Florida cancer survivor wins dream wedding

Four years ago, doctors told bride-to-be she had just one year to live

Video: Wonderful World

'Renewal and Remembrance' at Arlington National Cemetery
July 13: Phil Fogarty, Founder of the "Renewal & Remembrance" Project at Arlington National cemetery explains why his group uses their skills to beautify the cemetery and give back to the men and women who gave their lives for their country.

Blind climbers scale Mt. Kilimanjaro

A trio of monkey babies in Indonesia

Baby boom at Tokyo zoo

Watch the ISS orbit the earth

Your turn!

Inspirational athletes
In honor of the 2008 Olympics, we're celebrating the athletes in your own life who inspire greatness.

Giving

Courtesey Patti Stanger

'Matchmaker' lends hand to cancer patients
Cause Celeb talks with Patti Stanger, CEO of The Millionaire's Club matchmaking service, about her work on behalf of the City of Hope cancer center.

Arquette to live in box for 2 days

Shriners may downsize some hospitals

Latest Buffett lunch auctions for $1.7 million

Newsweek: First lady reaches out to D.C.’s poor

Willie Garson touts adoptions in U.S.

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

Most popular

updated 7:32 a.m. ET July 16, 2008

TAMPA, Fla. - A Tampa bride-to-be who defied doctors' expectations after being told she had a year to live four years ago has celebrated another victory — she and her fiancé won a $100,000 dream wedding.

Courtney Dempsey, 33, and Gary Courtney, 37, were among 40,000 couples who entered US Magazine's wedding contest. The prize includes a dress and honeymoon.

"We're beyond thrilled. We're actually in a state of shock right now," Dempsey said Tuesday.

Story continues below ↓

advertisement | your ad here

Dempsey was diagnosed with late-stage melanoma four years ago, and doctors told her she had less than a year to live. She survived beyond that and began dating Courtney. But soon after, doctors said she needed a double mastectomy.

Courtney asked Dempsey to move in with him so he could help her recover.

Now the couple is planning a September wedding.

Click for related content

Q&A with cake designer
Wedding day recession blues
Wallet-friendly honeymoons

As for her married name, Dempsey says she'll follow tradition and take her groom's name, meaning she'll go by Courtney Courtney.

"I love it," she said. "I'm in sales. No one will ever forget my name."