By Crystal Bozek
cbozek@eagletribune.com
June 26, 2009 02:10 am NORTH ANDOVER — For most brides it would be a nightmare. The idea of not being able to choose a wedding gown, the music for the first dance, bridesmaid dresses, and the honeymoon no doubt sends chills down the spines of many wives-to-be. But Alyssa Manzi relishes the thought. "I haven't been the best bride," Manzi said. "I have a hard time making decisions. I start changing my mind, second-guessing. I was driving everyone crazy." Manzi and her fiance, Gary Ritter, both North Andover natives, are one step away from winning an all-expenses paid wedding and honeymoon on "Today." Manzi, 30, a public relations executive and former New England Patriots cheerleader, and Ritter, 27, an energy sales analyst in Boston, were originally among 100 couples selected for the 10th annual wedding contest on NBC. After weeks of moving on in the competition, they are one of the two final couples. They find out whether they've won it all on Wednesday's show. If they win, the couple will be on the show the entire week of July 5, where the home audience will be able to vote on the details of their wedding. "Here America makes all the decisions for the wedding. We make none, which I love," Manzi said. "If I never have to make another decision that will be great, serious. ... Most brides would be scared to death. I really, really love it." If the couple wins, they will marry on "Today" on July 15, at 8 a.m. in New York's Rockefeller Center with a reception at the Plaza Hotel. "It's live on the 'Today' show. I'm not really a morning person," Manzi said. "I'll need a big pot of coffee to get me all bright-eyed and ready to be married." The couple has won two of the three wedding-themed challenges on the show giving them the right to choose their wedding theme and party favors. They chose a vineyard theme and mini camcorders for guests. They might have done well so far, but the competition is based entirely on votes. Manzi said the other couple, Leigh Daniel and Nick Cordes, have a large network of voters. "We're crossing our fingers," Manzi said. "But whether or not we win, we're getting married. That's all that matters. It's brought a lot of fun to our engagement. Our whole family has gotten into it." The North Andover High School graduates have become mini-celebrities in town, where family members have posted fliers and handed out business cards to people, anything to get out the vote. To vote for Manzi and Ritter, text the number 2 to 46833. You also can cast a vote by going to www.todayshow.com, clicking on weddings and selecting "Alyssa and Gary." Voting ends at midnight. If they don't make the final cut, Manzi and Ritter will be married on Oct. 15, at St. Michael Church in North Andover. "People are dress shopping already just in case," she said. "They're looking for dresses they could wear in July or October. It's funny." ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ Join the discussion. To comment on stories and see what others are saying, log on to eagletribune.com.
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