Wedding bells ring amid food-on-a-stick

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Once upon a time, a young River Falls couple entered a contest to win a fairytale wedding.

Three weeks ago, 22-year-old Heidi Foster and 24-year-old Scott Komorouski learned -- on live TV -- they’d won the $18,000 package that includes everything from clothes, flowers and cake to rings, a honeymoon suite and the coolest of venues.

The couple weds on live TV at the Minnesota State Fair Friday, Aug. 28 during the 3-4 p.m. KSTP/5 Eyewitness News show, “Twin Cities Live.”

“Our first official date was at the State Fair,” said Komorouski.

Their history with the fair was one thing that swayed contest judges to pick their application over the other 199 received. Their wedding planner, Gretchen Culver, helped judge the contest.

She said judges looked for 1) a good State Fair story, 2) someone who would appreciate the opportunity and 3) true love and excitement about a life together.

Their application was one of only two submitted by a husband-to-be.

Foster saw the contest online and told Komorouski about it. She said he completed and sent the form with essay questions.

He found out they won on a Wednesday -- two days before they were scheduled to appear on TCL as contest finalists. Keeping the secret, he went shopping at Wedding Day Diamonds to pick a ring that would replace the 50-cent gumball-machine plastic piece he’d given his love nearly two years before.

The excitement nearly swept Foster off her interview chair as she sat on live TV, found out they’d won and got a new ring to replace the plastic one.

“He proposed to me on the show on Aug. 7,” Foster said.

Komorouski said he was just praying as he got on a bent knee that he wouldn’t fall off the tall stool while getting in position to pop the question.

Theirs will be the only wedding taking place at the fair this year, according to the TV station KSTP (5 Eyewitness News). As far as Foster and Komorouski know, it’s the first time a couple has wed during a live TV broadcast from the fair. It’s also the first time the 1-year-old TCL show has held the contest.

Dream wedding details

As the beaming couple approaches the big day, they describe a whirlwind two weeks of dress and tux shopping, cake tasting and lots of meetings with Culver, who they frequently characterize as “awesome.” Both say despite the short time frame, planning has gone smoothly and easily for them.

They say planners have focused on their preferences during the entire process.

Foster said her two bridesmaids will dress in fuchsia-colored dresses. She found herself a beautiful gown at Pearls & Lace too but won’t reveal too many details.

As of last week, they said the only outstanding detail is to take dance lessons. The honeymooners will also spend their wedding night in Minneapolis at the Hotel Ivy.

The couple’s parents live in New Richmond and, along with other family and friends, will come to the fair for the ceremony and a reception afterward. The bride and groom were given a small number of admission tickets to offer guests.

She said about their loved ones, “They’re really excited.”

Foster and Komorouski met four years ago through mutual friends introducing them. They began dating about two years ago.

They’d planned on marrying but never made it any more official than Valentine’s promises made on the plastic ring.

The two moved to River Falls from New Richmond in the last few years. She just graduated UW-RF with a degree in communications and works as a marketing coordinator in Inver Grove Heights.

He says a small layoff at former employer O’Keefe left him between jobs and thinking about returning to school.

Foster and Komorouski say the whole FAIRytale wedding experience feels surreal, like a dream. They’re excited and welcome everyone to share in their joy by watching the broadcast or joining them live at the fair for the wedding.

He said, “Everyone’s invited.”

She said, “We’re making history here!”

The FAIRytale wedding comes to Foster and Komorouski courtesy of KSTP/TCL, Bellagala, Wedding Day Diamonds, Pearls & Lace Bridal and Formalwear, Men’s Wearhouse and the Hotel Ivy.

People can see video of the couple from the Aug. 7 TCL show on which Foster found out they won and Komorouski proposed. Go to www.twincitieslive.com, click on “past shows,” click on a “FAIRytale wedding” under July 20 heading, click on “fairytale wedding” again, and in the last line of the last paragraph click on the underlined words “click here.”

Also on the site are the bride’s and planner’s blogs.

Tags: local news, arts and entertainment, lifestyle, weddings