Announcing the Pros!

From Top Left and clockwise: Kelly McWilliams' Weddings by Socialites, I Heart Films, Signature Florals, Impressions Photography, Audrey Snow Photography, Hotel Indigo, Lauren E Wiley, Frey Valet

We are absolutely thrilled with the wedding professionals who have joined the 2011 Grand Wedding Team!

• Ashley Brockinton Photography: Bridal Portrait ::Click::
• Audrey Snow Photography: Wedding Day Photography ::Click::
• Casa Ybel Resort: Rehearsal Dinner ::Click::
• Customized Wedding Creations: Aisle Runner ::Click::
• Daily Chocolates: Favors ::Click::
• Frank Jean LMT: Massage Therapy 
• Frey Valet: Valet services ::Click::
• New Moon Cruises: Private Charter ::Click::
• Get Groovy: Invitation Design ::Click::
• Derek Trenholm Band: Wedding Band ::Click::
• Hotel Indigo: Honeymoon Suite ::Click::
• I Heart Films: Videography ::Click::
• Impressions Photography: Detail Photos (Wedding Day) ::Click::
• Jennifer King: Hair & Makeup Styling
• Kakes by Karen: Wedding & Grooms Cakes ::Click::
• Lauren E Wiley: Ceremony Vocalist ::Click::
• Luminaire Foto: Fotovideo ::Click::
• Maria Glassford Photography: Engagement Session ::Click::
• Nick Adams Photography: Rock the Frock Session ::Click::
• Pop Jewels: Wedding Day Accessories ::Click::
• Pro DJs: Wedding DJ ::Click::
• Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center ::Click::
• Signature Florals: Wedding Florals ::Click::
• Tie The Knot Bridal Salon: Wedding Dress and Bridesmaids dresses ::Click::

 Interested in particiapting?  We have sponsorships and participation openings:

Tuxedos, Catering, Flowers, Jewelry, Entertainment... Just call 239.673.9620.

And the winners of The Grand Wedding 2011 are...

We are so incredibly thrilled to announce The 2011 Grand Wedding Couple

Christy Vinciguerra & Keith Goodwin

Keith is a baseball coach and Christy a cheerleading coach, both live right here in SW Florida.  Christy & Keith will be married on January 30th on the steps of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
More to come, please follow along as we plan this amazing wedding.
In the meantime, please do pick up a copy of Weddings Illustrated- you'll see TGW 2010 on page 132! 

All images are the fantastic work (as always) of Crystal Connelly; the official photographer of the 2010 Grand Wedding Engagement Party

Pictures from the Proposal Party

Cake by Kakes by Karen

I know, you're dying to see the pictures from the Engagement Party.  Trust me, they are coming and they are fabulous.  But I for sure wanted to show these amazing images from Audrey Snow Photography from the Proposal Party first!  They really do show how much fun we have as a wedding community when we get together to plan an awesome wedding like The Grand Wedding.  Everyone is so excited...and we can not wait to dive in!

Gift bags for everyone!

Tarra and Ashley

Crystal Connelly

Flowers by Signature Florals

Hope Henderson and Kelly McWilliams

Alicia and Teresa from South Seas

Kim Becker and Little Miss Frey

Danny & Amy Morgan, Thank You for the Dance

Sue Bain & Gail from Signature Florals

Mike Owen & Audrey Snow (Owen?)

Jim Griffith, CEO, SBDAC

Kim talking about the success of TGW 2010

Kelly McWilliams giving her motivational speech

Tiffany, Kristin, and Nick

The Grand Atrium

Sue Bain

Karl Rowhorst

The Nowhere Band

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center

The Nowhere Band was a huge hit!

 Thank you Audrey & Mike for capturing these moments for us!

The Engagement Party

More huge prizes than I can count on 2 hands

VIP Swag Bag to Advance Ticket Brides & Registrants!

