Non-profit provides wedding to Nahant woman fighting cancer

NAHANT – Joseph Pitrowski assured Joanne Luti when they began dating that they would stay together if her breast cancer returned. When Luti was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer two years later, Pitrowski insisted they get married. With help from the new local chapter of the nonprofit Wish Upon a Wedding, the couple got their wish.”Two and a half years after lung cancer, we’re still here,” said Pitrowski while awaiting his bride at Bailey’s Hill on Thursday afternoon. “I feel extraordinarily lucky for not just the whole wedding but, most importantly, for her.”Wish Upon a Wedding began in California with a mission to provide weddings and vow renewal ceremonies for couples who face terminal illness and serious life-altering circumstances. Local vendors in the hospitality industry donate everything from the wedding dress to the venue, food, entertainment, cake and flowers and more to accommodate a wedding of up to 50 guests for selected couples, said Wish Upon a Wedding Boston / New England’s Marketing Chairperson Leigh Howlett. The Boston chapter of the nonprofit – which was organized in June – selected Pitrowski and Luti as the first local couple to receive an all-expense-paid dream wedding.”I’m more than excited,” said Luti. “I feel privileged and honored to be selected ? and overwhelmed. I never knew there were people who were so nice ? It takes a lot of pressure off, it eases a lot of stress.”Luti was grateful for the assistance. She is in the first phase of a trial treatment that requires she go to Massachusetts General Hospital every week, she said, and she needs to rest every afternoon. Luti’s health condition also can vary from day to day, Howlett said.But Pitrowski and Luti insisted that she’s a survivor.”I’ve told my doctors, I’m going to be the poster child for that trial,” Luti said.And certainly the couple were involved in planning their big day.”The first question we ask is, ?What do you want in a dream wedding?'” said Wedding Planner Adrienne Duys Mendonca of Gracie Lou Events. “She said a horse and carriage.”So two white horses and an open carriage traveled from Connecticut to surprise Luti and carry her from her Nahant home to the park for pictures. Luti described her ideal wedding dress to designers at NIJ Lane Creations, which custom-made “my dream dress,” Luti said. And the couple requested a butterfly release and an acoustic guitar performance.Duys Mendonca said that the frequent collaboration among the hospitality community in Boston and New England made such requests possible. According to Duys Mendonca’s list, Luti and Pitrowski’s wedding involved 26 vendors who provided everything from the reception hall at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum in Brookline to a handkerchief from Lil Inspirations. She also said the nonprofit already has a wait list of vendors who have offered their services for future events.”To be able to give back for something like this is so rewarding,” Duys Mendonca said. “They’re an amazing couple, I’m so glad we’ve been able to put this all together.”The couple was grateful for the effort, and for the chance to bring their family and friends together for a celebration. Luti proudly pointed out her three children in the wedding party.”I never dreamed this would happen to us,” said Luti. “It was so uplifting. It’s been a really long road and I still have a long road ahead; but I still have a lot of support.””In my view there’s no way to say thank you enough,” said Pitrowski, who insisted that he wasn’t nervous. “To see how many people are supporting us and to see everybody from Wish Upon a Wedding, I’ve got to be here for her and that’s it.”