We did it again!
ST CROIX DESTINATON WEDDING PLANNER WINS THIRD CONSECUTIVE BRIDES CHOICE AWARD
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St Croix, VI – February 2, 2011 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce SunCelebrations has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 in the Wedding Planner category. This is SunCelebrations third consecutive win, having been awarded in 2009 and 2010. SunCelebrations is the only wedding planning firm in the entire US Virgin Islands to claim this three-peat distinction.
Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.
SunCelebrations stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.
“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud SunCelebrations for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”
We are happy to announce that SunCelebrations is among the very best Wedding Planners within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.
For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at www.weddingwire.com/suncelebrations
For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com .
About SunCelebrations
SunCelebrations, the US Virgin Islands leading destination wedding business, has been making wedding couples dreams come true for almost 10 years. For engaged couples, SunCelebrations offers both wedding planning and travel expertise via award-winning wedding expert and owner Cindy Clearwater’s careful guidance. All clients have access to their restricted website, an invaluable resource that includes ideas and referrals for everything from venue options and accommodations to photographers and wedding cakes. SunCelebrations has been voted ‘Best Wedding Planner in the US Virgin Islands’ 2010 by the Readers of the Virgin Islands Daily News and is a three-time recipient of WeddingWire.com Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2009, 2010 and 2011.
About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire.com, the nation’s leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).
In time for the Holidays
Our Zazzle store featuring Beach Bride products and island photography is always being updated! 2011 calendars, T-shirts, bags, iPhone & iPad skins, Invitations and much more!
Say “Yes” to the Fairy-tale dress
Hollis channeled her inner Cinderella for a fairy-tale beach wedding on St Croix
How many of you out there spent your childhood dreaming of being a Disney Princess and planning your fairytale wedding to your Prince Charming? Well now you can make that fantasy a reality with Disney’s new line of princess-inspired wedding gowns by Alfred Angelo.
- The treasures of the sea inspired Ariel’s gown. The mermaid silhouette features re-embroidered lace, pearl beading, and sequin sparkles. [add to that the beautiful backdrop of the Caribbean Sea and you've made our "Little Mermaid" fantasy a reality!]
- Aurora/Sleeping Beauty’s gown is romantic with a dreamy, willowy skirt for this slumbering princess.
- Belle’s wedding dress, with a draped waistline is inspired by the iconic ballroom dance scene from the film and focuses on making a grand entrance.
- Cinderella’s gown radiates with sparkle as its inspiration is the fairy tale’s enchanted glass slipper.
- Jasmine’s wedding dress conveys freedom and individuality and as a result her shimmering soft satin gown is exotic with a bejeweled neckline and low cut back.
- Snow White’s dress is inspired by nature, beauty and grace like the Disney Princess character herself.
- The regal, one-shoulder taffeta gown for our newest princess, Tiana, reflects her independent spirit with an asymmetric bodice and ruched skirt.
I often have brides ask me if its appropriate to wear a full gown for a beach wedding and I say YES, YES, YES! In fact, the majority of my brides wear long gowns on the beach. I do, however, have a few tips that go along with that decision:
- When choosing your dress, be mindful of the train. Long, flowing trains with a lot of lace will tend to pick up “hitch hikers” (bits of flotsam and jetsam) on the beach as you walk down the aisle. They can also snag on small sticks and bits of coral or rock, so I don’t recommend having a long and lacy train or veil.
- You WILL get hot in the tropics. Consider having a second, lighter dress on-hand to change into after the formalities are over. Keep it in the bridal theme and have fun with it. Think fun and flirty white cocktail dress with sequins or choose a gown with a single-layer of breathable fabric. This is also a great way to signal a transition in the evening to your guests – from the formal aspects to the full-on “party down” mode!
- Be kind to your groom and bridal party! While it may be your life-long dream to wear a long formal gown, its probably not theirs. Choose bridesmaid dresses that are tea or cocktail length with halter, spaghetti strap or strapless necklines. Choose natural fabrics like linen or cotton and avoid synthetics. J. Crew has a fantastic line of affordable dresses great for the beach. Be sure that you and your bridesmaids bring bathing suits that match the neckline of your dress to avoid tell-tale tan lines!
