Angela and Pete shared a laugh when an older gentleman started singing ‘I’m Yours? by Jason Mraz for their first dance as Mr. and Mrs. Kolar.
It was a surprise for Angela, a 1998 grad of Oxford Christian Academy, and Pete, an Oxford native, when they were married May 22 at Beacon Hill in Commerce in front of a small audience made up of friends and family.
But then again – everything leading up to the day was a happy surprise.
It began when Angela was listening to Detroit’s Hit Music Station Channel 955, like she always does, and heard about their new contest announced on the air ? a Recession Proof Wedding.
‘I thought I would try it,? she said. ‘I didn’t think I would even be one of the finalists, let alone make the top three and win the wedding. It was a shot in the dark.?
The contest was open to any couple that wanted to get married, but couldn’t afford it. The station would take care of everything – rings, dresses, tuxedos, cake and flowers. Even Mojo from the morning show would marry the couple.
Couples had to submit why they deserved the wedding, limited to 300 words.
Angela and Pete have been together for nine years and were planning to get married next year.
‘With everybody things come up,? Angela explained. ‘For us more things came up.?
Her dad, James Graves was in a bad accident and was in the hospital for a few months. As he started to get better, her mom Vicki Hardenburg was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had surgery. Angela had to drive four hours to visit her.
During the nine years, Angela had gone through five cars and the couple had a few friends pass away.
‘You roll with the punches and before you know it, it’s been five years,? she said.
‘A lot had to do with finance,? Pete added. ‘Will we have money in six months? Are we going to have money to do this??
Angela wrote her submission and entered the contest. She told one of her friends about how excited she was.
Unbeknownst to Angela, her friend sent an email to the radio station.
Angela and Pete were invited to the radio station and told the station had already decided the two finalists but were still deciding the third.
‘They said we wouldn’t be on the air, but that was a big farce,? said Angie. ‘They had already chosen us as the second couple and had our friend read her letter.?
Angela set out on a campaign and sent emails and called everyone and made fliers and handed them out to everyone at her local Starbucks.
She told everyone she came in contact with about the contest and the two days of voting.
When the voting was closed and votes were tallied, the radio station had all the couples on the line at the same time. One couple had received 47 percent of the votes – and it was Angela and Pete.
‘I had to ask her dad for permission after the fact,? said Pete. ‘After he already knew we had won the contest.?
Family and friends reacted with excitement.
‘My little sister was beside herself,? said Pete. ‘She just loves her and was as happy as Angie was.?
Vicki called Angela and told her she realized something.
‘Pete’s ours now,? she said. ‘We get to keep him, right.?
From there it was a week of chaos for the couple. Even though everything for the wedding was provided, they still had to meet with the sponsors and be fitted for everything.
Angela chose her top three selections for her dress, the cake and the flowers and listeners voted for which would be used at the wedding.
‘A lot of it turned out to be what I wanted which was really cool,? said Angela.
Even the song was chosen.
‘They had me on the radio that morning and I said I really liked it and the listeners ended up choosing it,? she said.
‘I just didn’t know there was a twist behind it. I didn’t realize it was going to be sung by one of the listeners that had won a contest, like the Senior American Idol. He came in serenading us and we were laughing. It was fun.?
The ceremony was at 9 a.m. and the bride and her bridemaids had to be there at 6 a.m.
‘I was calm all morning,? said Angela. ‘I came down the steps and saw him standing there and saw all these people and started getting nervous. I got down there and Mojo started making jokes and made it a funny wedding and I thought I can do funny. It was a short wedding but there was a lot of laughs and a lot of jokes. It was pretty cool and it fit both of our personalities.?
The guests were treated to a breakfast reception.
‘It smelled really good,? said Pete. ‘The smell kept wafting. We didn’t get to eat because we had to go and take pictures.?
‘It was such a beautiful wedding. Even if we had planned the wedding it wouldn’t have been as nice. They really went all out,? said Angela. ‘I think everyone had a good time.?
Another part of the prize package was a honeymoon. Angela and Pete chose Las Vegas, Nevada for their three day vacation, which they are excited about after the last few busy weeks.
As for right now both feel calm and at peace, since they don’t have to worry about saving for a future wedding.
‘The anxiety is gone,? said Pete.
Angela works as an administrative assistant at a law firm in Birmingham. Her parents are James Graves of Ortonville and Richard and Vicki Hardenburg of West Branch, formerly of Oxford.
Pete attended Oxford High School and received his GED from Lake Orion before going to college. He works for the family business selling vehicles. His parents are Richard and Melanie Kolar of Oxford.
The couple lives in Madison Heights, but plans to move to Oxford and be closer to their friends, family and their roots.
‘We can be sitting on the swing when we are 80, telling the story to our grandkids,? said Angela. ‘Who else has this story.?