North Fork Native and Veteran Wins Dream Wedding
Southold native and U.S. Marine Robert Surozenski and wife Sara Le Donne are the 2015 winners of Brecknock Hall and Peconic Landing’s Veterans Wedding Giveback.
Surozenski is currently on his third deployment overseas in Japan and the couple found out the good news over Skype.
Although already married, the couple received this award to recreate their special moment the way they have always envisioned. “The wedding was beautiful because we had the San Diego Bay as our scenery,” Le Donne said. “But it was very short and hardly any of Rob’s family and friends were there, which was a huge disappointment for both of us.”
Sponsored by Peconic Landing, the annual Veterans Wedding Giveback began in 2011 as an opportunity to thank our military personnel and recognize them for their service. Now in its fifth year, it has become a community affair, made possible through sponsorship and contributions from local businesses and organizations who donate the time, talents and services that help to make the dream day a reality.
Surozenski’s sister Michelle nominated the couple for the award. “I think between all of the siblings they have one of the strongest bonds,” Le Donne said.
The couple met in San Diego, where Surozenski has been stationed for more than six years, and where Le Donne was born and raised.
“I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, having been brought up on the North Fork, to have the opportunity to come back out there and spend the day with my family and marry the woman that I love, I can’t thank you enough for the opportunity,” Surozenski said. “Thank you so much for having this contest. It is really a great thing that you are doing for people.”
The couple will enjoy their dream wedding with the estimated $60,000 worth of services and in-kind donations that are donated each year for the Veterans Wedding Giveback.
Le Donne said, “Most of the guests missed the throwing of the bouquet, etc., etc. So my hopes for this wedding would be for things to run more smoothly and to be in a party-friendly environment such as the venue this time. I am just so beyond ecstatic that Rob gets to have a wedding with his huge family and circle of friends.”
“New Yorkers take weddings very seriously so it will be one heck of a celebration!”
The wedding will take place Sunday, November 8, 2015, at Brecknock Hall in Greenport in celebration of Veteran’s Day and will accommodate up to 80 guests.