- For your groom and his guys choose short sleeved Guyabera’s (traditional linen embroidered Latin wedding shirts) or light-weight suits. By taking the time to think about the comfort of your royal subjects, you will truly be a fairy-tale princess to them!
This past summer May bride Hollis made her princess wedding dreams come true with her island destination wedding! Though she had actually considered a Disney wedding in Florida, she and her now husband’s love of St Croix won out. Inspired by her love of Disney princesses Belle and Cinderella, we worked together to create a fairy-tale beach wedding fit for royalty.
- The bride channeled her inner Cinderella with an ivory gown with full skirt, beaded bodice and large bow in the back.
- The ceremony aisle was lined with pink bougainvillea in conch shells and bunches of greenery that led up to romantic topiaries giving the beach a royal feel. Bows of Loden green bichon silk added the final touch.
- The flowers by Antilles Lilies had a whimsical, fantasy feel with purple and green spider mums, large pink stargazer lilies and red roses.
- The reception décor was given a royal flair with rented gold Chiavari chairs and gilded gold chargers. Dining tables were set with ivory linen and cocktail tables adorned with Loden silk clothes and red ties added the final touch.
- The bride carried the theme into her musical selections, dancing with her father to “Cinderella” by Steven Curtis Chapman (an absolutely beautiful choice for a father-daughter dance for any wedding!)
- Since they married on Cinco-de-Mayo we added in a little nod to the holiday serving Margheritas and chips and salsa!
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- Hollis channeled her inner Cinderella for a fairy-tale beach wedding on St Croix
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- Hollis & SunCelebrations’ owner Cindy Clearwater
Best Behavior for Brides and Bridesmaids
Commentary featured by GLAMOUR magazine online
Most every lady has been there – either as a bridesmaid dealing with a bridezilla, or as a bride disappointed by an uninvolved, unenthused bridesmaid. Neither party is necessarily to blame, but when the most important day in a girl’s life is at stake, the pressure is on for everyone to smile and everything to run smoothly. Miscommunication, false expectations, and feelings of burden or obligation, can call lead to shaky situations within bridal parties.
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- Getting ready together (photo by Quiana Duncan).
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- My amazing maid of honor fluffing my train (photo by Quiana Duncan).
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- My beautiful bridesmaids on the patio of our shared suite, wearing their complementary dresses and matching hook bracelets (photo by Quiana Duncan).
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- My bridesmaids wearing their matching tops at our bridal brunch the morning of my wedding day. They are pictured with me, my Mom and my husband’s Mom.
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- The amazing keepsake box my maid of honor handmade, given to me at my bridal brunch (photo provided by Bridesmaid Becca Thom).
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- My lovely bridesmaids on the beach at our wedding rehearsal (photo provided by Bridesmaid Becca Thom).
I have heard countless horror stories . . . I had a friend so embarrassed by her bridesmaid dress, that she carried a cocktail dress in her purse to change into the moment professional wedding photos were finished. A friend of a friend who was a graduate student at the time, had to set-up a yearlong payment plan with the bride’s family to repay them for the designer bridesmaid dress chosen for her by the bride. It goes without saying that in both these cases, the bride and bridesmaid were not the best of friends after the wedding.
As a recent bride and event planner turned wedding professional, I thought I would share some ideas on how to keep everyone happy and foster even stronger friendships after the wedding.
How brides can make their bridesmaids happy . . .
For my wedding in St Croix earlier this year, I included bridal party accommodations in my wedding budget. Footing the bill for a bridal suite not only lessened my bridesmaids’ travel expenses, but provided a slumber party-like environment for us to bond. On my wedding day, I offered to pay for a manicure or pedicure for each bridesmaid, so that we could get ready together in the resort spa.
