Kristen & Mark are both from Norfolk, MA.  Kristen tells us why she thinks they should win the NBC10 Free Wedding Giveaway: If you asked me the summer before last if I would have married Mark I would have said probably no. It took tragedy to make me realize how much I needed and loved him. Some time I look back and can’t believe how different my life is today, how much I have learned, loved and lost. When I saw the way in which Mark carried himself I realized that that is the type of person I want by my side forever. Some time I get so angry because I think he is not there for me, but he has show me that I can do anything on my own and when I think I don’t need him he is there when I fall. In the past year and a half Mark and I have see the premature death of 3 young friends and last September we lost our close neighborhood friend Kevin Flaherty in a tragic accident. That was a horrible experience to go through, and the pain has changed me and my view of life forever. The week after his death Marks mother was diagnosed with papillon serious carcinoma, which is a very aggressive form of uterine cancer. I can’t describe how it feels to see your best friend die and then to hear that someone who has been a huge part of your childhood life has a 50/50 shot to live. My father having been a pastor for many years, helped me developed a strong faith, which help me keep my head on and chin up. It is amazing the power of love. What people have done for Karen and the Flaherty family is a huge testament to the goodness of human nature when it counts. When Mark and I got engaged we were trying to decide what to do for a wedding. What every we do we want to honor our friendships that are so vital to our lives. The great philosopher, Jimmy Buffet, once wrote if we couldn’t laugh we would all go crazy. How true. I am very simple and I love things unique and funny. We are bless to have our family and friends for the now and pray for the later. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.