Stefanie & Jerome in San Diego, CA

Stefanie and Jerome met in 2007 when Jerome was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia and was admitted to the hospital where Stefanie worked as a nurse. They became good friends, but it wasn’t until Jerome was transferred to another hospital that they really started growing closer and fell in love. The Bride Stefanie Tilford, 30, nurse The Groom Jerome Heard, 30, demand planner The Date October 9 Jerome planned to propose on New Year’s Eve after Stefanie returned from a trip. His plan involved a romantic night at the Ritz-Carlton, but after their time apart, Jerome couldn’t wait another day. “I couldn’t hold onto the ring long enough and proposed in her bedroom while she was unpacking from her trip,” Jerome says. When the couple won a free wedding from NBC, San Diego, they knew they were in good hands with the help of wedding planner extraordinaire, Nicole Matthews from The Henley Company in San Diego, CA.