Before the big day, I decided to make the dreaded bridesmaid dress a pleasant experience for all. I chose a fabric and color and let my bridesmaids choose the design of their dress through Aria. The cost of the dresses also came from my wedding budget. I had the dresses shipped directly to my bridesmaids, so that they could have them tailored to their liking. Since our ceremony was barefoot on the beach, I suggested a shoe type and color for the reception, and let my bridesmaids choose a pair from their closet collections. I made my bridesmaid gift their accessory, a hammered silver hook bracelet from Sonya’s Limited, the local company that originally began crafting the traditional island bracelet more than 40 years ago.
But the single most important thing I did as a bride to keep my bridesmaids happy was hire a wedding coordinator. SunCelebrations, the company I now coordinate with, executed my plans and took care of everything on my wedding day so that my bridesmaids and I could just relax and enjoy. In previous experiences as a bridesmaid, I had done everything from bleach outdoor chairs in the heat, to run last-minute beauty errands in the snow. I did not want my bridesmaids setting-up my ceremony or doing any of the dirty work (especially since they were on vacation too). Hiring a wedding coordinator was essential to keeping my wedding party happy.
What it takes to be a bridesmaid that remains friends with the bride after her wedding . . .
First and foremost, only say “yes” to a bride’s request to be a bridesmaid if you truly want to be a part of her big day. Particularly in situations where you’re a cousin or distant relative of the bride, you have the right to say “no thank you” upfront in a tasteful manner. Consider before agreeing if you really have the time and money necessary to devote to the wedding.
To maintain your sanity during stressful or frustrating times, remember that being a bridesmaid is an honor. By asking you to be part of her wedding, the bride is acknowledging that you have made a significant impact on her life. There are likely a handful of her family members and friends that are jealous they were not asked to be bridesmaids.
To not break the bank as a bridesmaid, consider making a gift for the bride. The couple will be overwhelmed with store-bought gifts from their wedding registries, so a handmade gift will stand out in a positive way. The most meaningful gift I received as a bride was a wedding keepsake box from my maid of honor. She simply covered a hat box with magazine cutouts of phrases and photos related to my wedding. The thought and time she put into it meant so much to me.
To keep the bride happy, try to plan ahead for a stress-free wedding day. Plan for the bridal party to get pedicures together at a spa, or participate in a calming activity like a yoga class. Surprise the bride with fruit and champagne to celebrate before the ceremony.
To stay organized, try creating an inbox folder for all wedding-related e-mails the bride and fellow bridesmaids send you. Put mailed invitations on your fridge so that you don’t have to bug the bride for times or directions on days of wedding events, like bridal showers.
Regarding the bridesmaid dress, try to happily wear whatever the bride asks you to. It boils down to a few hours wearing a dress you never have to wear again. Every guest is aware that your dress was the bride’s choice, so they will not judge you if it is a train wreck. Afterward, give your bridesmaid dress to a local Glass Slipper Project that recycles formals for girls to wear at school dances, who could not otherwise afford them. Just in case the bride ever asks, you gave the bridesmaid dress to a good cause.
In the end remember . . .
Brides: Don’t get caught-up in the silly details. Focus your attention on what your wedding is all about – you and your fiancé committing your lives to one another.
Bridesmaids: It is only one day, so just give it to the bride and enjoy.
Thanks for Remembering
The walk down the aisle from the movie Father of the Bride (photo property of Touchstone).
“Are you crying Dad?” I asked, as he tried to hide it at our rehearsal dinner. I had only seen my Dad Jack cry once before in my life, when our dog died. I had just handed him a thank you note and gift, a pen engraved Father of the Bride. That movie had been special to us since I was a little girl, so it only seemed right to include a quote from it in my note. As George (Steve Martin) walks his daughter Annie (Kimberly Williams-Paisley) down the aisle, he thinks: This was the moment I’d been dreading for the past six months. Well, actually for the past 22 years.
My walk down the aisle with my Dad Jack on Carambola Beach (photo by my Aunt, Sandy Smith).
