...AND WE DID!
Thank you for voting for your favorite couple!
Kevin and Ashley
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THE WEDDING OF THEIR DREAMS!
Deptford, New Jersey's Adelphia Restaurant Gives Away a Surprise Wedding to a Lucky Couple in Need South Jersey Wedding Venue Partnered with David's Bridal, Men's Warehouse and a Multitude of Locally-Based Vendors to Provide an All-Expense Paid Wedding for Couple Battling Cancer
On Wednesday, December 21st, 2016, following a three-month social media contest that attracted thousands of votes from around the world, cousins and business partners Bill and Evelyn Balis of Adelphia Restaurant & Events surprised cancer survivors Kevin Sochanchak and Ashley Wood of Delair, NJ with an all-expenses paid wedding for up to 125 guess at Adelphia Restaurant located at 1750 Clements Bridge Road in Deptford, NJ.
In an effort to help make one lucky couple's wedding dreams come true, the Balis’ decided to give away a wedding to one local couple in need, with the entire cost of the venue, food, beer & wine, music, photography, flowers and attire for the bride and groom to be completely paid for by the restaurant and vendors that Adelphia recruited.
The complimentary wedding announcement during the summer of 2016 attracted thousands of submissions, and four finalists were chosen for a social media contest, which ended on December 15th. Kevin, 26, and Ashley, 25, ran away with the voting. Kevin and Ashley will be married on Saturday, February 11th, 2017, which is the same day that the couple started dating and when Kevin proposed.
"Our wedding day is the same date that Kevin proposed to me, so why not keep the tradition of our anniversary going, especially so Kevin doesn't forget the date," joked an emotional Ashley a few minutes after learning that the pair had won the wedding. "This is going to be the breaking point of our bad luck. It's been a really long year, but we're finally going to have our good year. We've been through so much, and this couldn't have come at a better time. We are beyond thankful and appreciative of everyone involved. Adelphia Restaurant is making our dreams come true!" "When I see her face — just waking up every morning and seeing her face — it always makes me smile," said Kevin, who appeared completely shocked and ecstatic after the surprise announcement.
Ashley and Kevin were joined by Ashley's mom, Carol, as well as Kevin's Mom, Marcy, and Ashley's brother, Gary, who were all extremely emotional following the announcement. "We had no idea that this was happening," said Carol, who was visibly shaken by the announcement. "This is just so amazing. They really deserve this. We are so thankful right now."
Kevin and Ashley have faced many obstacles in the 11 years they have been together. The couple's plans to wed were derailed when Ashley was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011. As of May of 2016, Ashley hit her five-year mark battling the disease, and is finally cancer-free. In 2014, Kevin was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach and esophageal cancer, and was given only six months to live by his doctors. Miraculously, his treatments worked, and they halted the tumors, but this past May, Kevin's cancer spread again, resulting in the couple having to face yet another battle for one of their lives.
Kevin has now had two surgeries and is continuing to beat the odds. “The only thing I want to accomplish in my life now is to marry Ashley,” noted the incredibly appreciative Kevin. Adelphia was actually the original wedding reception venue which the pair had selected to celebrate their wedding before their respective diagnoses derailed their nuptials.
The wedding will be held in one of Adelphia’s stunning ballrooms, and the restaurant itself will also be providing a 6-hour open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert and a custom wedding cake designed to the lucky couple’s specifications. Conshohocken, PA's David's Bridal is donating a wedding gown, veil and shoes for the bride; while Men's Warehouse in Deptford, NJ will be providing the tuxedo and all of the accouterments for the groom. Philadelphia's Susannah Morton, who owns Makeup By Susannah, will be donating her time and services for the bride's makeup; while Gloucester City, NJ's Sunshine Flowers will be providing all of the floral arrangements. Berlin, NJ's Hallmark Photography & Video will be providing all of the photography and creating a video for the happy couple and their families to treasure forever. And BVT Live is providing a piano player for the cocktail hour.
“We’re really happy to utilize our resources to help this incredible couple in need, who have overcome inconceivable struggles together, and have stuck by each other throughout every obstacle that they have faced,” said Evelyn Balis. “We’ve been in business nearly 30 years, and we have always had a sincere focus on the community that surrounds and supports us, but this is unquestionably one of the most special and rewarding initiatives that our family has ever been a part of. We’re treasuring every step of Kevin and Ashley’s journey to the alter, and we feel like they and their family have become a part of our family.
