One happy couple is going to have a free white wedding.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17 at a reception in the Priory Grand Hall, John Graf, the manager of Priory Hospitality Group, along with Councilwoman Darlene Harris, picked the winning couple in a ceremony that honored soldiers and their families.

“To those who serve overseas we owe you a huge debt of gratitude,” Graf said. “We are humbled to be able to be here with you.”

The Priory Hospitality Group, along with other providers, wanted to show their gratitude to a member of the armed forces who had served in Iraq. Other businesses included wedding photographer Heather Lahtinen, and Entertainment Unlimited.

Graf and Harris drew from a bowl of envelopes, one for each of the nine finalists for the “White Wedding” concept, which would see the Grand Hall become a mini-replica of an outdoor winter wonderland – complete with replica ice rink and snow-covered evergreens.

“I wish we could give them all free weddings,” Graf said. “Every person that put in an application deserved what we were offering.”

The winning couple was not able to make it to the event.

Darlene Harris thanked all the men and women who are currently serving.

“Every day I get emails of poems about our servicemen and women. We care very much about our veterans,” Harris said.

Family owned and operated by the Graf family since 1986, the Priory Hospitality Group properties consist of the Priory Hotel a 24-room European-style boutique hotel on Pittsburgh’s Northside.