In the hustle and bustle of a wedding, brides and grooms often forget to say “thank you.” Not because they’re ungrateful, but simply because weddings are a whirlwind. It is important to take a moment to express appreciation for those making your wedding day possible, like your parents and wedding party. Not to mention important vendors like your officiant and all the guests traveling to see you say “I do.”
Reverand Koopmans holding our hook bracelets before we exchanged them as part of our ceremony (photo by Quiana Duncan).
For destination weddings, couples often opt for thank you gifts and favors that tie-in their destination. Personally, I selected original St Croix hook bracelets from Sonya’s for my bridesmaids. If worn with the hook closed to others, it means your heart is taken and vice versa. The bracelets looked beautiful worn all-together by the bridal party during our ceremony. My husband Greg and I also gave each other hook bracelets when we exchanged wedding rings, so it made the bridesmaid’s gift all-the-more meaningful.
Our guest welcome bags included chocolates from local shop Steele’s Smokes & Sweets, as well as small bottles of Cruzan rum with drink recipe cards attached.
A few elements of our guest welcome bags, including chocolates from Steele’s Smokes & Sweets in Christiansted (photo by my Grandma, Dorothy Paviolo).
The thank you notes you include are often as or more important than the gift you give. Consider the following recommendations for writing them:
- Handwriting your notes is a must.
- Invest the time or money to make or purchase stationary.
- Consider typing out what you want to say first to avoid sloppy spelling or grammar.
- Think about something you could only say to the person you’re writing to. Be it an inside joke or a meaningful memory between the two of you, try to weave it into what you write.
- Don’t just say thank you for the [blank]. Tell the recipient why the gift is meaningful to you or what your plans are for it. For example, in thanking someone for a monetary gift, tell them you are placing the funds into savings for your first home.
- The sooner you send, the better. If you can bring thank you notes and gifts to the wedding, even better. Etiquette guru Emily Post says thank you notes should be written within three months of the receipt of a gift.
Thoughtful favors and welcome bags will certainly be appreciated by your guests. Here are some suggestions on what to give from the knot guide to destination weddings:
- Local food, drink or candy delicacies
- CD from a great local musician
- Beach towel, sunscreen, flip-flops or visor
- Luggage tags personalized with each guest’s name and address
- Photo albums they can fill later with pictures from the trip
- Small stack of postcards from the destination (pre-stamped so guests can write friends back home)
Take your time, be creative and you’ll be sure to give unforgettable thank you notes and gifts!
Traveling to your destination wedding with gifts and favors can be overwhelming, especially with items that can break or melt. Let SunCelebrations take care of gifts and favors for you. Say “thanks” to your guests with customized welcome bags and favors that express your style and incorporate island flair. We offer everything from embroidered beach towels and personalized luggage tags, to local chocolates and rum. SunCelebrations can provide ideas, place /pick-up orders, assemble and deliver welcome bags (including printed itineraries) for your guests to enjoy on-arrival at their hotel, or place favors at your reception. We also offer thank you gifts for parents of the couple and wedding party.
Snorkels and Signs
“I think I bought this snorkel at a grocery store,” I told my husband Greg as I unpacked the shoddy children’s pool toy with my scuba mask and fins. We decided to spend a recent Sunday at Cramer’s Park in a class to improve our snorkel skills. Well, I must have cleared the ocean water from that crappy snorkel 100 times before the end of the class. Each time a wave came along or I tilted my head slightly too far in one direction, I had a mouthful of water. Now that I live on an island, it was time to invest in an ocean-worthy snorkel.
Cindy, Captain Miles Sperber (owner of Caribbean Sea Adventures) & Ashley
Soon after, my boss Cindy and I had just spent a long Saturday working a wedding. So she nicely shifted our weekend to Sunday/Monday and arranged for us to sail to Buck Island and snorkel with Caribbean Sea Adventures. Because we provide concierge services to clients of SunCelebrations and Vacation St Croix, it is important for us to be in-the-know on island activities and be able to make recommendations from personal experience. Cindy and I ended up rushing just to make the boat that morning, so I had no time to stop into a scuba shop and again toted the kid’s snorkel along. Luckily, Caribbean Sea Adventures had the boat stocked and I was able to borrow a good one.
