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

Monday, August 24 2009

Maine Organization Giving Worthy Couple Their Dream Wedding

Posted by Jessika Brooks   Tags: weddings and Maine

Press Release:

The economic situation of our country may be dismal and news of war and death disturbingly ordinary, but every once in a while a story comes along that reminds us of the dreams, dedication and American spirit that our country is founded on.
 
This – a true tale of love and devotion – is one of those stories.
 
It started in 2008 when Jessika Brooks, owner and CEO of The Retreat at French’s Point, began searching for an opportunity to offer a worthy couple their dream wedding with all of the services donated by the talented vendors who make up the coastal Maine luxury wedding industry. Brooks dubbed the group Real Weddings Maine.
 
She donated her high-end destination wedding venue, the perfect setting for a fairy tale wedding, and in February she floated the idea by upscale Maine wedding planner Amber Small, owner of Sweetest Thing Weddings.
 
The two instantly shared a vision for Real Weddings Maine and began searching for the perfect love story and couple with which to share this gift. A few weeks later, after seeing the Orono, Maine premiere of the movie "The Way We Get By," Amber knew she'd found her couple.
 
She quickly learned that the love story of filmmakers Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly is as sweet as they come. They have sacrificed so much to create their award-winning documentary that Amber knew right away they would be grateful and worthy recipients. Their story started five years ago when Aron and Gita were introduced by a mutual friend. Gita was a TV Reporter at the ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Mich. and Aron was a Promo Producer at the FOX affiliate.
 
"The first thing I said to her was, 'I know you don't want to work in television news, so what do you want to do with your life?'" Aron recalls. "She has always said that she couldn't believe I was so forward with her, but that she knew I was someone that thought the same way she did and wanted something more out of life."
 
Before they knew it, they began falling in love as they continued to look for the right story to tell. In December 2004, a trip to introduce Gita to Aron's mom in Maine revealed what they'd been looking for. Aron's mother is a troop greeter at Bangor International Airport – a frequent refueling stop for military flights. For years, she and a host of others have left home at all hours of the night and day to drive in snow, rain and sun – in sickness and in health – to ensure the troops passing through BIA know they're appreciated. They hand out cell phones for the soldiers to call loved ones, provide handshakes and hugs of appreciation, and are there to lend an ear and a shoulder to the men and women defending our country.
 
The movie "The Way We Get By" tells the greeters' tale of life and how to live it. What starts as a story about a group of senior citizens who gather daily at a small airport in Maine to thank American soldiers quickly turns into a moving, unsettling and compassionate story about aging, loneliness, war, and mortality.
 
Together, Aron and Gita shine a light on some truly selfless individuals through their heartfelt masterpiece of patriotism, determination and inspiration in a time when America and the world most need stories of hope.
"It's definitely been extremely rewarding and challenging to work together and be together, but I'm not sure how we could ever make it work any other way," says Aron, who asked Gita to marry him on the Fourth of July last year. "It's great being able to do this together and share all of these experiences."
 
While it's been a great experience, Aron and Gita have given up their entire savings and years of their time to make the film a reality.
 
"I think we would have been married sooner, but we really have poured everything we have into making the movie," says Aron. "And the thought of having to find the money for and also plan a wedding was completely overwhelming to us on top of everything else."
 
After hearing the whole story, Amber and Jessika began rallying the troops of Real Weddings Maine to give a dream wedding to the couple that has given so much.
 
"Aron and Gita gave everything they have to make this movie, just like the cast gives all they have to greet our troops," says Amber.
 
The 2009 mission of Real Weddings Maine already is under way with over 20 vendors secured for the Oct. 15-17 celebration for 150 guests at The Retreat at French’s Point.
 
Amber and Jessika have already enlisted vendors to donate tents, photography, flowers, music, and more. Jessika’s venue donation provides a place for Gita's family to stay for the week at The Farm at French’s Point, her Shoreline Lobster Bake Company will supply a gourmet rehearsal dinner, and her private estate The Retreat at French’s Point will host the ceremony and festivities. Details and donations continue to pour in, and the generosity of the Real Weddings Maine vendors appears limitless.