Shontay Delalue King and Vinald Francis

How long have you been together? When did you meet?

We have officially been together for 3 years (September 2006).  We met December 17, 2005 at a party in Massachusetts. 

How did you meet?

I (the bride) had moved to Rhode Island in August of 2005.  The groom had moved back to his hometown of Billerica that same summer after finishing college in Ohio.  We were both in long term relationships that had ended earlier that year.  Having never met before, we both attended a party in December 2005 in Massachusetts just hoping to hang out that evening and have a good time.  We danced to several songs together and really hit it off.  We were both clear that we couldn’t commit to anything serious so we just kept in touch via e-mail for a while.

When did you get engaged?

We got engaged on Sunday October 4, 2009!!!

How did you get engaged?

My boyfriend proposed to me on the field of Gillette Stadium following the win over the Ravens!  I had attended a Football 101 program that taught women the game of football back in September hosted by Ben Watson and his wife Kirsten for the charity organization One More.  At the event I won a silent auction raffle which was 2 tickets to the October 4th Patriots game and access to the friends and family dinner after the game.  When my boyfriend found out that I had won the tickets, he e-mailed Ben and Kirsten and asked for their help and they said yes!  So, we attended the game and the dinner afterward.  Ben Watson invited us to the field to show us around.  I thought we were going to take pictures and to my shock my boyfriend got down on one knee on the 20 yard line and popped the question.  On a day that was suppose to rain, it turned out to be sunny, beautiful and simply perfect! 

Tell us why you should win a free wedding at The Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings from NBC 10 and A Better Sound. Remember, creativity counts! Tell us a story, write us a poem, just plain entertain us!

My husband to be and I should win the free wedding because we exemplify a young, spirit filled couple - one that would represent New England well!  He proposed to me on the field after the Patriots won a tight game against the Ravens so the only thing that could top that is a wedding from NBC and A Better Sound! Earlier in the day while we were watching the Patriot’s game, an older gentleman who was seated behind us in Gillette stadium commented on how in love we looked and how it was so great to see young people like us!  We are genuinely true to our beliefs and each other and I think it takes a special couple like us to be the beneficiaries of such a wonderful gift.  I am a single mother and my boyfriend unfortunately has massive school loans that prevent us from having the wedding of our dreams.  I am sure we are competing against many other couples who have financial needs too.  What sets us apart is that special spark that the man noticed in the stands amongst hundreds ! of people and thousands of cheers - our glow of love!  Here is a poem that hopefully sums up that love into words:

We met on a cold day in December, Dancing the night away is all I could remember.

We took things slow just to be sure, It was clear to us that we both wanted more.

Best friends forever and partners for life, I screamed in joy when you asked me to be your wife. I’m not sure what could be better than a proposal where Brady makes football magic, Oh wait, a free wedding at The Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Crossings from NBC 10 and A Better Sound would be fantastic!

Tell us one of the funniest things that has ever happened to you as a couple?

One of the funniest things that has ever happened actually revolves around our engagement.  After he proposed, a CBS Boston affiliate was still on the field.  They got word of the engagement and interviewed us right on the spot!  Because I live in Providence I didn’t see the Boston news but when both of us got to work the next day the news spread like wildfire because co-workers at both of our jobs had seen us on the CBS Boston evening and morning news!  They had added our story to the coverage of the game!