On Friday, a lucky couple received a free wedding with all of the trimmings thanks to the Urban Art Gallery at 262 S. 52nd St.

The couple, Mr. and Mrs. Leon and Tierra Harris, were the winners of a contest hosted by Gallery owner Karl Morris and Jessica Roach of Jae Roche Event Services.

“Jessica and I wanted for people to post on instagram why they should receive a deluxe wedding,” Morris said. “We went through a few couples and that particular couple we thought was the best couple to receive the package.”

It was their message that pulled them over them over the top Morris said.

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“Based on their message, I would say that they were the most in love; they just looked like they were the right couple,” he said.

Leon Harris is paralyzed from the chest down and has been since he was caught in the crossfire of a shootout in Upper Darby nearly a decade ago.

The two met at church, Victory Christian Center at 52nd Street and Whitby Avenue. Leon Harris repairs computers and when Tierra contacted him through Facebook to ask for help repairing her computers, he complied.

“Once we built a friendship I just liked the fact that I could be myself,” she said. “It just made me fall in love with him.”

Leon Harris said his wife is the most selfless, giving, caring person that he has ever met.

“With my disabilities it’s hard to even find a friend that will want to help you, that won’t mind, that will stand by you and that will be there for you,” he said.

The deluxe wedding package included a full banquet, transportation, and a photographer.

“We offered quite a few things designed to provide a first-class wedding.”

Transforming a small urban art gallery into a full-fledged wedding facility had its challenges, according to Morris.

“We had an outdoor cocktail hour which gave us time to transition the ceremony from the reception.”

It was quite a spectacle for pedestrians and those who passed by in their vehicles to see a cocktail table where wedding guests were served hors d’oeuvres and cocktails on the sidewalk outside the gallery.

“People just passed by and double parked their cars, passer bys stopped by and asked what was going on,” Morris said.

Since its inception, the Urban Art Gallery has hosted art exhibits, spoken word events, book signings and other activities but the wedding was the first of its kind.

“It was more of a giveback, we were just thinking of what we could do differently to give back; we were just thinking outside the box a little bit.”

The concept and work of transforming the gallery into a wedding chapel came from Jessica Roach of Jae Roche Event Services, an event planner.

Asked how difficult it was to produce the changes needed to pull the wedding off, Roach said it had its challenges.

“It was a hard task because the space is unique and it’s not traditional like you see in other wedding venues,” Roach said.

To make the transition, Roach had help. Catering, photography and music were all provided for by those who donated their services and expertise.

“It was definitely a good experience because this was my first sit-down dinner,” said Latasha Morris, the event’s caterer. Morris is an accountant by trade but said she developed a passion for catering and hopes to make it a full time career. “I’m just getting into catering and this is actually my second event.”

The bride and groom couldn’t have agreed more.

“It was awesome,” said the groom.

The couple entered the Happy Ever After contest and was selected as a winner. Tierra heard about the contest on Instagram and encouraged Leon to enter. They did and they won.

“We were the main attraction. Everyone walking down 52nd street looked up and just saw us,” Harris said.

“He wanted me to have a wedding opportunity because we had so much to do and with his disability and finding a place to live, he wanted me to have a nice wedding without breaking the bank,” she said.

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