Wish Upon A Wedding

Welcome to Wish Upon a WeddingAs a nationwide 501(c) (3) organization, we celebrate the courage, determination and spirit of couples in love during their most challenging times. Officially launched in January of 2010, Wish Upon a Wedding will have 30 chapters spanning across the United States by the end of 2012. Read about some of the recent Wishes we have granted by clicking on the photos to the left.
http://wishuponawedding.org/north-carolina/
https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/WUWNorthCarolina?sk=info

PLEASE VISIT OUR BOOTH AT THE GALA!!!

Based on the concept that two people in love should never be denied the chance to marry their soul mate, Wish Upon a Wedding has helped dozens of couples say “I DO” since its launch in January 2010. Our organization provides this opportunity to those who have endured far greater challenges than many of us could possibly imagine.

The idea to start a nonprofit wish granting organization came to me while I was producing a large scale wedding giveaway in San Francisco in 2009. Over 350 participants entered to win a contest where there could only be one winner. With so many couples in need, I found myself wishing there was a way to donate a dream wedding to more than just one deserving pair.

One amazing bride-to-be who entered, in particular, stood out in my mind. Vanessa Muza Teskey was battling Stage IV Hodgkin’s Lymphoma while her fiance (an officer in the US Air Force) was deployed overseas. This couple ended up winning the Giveaway (through public voting) and their Love Story inspired the creation of Wish Upon a Wedding.

Raised by parents that spent their time improving their community through volunteer work, I learned early on the importance of community service. As a wedding planner with a background in nonprofit work, Wish Upon a Wedding now allows me to help people celebrate love, while encouraging those in my community to give selflessly to others.

It’s a magical organization ~ One I hope you will join as we continue to make these special Wishes come true…
Liz Guthrie, Founder & Executive Director, Wish Upon a Wedding

How you can helpVisit our Chapter Locations Page and APPLY to the chapter nearest you. Wish Upon a Wedding relies on the generosity of professionals from the Wedding and Hospitality industries to provide goods and services for our Wish Recipients. By calling on our database of regional Wish Granters, we are able to make wedding dreams come true. From caterers to photographers, and from DJs to cake designers, {and everything in between}, we need you!
The Process
Step One: Fill out an online Wish Granter Application.
Step Two: You may be contacted by WUW to help fulfill a Wish.
Step Three: If you accept the offer to grant the Wish, you will receive a Wish Granter Information Packet, which includes a contract you’ll need to sign and return to WUW. Additionally, a contract between your business and the Wish Recipients must be arranged, signed and turned in to the volunteer coordinator, prior to performing services.

The Wedding: Your responsibilities will be to the event coordinator and to the couple on the day of the event.
After the Wedding: Upon completion of the Wish, be sure to complete your post-event survey, which helps WUW provide you with an accurate TAX RECEIPT for your records.
You will then be sent an official “Wish Granter” badge to display on your blog or website.

NOTE to VIDEOGRAPHERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS: Turnaround time for videography & photography Wish Granters is 1 week. This will allow the family/couple to enjoy their video and photographs immediately.
VIDEOGRAPHERS: Submit your Wish Upon a Wedding VIDEO to our YOU TUBE channel by contacting videos@wishuponawedding.org

To sign up today as a Volunteer, please fill out our online application.Auction Team: If you enjoy developing strong community relations, fund raising, and seeking donations, we need you. Our once yearly online auction “Bid Your Wish for Wedded Bliss” is one of WUW’s biggest fund raisers. To effectively run and promote this project, we are seeking people who are: organized, detail-oriented, and have experience with fundraising and data entry.
Event Marketing Team: Individuals needed to post frequent information online in a variety of locations such as: Craigslist, Free Event Calendars, and blogs. The main component of this volunteer position would be to stay up to date with all current WUW events, and post links and details for these events to encourage attendance.

Each Chapter needs several Committee Members to help with events, marketing and operations. If you would like to donate your time in this way, please get in touch with us today! Simply email CarolinasPresident@wishuponawedding.org
http://wishuponawedding.org/category/blog/

Overnight Stays

Hampton Inn & Suites Swansboro
We have set up at group for the Bridal Expo, the code for this group is OBG, please let your vendors and guests know that this is available and they will receive the discounted rate of $99/night. Guests can make reservations on line using this code or they can call the hotel directly.
Carol D. Mortensen, Sales Manager
Hampton Inn & Suites Swansboro
215 Old Hammock Road, Swansboro, North Carolina, USA 28584
ph: 1-910-325-9000, fax: 1-910-325-9001
swansborosuites@hamptoninn.com

Directions to our Hotel
From Raleigh take I-40E towards Wilmington. Take exit 364, toward NC-24-BR/WARSAW/NC-50. Turn LEFT onto NC-24.Turn slight right onto Kenansville Hwy/NC-24/NC-50. Continue to follow NC-24/NC-50E towards Jacksonville. Continue to follow NC-24 onto NC-24E toward Camp Lejeune/Morehead City, Follow NC 24E until you reach Swansboro. Hotel is located off of NC-24 behind the Hardees on the right.

