January 16, 2014

The Knot to Throw the Ultimate Luxury Wedding for Boston Maration Survivors with Every Detail Voted on by America, Sponsored by Ralph Lauren Romance

Second Annual The Knot Dream Wedding Awarded to Rebekah Gregory and Pete DiMartino, Newly Engaged Couple Who Endured the Boston Marathon Tragedy
NEW YORK (January 16, 2014) – TheKnot.com, the number one wedding planning destination, today announces The Knot Dream Wedding. Now in its second year, the program follows one couple through every step of the wedding planning process. The twist? Every element will be voted on by America. This year, TheKnot.com has selected Rebekah Gregory and Pete DiMartino as The Knot Dream Wedding couple.
Rebekah and Pete were at the finish line of the Boston Marathon cheering on Pete’s mother. When the bomb exploded, Rebekah shielded her young son. She has endured 15 surgeries and the fear of the possible amputation of her leg, which she still faces today. Pete lost 90 percent of his right Achilles tendon and suffered multiple broken bones in his ankle. He has undergone surgeries and months of physical therapy. Their shared experience as a result of the explosion and surviving their injuries brought them even closer together and strengthened their relationship.
Rebekah and Pete will transfer all wedding planning decision-making to America. Voting will take place weekly on TheKnot.com/DreamWedding, starting on Valentine’s Day. People around the country will have the chance to vote on every element of the wedding, including the overall theme, bridesmaid dresses, hair and makeup, entertainment, cake, flowers and even Rebekah’s dress!
“When we found out that Rebekah and Pete got engaged in October, we knew immediately that they should be The Knot Dream Wedding couple,” said Rebecca Dolgin, TheKnot.com editor in chief. “After all they’ve endured, we wanted to make sure they got their happy ending and could not be more thrilled to provide them with the wedding of their dreams.”
Rebekah and Pete’s story is truly one of love conquering all, which is why Ralph Lauren Romance signed on to partner with The Knot on this exclusive program. The Romance fragrance captures the timeless essence of falling in love. It transcends time and trends, and embodies the elegant and magical world of Ralph Lauren, much like the wedding that The Knot will create for Rebekah and Pete.
Rebekah and Pete will receive the ultimate romantic wedding, created by Marcy Blum and her team at Marcy Blum Associates. Marcy is a celebrity wedding and event designer, who has planned the weddings of LeBron James and Savannah Brinson, Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, and Billy Joel and Katie Lee, amongst other celebrities. PEOPLE.com will partner to share insider celebrity wedding trends for the wedding and give their readers a true look inside the couple’s unique journey to the altar through a first-person blog that Rebekah will write weekly for the site.
We picked the couple. You plan the wedding. Start off by visiting TheKnot.com/DreamWedding now to vote for the location where Rebekah and Pete will get married. Then, tune back in on Valentine’s Day to plan the wedding along with The Knot.  Every detail (and the couple’s reactions!) will be caught weekly on The Knot LIVE, a live-streaming TV show on TheKnot.com.
About TheKnot.com
The Knot is the nation’s leading wedding resource, reaching nearly every bride in America through the #1 wedding website, TheKnot.com; The Knot national and local wedding magazines; The Knot book series; and syndicated columns in newspapers nationwide. The Knot is the flagship brand of XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO; http://www.theknotworldwide.com), a global media and technology leader devoted to weddings, pregnancy and everything in between, providing young women with the trusted information, products and advice they need to guide them through the most transformative events of their lives. Follow The Knot on Twitter @theknot.

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