East Meadow Couple to be Featured on VH1's 'Wedding Wars'

For Frankie Rosati and Sofia Mikromastoras, being on VH1's Wedding Wars was the chance of a lifetime.

Rosati and Mikromastoras, both 30 and residents of East Meadow, competed against 11 other couples for a chance to have their dream wedding, which Mikromastoras says is all about "the family."

"I just want all of our family there," she said. "I have relatives that live in Cyprus and Greece, and it costs almost $3,500 just for a plane ticket."

The couple met at their college orientation at Adelphi University in Garden City, and it was their parents who introduced the couple.

"It was funny, because it was during our orientation," Rosati said. "Once they knew that each of us were Greek, they started planning our own ‘Big Fat Greek Wedding.’"

Mikromastoras wasn't exactly keen on the idea of dating Rosati from the get-go, stemming from a prank he played on her during orientation.

"First, he throws a party during orientation in my room," Mikromastoras said. "Then, he had one of his friends pretend that he was an RA and tell me that I was kicked out of school. I didn't even want to look at a picture of him because I was so annoyed."

The couple ended up dating during their second year at Adelphi, but their tenure lasted just six months because of distance.

"We broke up on good terms," Rosati said. "I lived in Astoria and Sofia lived in Ronkonkoma. It was just too much."

Ten years later, Rosati was living in East Meadow, and he sent a text message to Mikromastoras, and they picked up right where they left off.

"She was the only woman in my life that I was really head-over-heels with," Rosati said. "During my fun stage in college, she’s the only one that made me want to be a faithful relationship type of guy."

The proposal happened on March 26, 2010 at the Grand Cafe', where the couple was celebrating one year and seven months of being together.

"Frankie is the cool of the cool," Mikromastoras said. "When we were on our way, I noticed that he was clammy, white and sweaty. I asked him if he was okay, but he said he felt a bit sick."

Rosati was just making sure that all of his elaborate plans were in place.

"You want to make sure that you have the perfect proposal," Rosati said. "Thankfully, the owner of the restaurant really did a lot to help me get it done."

After eating dinner, Mikromastoras was becoming increasingly agitated by the amount of attention she was getting from the restaurant staff. She kept noticing that people were staring at her.

"I am very proud of myself for not getting in a fight," she said. "I can just tell they were all staring at me."

After dinner, Rosati went "to the bathroom," seemingly to make sure the plans were in order. When he returned, the restaurant staff surrounded the table, and he pulled the table away. He got on one knee, and the rest is history.

"I just couldn't believe it," Mikromastoras said. "Every time the subject of marriage came up, he would just avoid it. This was just out of left field."

The couple found out from a friend about Wedding Wars, a competition-based show hosted by Michele Merkin in which 12 couples try to win their dream wedding. After going through the application and interview process, they were called to film the show, which took place in Hawaii at the end of last year.

After arriving in Hawaii, they thought they'd be at this extravagant resort for the duration of the competition, but then they were saddled with the news that they would be living in the jungle.

"I’m thinking that this is Sofia’s worst nightmare, so I am going to have to take care of myself and Sofia at the same time," Rosati said. "But Sofia impressed me. You are going to be in for a real surprise."

The couple admitted that things were rough at times and that the competition truly tested the strength of each couple.

"It puts you up against not only yourself, but challenges you as a couple," Mikromastoras said. "This show will literally make or break a couple in the most extreme of the extreme."

The show is set to debut on Monday, March 14 at 9 p.m.

"We’re breaking the Long Island stereotype," Mikromastoras said. "Everyone thinks Long Islanders are snobbish and can’t handle survival, but we’re proving that wrong."

Editor's Note: Patch will provide updates on Frankie and Sofia's progress throughout the competition.