I can not believe how generous these amazing wedding professionals are!  Prizes will be awarded to The Grand Wedding winners, the finalists, and attendees from all of the below and more.  And we're not talking about $25 gift certificates.  We're talking MAJOR prizes.  Tickets available here: TICKETS

Casa Ybel Resort
Astrid & Rene Photography
Ashley Brockinton Photography
Signature Florals
Weddings by Socialites
Audrey Snow Photography (who took the picture above!)
Impressions Photography
Tie the Knot Couture
I Heart Films
Pro DJs
Jennifer King Makeup Hair & Makeup Styling
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
Hope Henderson Artistry
Luminaire Foto
Joann Frazier Beauty Consultant
Nick Adams Photography
Hotel Indigo
Customized Wedding Creations
Kakes by Karen
Frey Valet
Frank Jean, LMT

From the planners point of view

Photo by Impressions Photography

Planning a wedding for someone who doesn't know it yet it a bit of a daunting task. Nevertheless, I've done it once, and I signed on to do it again!  We had such a fantastic time planning Sara & Nicks wedding at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and it turned out to be a perfectly beautiful and grand affair. What was great was that Sarah & Nick were just thrilled to be getting married and they trusted all the amazing wedding professionals that were selected to do their jobs.  That was the key factor, and because they allowed each professional to "do what they do best", everyone went above and beyond what was expected of them.

You can see images from the Grand Wedding 2010 in the current issue of Brides Florida and the fall issue of Weddings Illustrated (due out next month).  Also, you can watch the highlight video by Cinema Chic by clicking here.  In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at a couple photos from my blog.

I hope to see you on Sunday October 3rd!  We're still looking for applicants (link above) and have a few tables left for wedding professionals. Today until 10am Early Bird Tickets are on sale---so get 'em quick!

A Special Thank You From Mr. & Mrs. Nick Mau

Hey guys,

Photo by Deborah Cull

This is Nick and Sara Mau. We wanted to express our gratitude to everyone that was involved with The Grand Wedding 2010. The entire experience, from winning the contest to our special day was absolutely amazing! It was an absolute treat to work with all of the great vendors that were involved. Everyone went above and beyond to make sure that we were happy! There was not a single detail left out. Although the process was a whirlwind 6 weeks, we couldn’t have asked for more out of the experience.

All of the planning and preparing culminated beautifully on February 21, 2010 when we were married in a gorgeous service on the steps of The Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Ft Myers. The service, the reception, the food, everything was marvelous. We were able to celebrate with our close family and friends, all thanks to everyone involved in the process.

Gratefully,

Nick and Sara Mau

The 2010 Grand Wedding Professionals:

Audrey Snow Photography www.AudreySnow.com Kakes by Karen: www.kakesbykaren.net Floral Artistry: www.FloralArtistryofSanibel.com Red Salon & Spa: www.redsalonandspa.com Impressions Photography: www.Impress-Photo.com Vanderbilt Strings: www.vanderbiltstrings.com Ashley Brockinton Photography: www.ashleybrockinton.com Clint Wiley None Other Band: www.clintwiley.com Rivers Edge Photography: www.riversedgephoto.com Sarah Heart Invitations & aisle runners www.sarahhearts.com Bubba’s Roadhouse & Saloon: www.bubbasroadhouse.net The Edison: www.edisonfl.com Signature Florals:www.signature-florals.com Crystal Connelly Photography: www.crystalcphotography.com DJ Slinky: www.gerardist.com Caloosa Tent & Rental: www.caloosatent.com Eventz Inc: www.eventzinc.com Frey Valet: www.freyvalet.com Hotel Indigo: www.hotelindigo.com Extraordinary Eventz: www.extraordinaryeventz.com Sidney Berne Davis Art Center: www.fl-arts.org Irresistible Confections:www.irresistibleconfections.com Calligraphy by Jennifer: www.calligraphybyjennifer.net/ Cher Hanna Photography: www.cherhanna.com Casa Ybel Resort: www.casaybelresort.com South Seas Island Resort: www.southseas.com Deborah Cull Photography: www.deborahcull.com Tonya Malay Photography: www.tonyamalay.com Spatini: www.spatinidayspa.com IntegraLife Spa: www.integralifespa.com Vino de Notte at Hotel Indigo www.hotelindigo.com Kelly McWilliams' Weddings by Socialites: www.weddingsbysocialites.com