Love: Courtney Jansen & Dan Tracewski

One night in 2005, Courtney was singing in a Williamsport bar with her band, Generation Next. Her agent introduced her to Dan, another of his clients, who played acoustic guitar and keyboards for another act, the Benderz, performing that night.

In April 2007, that same agent, Frank Annunziata of Anderson Entertainment in Pittman, asked Courtney to become the female lead in a new band he was putting together, the Crew. Frank also recruited Dan - stage name Danny Gunz - to play drums, guitar and keyboard for the Crew, which plays a mix of Top 40, classic rock, and country music.

Courtney and Dan recognized each other almost immediately. "It was instant friend chemistry from the first time I started talking to him," Courtney said. And the more rehearsals they had, the more the friendship grew. "He is so easy to talk to, and he just made me laugh all of the time," she said.

Both were in relationships that weren't going well, and often they confided in each other. When those relationships tanked, they talked about that, too.

One night the band played at a bar in West Chester, and between sets, everyone was ordering drinks at the bar. "Me and Danny were talking like usual and laughing," Courtney remembered. Joe, the band's male lead singer, couldn't keep quiet any longer. "So, when are you guys just going to get together already?" he asked. "Shut up!" Courtney said.

But Joe's comment flipped a switch. "After a third party pointed it out, I thought, if I can have it this good - if this good is possible - maybe I should look into this," Courtney said.

The friendly talk turned to full-on flirting. Then one evening in late July 2007 in the parking lot of a Delaware County bar, Dan and Courtney kissed. "Oh, it was fireworks-crazy," she said.

Caring friends cautioned Courtney about dating a guy in her band. She, too, had reservations about becoming involved with someone she works with. "I kept waiting for it to stop being easy," said Courtney, who grew up in Woodlyn, Delaware County. But things are still easy with Dan, who moved to Morrisville, Bucks County, from Buffalo when he was 13.

Courtney, now 27, and Dan, now 35, share a townhouse in Brookhaven, Delaware County. From the beginning, they loved it - mostly. But the kitchen floor, counter, and cabinets all needed help.

Courtney is a bit of an HGTV junkie. One day while looking for inspiration, she found an application to have their home considered for Rip & Renew. The show called. The representatives who came to scope out the place suggested Courtney and Dan come up with a back-up possibility for their renewal because the show picks only two kitchens a year. The couple suggested their basement rec room, with the huge bar they never used and the hideous brown carpet. Courtney and Dan were selected!

For about two weeks in October 2008, the home was contractor central. On the last day of work and filming, "I was Christmas-morning excited," Courtney said. "The room was gorgeous and I was getting my house back." During the final scene, the hosts asked the couple what they thought. "It's better than I imagined!" Courtney said. "I can't wait to curl up on the couch." Then they asked Dan what he thought. "I want to thank you guys. It's perfect," he said. "But it's not complete."

Courtney shot him a little look. Not complete? How could he say that to these guys after all the work they had done? But then Dan looked at her. "My life isn't complete without you," he said. Dan got down on one knee and pulled a small box from the couch cushions. "Will you marry me?" Courtney stopped wailing long enough to say that she would, of course. One host was tearing up. The other said it was the first proposal ever on Rip & Renew. As the credits roll on the episode, which was telecast in December, "We're making out in the background," Courtney said. The re-do was also featured in Popular Mechanics Magazine.

"As musicians, the most important thing about the whole wedding was the music aspect," Courtney said. A DJ played dance songs - and taught the guests all the moves from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video - during the first half of the reception. Then the band Star 69 "brought the rock-and-roll to the party," Courtney said.

The couple's 170 guests partied at Lazaretto Ballroom in Essington.

The last song of the evening was "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters - a song the couple heard together on an early date. "We weren't slow dancing; we just hugged the whole song," Courtney said. "I thought, 'Wow, this is my husband. This is not a dream.' "

Joe, who was the couple's best man, informed the wedding guests that if they wanted to see the couple kiss, they would have to do more than just clink their silverware against their glasses. Each couple had to sing a song from one of the couple's two favorite bands - the Beatles and Pearl Jam - to make them smooch. "For the first twenty minutes of eating dinner, we had tables jumping up to sing songs," Courtney said. "It was hilarious."

A bargain: Courtney's sleeveless, soft-white silk dress with a long train was made by her mother, Barbara Jansen. It was a gift to Courtney, but Barbara spent less than half of what Courtney would have paid for a dress. Courtney's bridesmaids also got a good deal. Barbara made their dresses, too. Everyone gave her about $60 for materials.

The splurge: The band. The DJ, a friend of the couple, played tunes as a gift. But Courtney and Dan decided "there was no way" they could go without a band.

Five days in Las Vegas - a gift from Dan's father, Jim.

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They've entered to win, and now it's your turn to decide which couple is going to have the Love of a Lifetime Wedding! Held at the Independence Seaport Museum, the wedding will include a custom bridal dress, floral arrangements, wedding bands, cake, catering, fireworks, and much more - a package worth more than $90,000. Polls are open at philly.com/winawedding until 11:59 p.m. January 24. The top 25 finalists will be revealed Wednesday, January 27.

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Officiant
Pastor Bill Hess, of St. James Church, Prospect Park

Venue
St. James Church in Prospect Park and the Lazaretto Ballroom in Essington

Catering
Capozzoli Catering, Folsom, Pa.

Photography
Martelli Photography, East Norriton

Music
Jeff Fairbanks, a family friend and former DJ, played popular dance music for half the reception. The band Star 69 of Anderson Entertainment Management, Pittman, N.J., played the second half.

Dress
An original by Barbara Jansen, the bride's mother

Invitations
Made with a DIY kit from Michael's and printed by the bride's aunt, Judy Overbeck

Planner
Liz of the Lazaretto Ballroom was the day-of coordinatorEndText

Tell us in a short e-mail – at least six weeks before your ceremony – why we should feature your love story. Send it to weddings@phillynews.com. Unfortunately, we can't personally respond to all submissions. If your story is chosen, you will be contacted in the weeks before your wedding.

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