By Patrick Luce Jun 17, 2009, 17:47 GMT
TNT has premiered its first-ever unscripted drama “Wedding Day” from producing giants Mark Burnett Productions and DreamWorks Television, with Mark Burnett (Survivor); DreamWorks’ Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey (Las Vegas, TNT’s Into the West); and Janelle Fiorito (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) serving as executive producers. The series features celebrity wedding/event planners Alan Dunn and Diann Valentine.
Unscripted drama “Wedding Day” gives deserving couples a helping hand to ensure the most important day of their lives is also the most magical.
“Wedding Day” gives deserving couples a helping hand to ensure the most important day of their lives is also the most magical. Each week, Dunn (For Better or Worse) and Valentine (author of Weddings Valentine Style) host as family, friends and community come together to create a dream wedding.
Along the way, viewers will learn each couple’s compelling story, from their first date to their wedding day.
In a press release Burnett stated: “Wedding Day is everything a good drama should be, from the compelling and relatable people and stories to the climactic build to the big day. We conducted an extensive search from coast to coast for couples whose stories are undeniably inspirational and uplifting. The show also gives us the wonderful chance to give back to those who volunteer their time or put their lives on the line to help others. We are thrilled to be able to give each selected couple a wedding they’ll never forget, while also bringing their incredibly moving stories to TNT’s viewers.”
To find the couples for “Wedding Day,” Burnett and the production team searched hospitals, non-profits, school districts, universities, law enforcement agencies, fire departments and branches of the military to find loving couples who have dedicated their lives to helping others but for reasons beyond their control have not been able to tie the knot.
They also scoured newspapers, blogs and web sites for stories of engaged couples who, even in the face of adversity, refused to give up hope of one day having a wedding. Many couples were nominated by their family and friends, the people who knew firsthand how much the couples deserved a special day.
Couples chosen for “Wedding Day” include:
Sarah & Bryan (Atlanta) - who met while Bryan was struggling to cope with the untimely death of his first wife and the mother of his children.
Jaénelle & Nyk (Detroit, Mich.) - who had to postpone their wedding plans when it was discovered that their infant daughter would have to have one of her kidneys removed and need constant care from Jaénelle, who happens to be a neo-natal intensive care nurse.
Michelle & Roy (South Los Angeles and Woodland Hills, Calif.) - a pair of community outreach workers who get a special silver screen wedding at the Park Plaza Hotel.
Tyra & Rich (Imperial Beach, Calif.) - a firefighter and lifeguard who spend so much time rescuing people they haven’t had time to plan their own wedding.
Holli & Steve (Saginaw, Mich.) - who have struggled to return to a normal life after Holli was injured in a car accident that left her in a coma for six days.
Army Capt. Shawn Fitzgerald & Capt. Christina Fanitzi (New York) - whose wedding plans have been put on hold because of their duties in Iraq.
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