From Wilmington take US17 N into Jacksonville, merge onto NC24E toward Camp Lejeune/Morehead City. Continue on 24E until you reach Swansboro. Hotel is located off of NC24 on the right hand side behind Hardees.
From Virginia go 95 S, exit onto US-264 exit 119A toward US-117 S/Raleigh/Wilson. Merge onto US-264 E via exit 119A toward US-117 S/Wilson/Greenville. Merge onto I-795 S via exit 43C toward US-117/ Goldsboro /Kenly. Merge onto US-70 E via exit 87A toward Kinston. Merge onto US-70 E toward Kinston /Wilson/Morehead City stay straight to go onto US-258 BYP S/US-70 BYP E/W New Bern Rd. US-258 BYP S/ US-70 BYP E/W New Bern Rd becomes US-70 E. Take the NC-41 W ramp toward Cove City/Trenton. Turn right onto NC-41.Turn right onto Jones St E/NC-41. Turn left onto Market St/NC-58. Continue to follow NC-58. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-17/NC-58. Continue to follow US-17.Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto BELGRADE SWANSBORO RD. Turn LEFT onto FREEDOM WAY/NC-24 E. Continue to follow NC-24 E until you reach Swansboro.

Comfort Suites
Comfort Suites hotel in Jacksonville North Carolina near Camp Geiger.
Visitors will enjoy shopping at the nearby Jacksonville Mall. There are fishing areas and a beach just a short drive away. A variety of restaurants are located in the area, many within walking distance.

All suites have refrigerators, microwaves, irons, ironing boards, coffee makers and extended sitting rooms with sofa sleepers. Some suites also have whirlpool bathtubs. Presidential suites with large whirlpool bathtubs, fireplaces, wet bars and televisions with VCRs are available.
Guest laundry facilities are located on the property. The Bridal Vendor Rate of $82.00 in the front desk system at the Comfort Suites.
"The Comfort Inn and Suites is the premier hotel for groups and weddings in the Jacksonville, NC area. We offer King, Double and Executive Suite style rooms. A Complimentary Hot Breakfast is served each morning. Our guests enjoy unlimited use of our fitness center, sauna, and outdoor pool. Our on-site meeting room can accommodate up to 45 people. Group discounts, free delivery of welcome bags, free meeting space and a complimentary Honeymoon Suite are just a few specials that we offer to our wedding groups. For a free breakfast coupon and more information visit the booth for the Comfort Suites Jacksonville!"

Brittney Sherman
Director of Sales and Marketing
Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Suites & Candlewood Suites
Jacksonville, NC Region
p: (408) 410-9333

Directions to Our Hotel:
South on 17 hotel on left. North on 17 pass Golden Corral on left. Hotel on right.
The Comfort Suites® hotel is conveniently located less than five miles from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and Camp Geiger. This Jacksonville, NC hotel is minutes from area attractions like The Beirut Memorial, Phillips Park and Onslow Beach. The Albert J. Ellis Airport is 20 miles from the hotel. Onslow Pines Park and the Marine Corps Air Station New River are also nearby. Topsail Island is 45 miles from the hotel.

Dance Presentation!

Coastal Carolina Ballroom Dancers will perform!

Dancing at Your Wedding

With most weddings being on video, a newlywed couple's first dance is very important and memorable. That's why prospective brides and grooms who want to give a polished and graceful performance on the their big day are increasingly opting to take dance lessons to help prepare for what may be the performance of their lifetimes.

If you are planning to get married, here are a few tips from the experts on learning to dance in preparation for your wedding:

Don't wait until the last minute. Remember that your schedule will get very hectic as your wedding day approaches. Dance instructors recommend starting four to six months earlier to allow more time for practice, especially if you are a newcomer to dancing.

Remember that dance lessons can actually be a stress reliever. Dancing is good exercise. And lessons pull you out of the hustle and bustle of the day to spend an hour or so with your intended, having fun and working together productively at the same time.

Besides the Waltz and other traditional dances, the Mambo, Salsa, Swing and even the Hustle are all popular at weddings today.

If you plan to dance to a special song at your reception, feel free to bring a recording of it to your dance lessons so you can work on it with your instructor. (And don't forget to coordinate with your wedding videographer to the best "coverage" of your special dance.)

Learning to dance for your wedding is a special gift that you and your spouse-to-be can give to each other. Feeling confident and poised when you dance together will ensure that your very first dance together as wife and husband will be a memory you will cherish forever.

Contact them here

Goody Bag

Are you among the first 100 pre-registered brides???
(there are a few spots left -http://www.eventzilla.net/web/event?EventID=201109253985)

If so, you will find one of these in your goody bag!!
Engrable Picture Frame valued at $39.95!!

Pre-register at

http://onslowbridal2012.eventbrite.com/ or http://onslowbridal.eventzilla.net/