Y98 T-Mobile Mega Wedding 2008

Couple #3 - Jessica & Luke
from Bethalto

Our story begins in sixth grade
When we started a crush that would never fade

Luke was a big chicken
But still our love thickened

Finally, he asked me outside the gym
If I would go out with him

High School Sweethearts when we graduated
Then off to college to be educated

Our relationship met some resistance
Due to the time and distance

Over months and years we learned what love meant
Then to Shane Co. he went

Now I have a diamond that shines
And he’ll be forever mine

Oh Y 98
Please don’t make us wait!!

1/22/2008
GRAND PRIZE WINNER BLOG

Luke and I are still in shock!! We can't believe we are getting married in 3 weeks! Once again, we just want to thank Y98 and all the sponsors for this amazing gift. We are grateful to our families, friends, all the businesses, newspapers, and people we don't even know who went out of their way to help us win! Thanks doesn't begin to describe our appreciation for all of your support!

Sincerely, Luke and Jessica

1/18/2008
Day 11

We feel so honored to have made it this far in the contest! Our support system has proven strong and dedicated -- we are looking forward to them carrying us across the finish line! We would like to thank everyone (you know who you are!!) who helped us with signs, flyers, our "cheers", notifying newspapers, making songs, sending emails, making phone calls, and in general spreading the word for us!! Our friends, family, and community are behing us 110% and we feel so blessed how everyone is supporting us! THANK YOU!!

1/16/2008
Day 10

We’re in need of assistance for the next few days, To garner your votes in multiple ways. It’s a simple request to help us win our dream, Of a magnificent wedding from the Y98 team! The task has been huge to get in this position but we can only keep going on one condition: We need the most votes to continue our quest To make Valentine’s Day the absolute BEST! So please spend a minute - Log on and help us win it! Ask your friends to join in and vote for us too We'll be forever grateful to Y98 and YOU!

1/15/2008
Day 9

The suspense was overwhelming this morning when we were the last couple announced to move onto the next round!! All day I have had butterflies in my stomach from being so excited and nervous! It is thrilling to think that Luke and I could be getting married in 5 weeks, after restlessly waiting 8 1/2 years! We feel extremely grateful to have such supportive voters who have gone above and beyond what we ever could have imagined to propel us this far in the contest! PLEASE keep voting everyday to ensure Luke and I will be the lucky couple to win the contest!!

1/14/2008
Day 8

We are anxious and excited to hear the outcome tomorrow morning on Y98! The generosity we have seen from all of our family and friends has been sensational. We have enjoyed the journey and are thankful for being selected as finalists in the contest. No matter what the outcome is, Luke and I are solely looking forward to getting married and beginning our lives together.

"Thanks' seems such a small word.... to cover that 'I'll never forget it' feeling." - Author Unknown

1/13/2008
Day 7

Hey Voters!!

Yesterday my experience at The Wedding Shoppe was amazing! It was so much fun to meet all of the girls and to see everyone in wedding gowns! The ladies at The Wedding Shoppe were very helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly. The Y98 crew helped everyone to have fun and put us at ease so we could truly enjoy the experience. It was very exciting to put on all of the beautiful gowns and try on veils. Luckily, my mom and sister-n-law were able to go with me so we will be able to look back on the experience together and it will be a great memory we will always share. The support from everyone (this means YOU!) has been amazing. Thanks for all of the votes! Luke and I are looking forward to the next round of voting! Don't forget we need your votes everyday!

1/12/2008
Day 6

We covered our hometown area pretty hard today by standing at intersections with large signs and handing out flyers at different businesses. We were also able to get our information announced during half-time at a county basketball tournament at our old high school. It was fun being at the game seeing my former high school teachers and coaches - they were all very excited for Luke and I and are already voting and spreading the word for us. I am really excited to meet everyone and try on dresses at The Wedding Shoppe in Troy, Missouri tomorrow. Thanks for all of the votes!! Please keep them coming EVERYDAY!!

1/11/2008
Day 5

Today, I posted and passed out flyers in our hometown area. It was encouraging to have a lot of the people say that have read about us in the newspaper. Our high school district is also supporting us by spreading the word. We are planning on expanding out to the Alton area tomorrow morning to hopefully pick up more potential voters! We have talked to many voters that did not know that you could vote up to ten times a day, every day. So to those diehard couple #3 voters keep up the great work. You can never know how much we appreciate each and every vote.

1/10/2008
Day 4

Hey everyone!

Wow - this is all very exciting and crazy!! We have relatives voting for us as far away as Peru. Luke and I are thankful for everyone voting and helping us with the contest! It is touching to hear from people we haven't seen or talked to in years contacting us, spreading the word, and asking what they can do to help. We are going to hit the streets hard this weekend to find people we don't know to get their votes! I am looking forward to meeting all of the other "Brides" on Sunday!

1/9/2008
Day 3

Hey Y98 Voters!

We found out our story is going to be in 3 local newspapers, so that's very exciting!! For the voters who may not know us directly: Luke and I have been dating 8 1/2 years! We started dating our sophomore year in High School and we made it through college together, even while being in different states. We have known for years that we would marry someday, but that couldn't happen until we finished school. Luke made it official and asked me to marry him the day after Thanksgiving. We originally wanted to get married on Valentine's Day weekend but with the holidays and all of the planning we didn't think we would have enough time so we had to move the wedding date back until spring. With your votes, the wedding we have dreamed of since we were children can become reality within the next five weeks!!

1/8/2008
Day 2

Hey Y98 Listiners!

Our network of voters is increasing daily. We now have people in 6 states voting for us! Right now all we have been able to do is talk to close family and friends. With us both working long days at our jobs (Luke is working as a surveyor on a project in St. Louis and I work at a 24 hour veterinary hospital) we haven't been able to do as much self-promoting as we would like. Hopefully, in the next few days we will be able to expand our voting base to more of the St. Louis area. Thanks for your votes!

1/8/2008
Hey Y98 Listeners!

What a day! I can't put into words how excited I am that Luke and I have made it this far in the contest! The support from family, friends, and co-workers has been amazing, crazy, and a blessing. I would like to thank everyone for all of their support and assistance in everything. Hopefully, it will all come together and we will make it to the next round!

Thanks for everyone's votes!!
Jessica Beilsmith