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They love Lucy
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Tricia Kren and Troy Litwiler of Poland are finalists among five other couples in a national competition to win an “I Love Lucy” themed wedding. Judging is done online and open to the public. The winner will be announced Feb. 14.
By Kristine Gill
POLAND
When Tricia Kren says the name of her favorite TV show, she’s really making a statement.
Kren, 24, and her fiance are in the running to win an “I Love Lucy”-themed wedding courtesy of Media One Bridal in Jamestown, N.Y. Winners of the national competition will be announced Feb. 14.
“It’s an obsession,” said Kren’s fiance, Troy Litwiler, 32.
Kren used to watch the show with her grandmother, who died two years ago. Kren still collects memorabilia from the show, including throw blankets, T-shirts, Barbie dolls, Christmas ornaments and posters.
The couple’s two turtles are named Lucy and Desi after the iconic pair.
Originally, Kren and Litwiler had planned to get married in the spring of 2012, but Kren jumped at the chance to get married in Lucille Ball’s hometown of Jamestown. The wedding will be July 30 if the couple wins.
When Kren found out about the contest, she called her fiance to ask for permission to enter.
“I called and said, ‘How much do you love me?”
Litwiler gave in.
“She was so excited about it, I don’t think I could have said ‘no’,” he said.
To vote for the couple, visit www.lucille- ballhometownwedding.com. Voters can vote once daily per IP address until Feb. 11.
The prize package includes a wedding gown, rings, two bridesmaid dresses, two groomsmen tuxes, flowers, a cake, a catered reception with live music for 50 guests and a seven-day honeymoon to Niagara Falls. The exact items will be chosen through a public vote on the site after the winning couple is announced.
“I keep telling her she could be getting married in a big purple dress,” Litwiler joked.
But the show has grown on Litwiler, who wakes up to the show’s theme song each morning as wife-to-be watches while exercising.
“When she watches it, she’ll laugh throughout every single episode,” Litwiler said. “It’s pretty entertaining just from that aspect.”
If they don’t win, they will get married next spring, Kren said.
“I’ll be very devastated,” she said.
“We pretty much stopped planning the other wedding entirely,” Litwiler added.