Wedding Etiquette & Tradition | Bride of the Year 2008

Meet America’s Favorite Couple!

We received tens of thousands of votes in our Bride of the Year 2008 contest when we posted the three best entries online — and your choice for this year's winning couple was Keyana Carlisle, 27, and Eric Gray, 30, of Atlanta, Georgia! Keyana and Eric captured your hearts with their riveting testimony of love and have won more than $87,000 in prizes for their wedding, honeymoon and new life together.

Eric and Keyana met at a kidney dialysis clinic in October 2000 where they were receiving treatment for similar conditions. Both had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease as teenagers and had kidney transplants that failed; both needed dialysis multiple times a week.

The clinic was the last place Eric thought he would find his best friend, soul mate and future wife. A series of brief conversations and friendly flirtations led to Eric asking Keyana out on their first date in January 2001. From that day on, they were inseparable.

The relationship Keyana and Eric have is extremely special, not simply because of how and where they met, but also because of the support they provide to each other. This is what gave them a winning edge over the other Bride of the Year finalists.

"Keyana and I have a relentless commitment and devotion to our relationship," said Eric, who narrated the winning couple’s story. And the strength of their relationship would be tested — and tested again.

Love From The Start

The day after their first date, Eric suffered a seizure, fell, and broke his hip and shoulder. He had to have a hip replacement and undergo physical therapy. Keyana was right there to motivate and help him recuperate. She would rent movies, cook dinner, keep his apartment clean and do anything to keep his spirits up. "I simply could not have made it through this period of my life without her support," said Eric.

In October 2003, Keyana experienced severe memory loss while hospitalized. She had to relearn many everyday activities such as walking, driving and remembering her home address. The most difficult aspect of her memory loss was the laboring task of remembering loved ones, including her mother, close family members, friends — and even Eric.

“There are no words to describe the emotions you feel after having a loved one not remember who you are. But I knew for her to get through this chapter in her life, she would need my love and support just as I needed her after my surgery,” Eric said. He promised to help nurse her back to health whether she remembered their relationship or not.

Keyana's recovery involved hours of physical and psychological therapy together — not to mention looking through piles of photos and recalling previous dates, events and road trips. Today, most of Keyana’s memory is back including the ability to drive, her interest in cooking, memories of her family and some memories of her relationship with Eric. Keyana will sometimes say to Eric, "Even though I do not remember our entire relationship, I remember enough to still love you."

Queen For A Day

Eric proposed to Keyana in November 2006. He masterminded the perfect surprise in which he led her to believe she was the winner of a sweepstakes called "Queen for a Day." The prize included breakfast, a half-day at a spa, lunch and a shopping spree. The day ended with a professional photo shoot at Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, where Eric appeared from behind the holiday tree with roses in hand and asked Keyana to marry him.

The only clue Eric had previously divulged to Keyana about his proposal was that he would play their song, "Make Me Whole," by Amel Larrieux. When she saw him and heard the song playing, she suddenly realized what was happening. Eric kneeled down in front of several friends and spectators and proposed, and a stunned Keyana said yes.

Keyana and Eric’s story, as they so eloquently put in their Bride of the Year application, “is not only one of love and friendship but also one of commitment and perseverance. We have toppled many obstacles together, and in the process proved to each other that nothing will stand in the way of our love.” It’s no wonder they’re America’s Favorite Couple.

We’ll share Eric and Keyana’s story and introduce our other two finalists in the September/October issue, on sale July 15.
Also, check out Keyana and Eric's wedding blog and see how their extraordinary wedding journey unfolds, courtesy of our generous Bride of the Year 2008 sponsors.