A Pretty Woman-style engagement has captured the heart of JDate, and won our “Ultimate Wedding Giveaway” contest! New York residents Dana Gitlin and Zal Spialter were announced winners this week, which means the future bride and groom will receive a comprehensive wedding package to help prepare them for their big day — the Jewish way.

“At JDate, we celebrate the couples who have fallen in love and found their Beshert based upon their shared culture and traditions,” Greg Liberman, CEO of Spark Networks®, the company that owns and operates JDate told me. “We know how important preparing for a Jewish wedding is, so we are very proud to present Dana and Zal with a gift package to help them get ready for their special day.”

By submitting an essay and photos that poignantly described how their ever-so-sweet theatrical love story began, Dana and Zal were selected as the winners of the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest. Zal’s creative proposal, where he reenacted the last scene from Pretty Woman, one of Dana’s favorite movies, was the icing on the cake.

Unbeknownst to them when they started dating, the two had first crossed paths at the prestigious Stagedoor Manor when they were just teenagers. They had watched each other perform, each one admiring the other for their passion for theatre, yet they never met face to face…until six years later. At that point, they were both living in New York and decided to join JDate to search for that special someone. They hit it off on none other than Christmas Eve, discovering that they had attended the same summer camp. They spent the next three years together, pursuing their dreams in theatre. The couple is set to wed on the anniversary of their engagement, Oct. 12, 2014.

As winners of the Ultimate Wedding Giveaway Contest, Dana and Zal will receive:

• A Forging Eternal Bands Session: Create-your-own wedding bands in the 92Y Jewelry Center (up to $1,000 value)
• Before the Chuppah: Six 90-minute sessions with a 92Y rabbi, financial planner & licensed counselor ($500 value)
• Fit Bride & Groom Classes: private sessions with a 92Y trainer to get in your best shape ($2,870 value)
• First Dance Classes: Four 60-minute sessions with a 92Y dance center instructor ($400 value)
• A custom Ketubah from Ketubah.com’s Signature Collection (a value of up to $1,200)

“92Y is about enriching lives on every level – creative, intellectual, spiritual and physical,” said Henry Timms, executive director of 92nd Street Y.  “In this case, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to enrich one couple’s wedding journey with a taste of Jewish culture and creativity – from jewelry-making to rabbinical counseling to fitness – as they plan for this very special milestone in their lives. We are so pleased to be partners with JDate on this and other initiatives that strengthen the Jewish community by bringing people together.”

Mazel tov to Dana and Zal!