On Wednesday, December 21st, 2016, following a three-month social media contest that attracted thousands of votes from around the world, cousins and business partners Bill and Evelyn Balis of Adelphia Restaurant & Events surprised cancer survivors Kevin Sochanchak and Ashley Wood of Delair, NJ with an all-expenses paid wedding for up to 125 guess at Adelphia Restaurant located at 1750 Clements Bridge Road in Deptford, NJ.
In an effort to help make one lucky couple's wedding dreams come true, the Balis’ decided to give away a wedding to one local couple in need, with the entire cost of the venue, food, beer & wine, music, photography, flowers and attire for the bride and groom to be completely paid for by the restaurant and vendors that Adelphia recruited.
The complimentary wedding announcement during the summer of 2016 attracted thousands of submissions, and four finalists were chosen for a social media contest, which ended on December 15th. Kevin, 26, and Ashley, 25, ran away with the voting. Kevin and Ashley will be married on Saturday, February 11th, 2017, which is the same day that the couple started dating and when Kevin proposed.
"Our wedding day is the same date that Kevin proposed to me, so why not keep the tradition of our anniversary going, especially so Kevin doesn't forget the date," joked an emotional Ashley a few minutes after learning that the pair had won the wedding. "This is going to be the breaking point of our bad luck. It's been a really long year, but we're finally going to have our good year. We've been through so much, and this couldn't have come at a better time. We are beyond thankful and appreciative of everyone involved. Adelphia Restaurant is making our dreams come true!" "When I see her face — just waking up every morning and seeing her face — it always makes me smile," said Kevin, who appeared completely shocked and ecstatic after the surprise announcement.
Ashley and Kevin were joined by Ashley's mom, Carol, as well as Kevin's Mom, Marcy, and Ashley's brother, Gary, who were all extremely emotional following the announcement. "We had no idea that this was happening," said Carol, who was visibly shaken by the announcement. "This is just so amazing. They really deserve this. We are so thankful right now."
Kevin and Ashley have faced many obstacles in the 11 years they have been together. The couple's plans to wed were derailed when Ashley was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2011. As of May of 2016, Ashley hit her five-year mark battling the disease, and is finally cancer-free. In 2014, Kevin was diagnosed with Stage 4 stomach and esophageal cancer, and was given only six months to live by his doctors. Miraculously, his treatments worked, and they halted the tumors, but this past May, Kevin's cancer spread again, resulting in the couple having to face yet another battle for one of their lives.
Kevin has now had two surgeries and is continuing to beat the odds. “The only thing I want to accomplish in my life now is to marry Ashley,” noted the incredibly appreciative Kevin. Adelphia was actually the original wedding reception venue which the pair had selected to celebrate their wedding before their respective diagnoses derailed their nuptials.
The wedding will be held in one of Adelphia’s stunning ballrooms, and the restaurant itself will also be providing a 6-hour open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert and a custom wedding cake designed to the lucky couple’s specifications. Conshohocken, PA's David's Bridal is donating a wedding gown, veil and shoes for the bride; while Men's Warehouse in Deptford, NJ will be providing the tuxedo and all of the accouterments for the groom. Philadelphia's Susannah Morton, who owns Makeup By Susannah, will be donating her time and services for the bride's makeup; while Gloucester City, NJ's Sunshine Flowers will be providing all of the floral arrangements. Berlin, NJ's Hallmark Photography & Video will be providing all of the photography and creating a video for the happy couple and their families to treasure forever. And BVT Live is providing a piano player for the cocktail hour.
“We’re really happy to utilize our resources to help this incredible couple in need, who have overcome inconceivable struggles together, and have stuck by each other throughout every obstacle that they have faced,” said Evelyn Balis. “We’ve been in business nearly 30 years, and we have always had a sincere focus on the community that surrounds and supports us, but this is unquestionably one of the most special and rewarding initiatives that our family has ever been a part of. We’re treasuring every step of Kevin and Ashley’s journey to the alter, and we feel like they and their family have become a part of our family.
RULES: Wedding for up to 125 guests must take place on a date in 2017 that is offered by Adelphia Restaurant & Events. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Applicants must be eighteen (18) years of age to be eligible for consideration. Open only to legal residents of the following counties: Cape May, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Mercer, Middlesex, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Delaware and Chester. Employees and their immediate families of Adelphia Restaurant & Events are not eligible to enter or win. By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the judges and/or sponsors, which are binding and final on matters relating to this promotion. Any individual can nominate one person or couple for participation in the Adelphia Restaurant & Events Wedding Giveaway, however, only one entry per person will be accepted. Contest period: The 2016 Adelphia Wedding Giveaway began at 9:00 a.m. EST on September 15th, 2016 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on December 15th, 2016.
