest because staff wanted to honor our nation’s servicemen and women.
“We hear stories in our profession of military personnel who have a small wedding ceremony, often without friends and family able to join in the celebration due to factors like deployment,” Svetkovich said.
This marks the first time the Willow Room organized the Dream Wedding contest, which only got a handful of responses. The venue is closing Jan. 1 because the building is being sold.
“I don’t recall the exact number because it was so long ago,” she said. “We chose Nathan and Francesca because they have such a wonderful story to tell, and we wanted to give them something back for all they’ve given to their country. We were also very touched by the fact that the family put the video together, which indicates their love and affection for the couple.”
Mother of the bride Erin Francia was also happy the couple was chosen. “From the chandeliers to the table coverings and centerpieces, (the Willow Room) is a magnificent place for a wedding,” she said.
The couple, who were finally reunited in September and are living San Clemente near Camp Pendleton, flew back to Southwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday for the dream wedding on Saturday. The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a blessing of the couple at the Willow Room and a reception for 270 will follow.
Nathan, 20, plans to wear his Marine Corps uniform, while, Francesca, 19, said she’ll wear a wedding dress. Her twin sister, Gabriela, will serve as maid of honor.
“Not being able to have everyone attend our little courthouse wedding in California was very disappointing,” Nathan said. “But I find it very exciting to be able to get together with family and friends again at our dream wedding at the Willow Room on Saturday.”