Tuesday, October 6 2009

The Way this Began

Posted by Jessika Brooks   Tags: weddings, vendors, and Maine

The vendors and partners of Real Weddings Maine would like to extend you an invitation to learn more about a very special project that they are producing October 15-17, 2009. The Pro Bono organization Real Weddings Maine will be hosting an entirely donated high-end wedding event for a very deserving couple:
 
Gita Pullapilly and Aron Gaudet the film Producer and Director respectively, of the documentary film that is sweeping the country, “The Way We Get By”. This is a movie about three of the more than 200 Troop Greeters based at a small rural Maine airport and their mission to be there for our servicemen and women who are heading home from war or off to war in the Middle East. The Bangor International Airport is a very common refueling point for flights coming and going to the Middle East. Therefore, a vast majority of service people headed to or fro pass through BIA. This group of Troop Greeters organized during Dessert Storm to ensure that no troop coming or going from war felt forgotten and to be sure they would feel appreciated for their sacrifices and service. The Troop Greeters are veterans, spouses of veterans, current servicemen and women, and supportive community members from all walks of life and all ages. The film documents the story of the Troop Greeters today, the lives of the three subjects, and all of the issues these three are coping with in their personal (now public) lives such as the emotional anguish of sending loved-ones off to war, loss, aging, physical pain, financial distress, and loneliness. It is also a movie about patriotism, love, and hope in a time when these things are needed most in this country. Please refer to the Press Kit about the movie included in this package or to the website for more details about the movie at www.thewaywegetbymovie.com.
 
Real Weddings Maine 2009 has chosen to recognize and celebrate this couple who has given their all to honor and share this story of self-sacrifice of the troop greeters, who in turn have given their all to honor our active servicemen and women. In a time when our economy has left most with limited resources, the vendors and partners of Real Wedding Maine have joined forces to continue the chain of self-sacrifice and honor.
 
Real Weddings Maine was the creation of Jessika Brooks, the CEO/Owner of French’s Point- Maine, a private oceanfront destination for weddings and other events, and a family-owned business. In 2008, Jessika began planning to host a pro bono wedding event for one worthy couple. This event would demonstrate the high caliber and quality of the wedding services available in coastal Maine. This event would show that Maine is an ideal option for Coastal New England high-end “destination” weddings. Jessika dubbed this organization of pro bono vendors “Real Weddings Maine” and began seeking out the right opportunity for the inaugural “RWM”.
 
Like Jessika, many of her preferred vendors are small, family-owned businesses. These vendors are one hundred percent vested in the service they provide. They work hard to earn their share of the market. They have pride in the product, quality, service, and value. They know that what they and other vendors provide in this region rivals the quality of any competing premium “destination” for shorefront weddings in New England. From market research and experience, Jessika knew that given the opportunity to host these premier weddings, the providers would stand out on a national level. In February of 2009, Jessika made contact with event planner, Amber Small of Sweetest Thing Weddings. After a great deal of discussion and collaboration with numerous vendor-partners, the two agreed to pursue the project for Fall of 2009. To date, Jessika, Amber and the vendors of RWM have successfully gathered over $800,000 in donated services for a truly spectacular three-day wedding event. It will take place October 15-17, 2009 and is to be hosted at French’s Point- Maine. Donations continue to flow into RWM as Maine vendors, products, and services take advantage of the opportunity to share their talents on the national stage.
 
Our hope at Real Weddings Maine, is that you will find this story of interest because of the uniqueness of the couple, their amazing and beautiful movie, the benevolence of this tiny, rural population of self-made business people. Ultimately, we hope that this story will move you to help us shine a light on the gift that Real Weddings Maine and Maine businesses have to share with the world. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this project with you in further detail.
 
Sincerely,
 
The Grateful Vendors of Real Weddings Maine
www.realweddingsmaine.com
realweddingsmaine@gmail.com
207-567-3650