Scuba Cindy heads to the ocean floor
Cindy, a former crew member on Big Beard’s sails to Buck Island, was an excellent guide during our snorkel. Although we spent part of it pelted by rain, it was calm underwater. We saw vibrant fish, gorgeous coral and a host of barracuda. Because Buck Island is a marine park, it is well marked with underwater signs. Some note the snorkeling path, others caution that touching coral kills it, while others denote types of coral commonly found on the reef. Cindy and I shared a laugh about a question she often received while leading snorkel tours of tourists, “why wasn’t there a squirrel fish right next to the squirrel fish sign?”
Ashley & Cindy - A great day at the "office"
Next stop was Chenay Bay for a beach barbeque. Just as we pulled up to the resort and we were finishing our rum punch, I accidentally knocked Cindy’s cup off the stern of the sailboat. Not wanting to litter, I dove in after it. Since the cup was clear and impossible to see underwater, I decided to make amends with Mother Ocean by picking up other pieces of trash on the shallow bottom.
Ashley explores the reef at Buck Island Reef
A great day with Captain JP aboard Wavedancer
I was delving down for what looked like a sock when nearby I saw . . . a snorkel! Partially covered by seaweed, but otherwise I had found a pristine, adult snorkel by US Divers.
Another opportunity to snorkel came up not long after. Our friend Chuck, owner of The Palms at Pelican Cove, invited us to join him for a night snorkel off the shore near his home. While we practically had to drag Greg and Cindy to get in the ocean at night, all of us were excited to see what nocturnal creatures would be out. We happen to pick a night with a strong ocean surge, making it next to impossible to swim. We managed to see and touch a couple of amazing things – a sea star and sea cucumber. A few fish looked panicked by the crazy current, but for the most part everything was in-hiding.
Barracuda!
Chuck said that of the 250 plus snorkels he’s taken off the Palms beach, the conditions that night were the worst. A sign we should probably have accepted – when sea life is swimming for cover, you probably should be too! However, it was a great experience for the three of us to get accustomed to the ocean at night for future snorkel and scuba diving adventures.
Complementary rum punch hits the spot after snorkeling!
Lessons learned:
- Use pool toys in pools, not oceans.
- Take “professional development” days off with your colleagues.
- Care for the earth and enjoy when a good deed comes back to you.
- Appreciate the kindness of new friends.
- Take adventures that push you out of your comfort zone.
- Watch for signs, in the ocean and in life.
“So where is paradise?”
Ashley Bouzianis April 09 Bride and SunCelebrations Marketing/Event Coordinator
*Announcing an “Ask Ashley” FREE conference call to answer all your questions about destination weddings from a bride who has been there. Please plan to dial-in Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST Click here to register! Already have questions in mind? Feel free to e-mail your questions beforehand (ashley@suncelebrations.com).
“So where is paradise?” Hundreds of strangers asked my husband Greg and I as they walked up the driveway of our moving sale in Texas earlier this year. “St. Croix!” we happily replied.
After taking several trips to our paradise and getting married on-island, we thought selling most of our belongings before moving to St. Croix would save on shipping. So we held a “moving to paradise” garage sale (complete with palms trees on our signs scattered around town), listed our stuff on Craig’s List or eBay and hit consignment stores.
We gave our remaining items to charities. Our DVDs went to a veteran’s hospital, while my stuffed animal collection went to less fortunate children in Central America. So far we have yet to need or want a single item we let go of (not even the two-thirds of my shoe collection I swore I couldn’t live without)!
Just as our three-day moving sale sold out in a matter of hours, everything about our move to St. Croix has fallen perfectly into place. From jobs to living situations, the stars have aligned in our favor! First and foremost, my new job as marketing /event coordinator of SunCelebrations.
Since my first phone consultation with SunCelebrations owner Cindy Clearwater, I was confident we were two peas in a pod. She’s a smart, savvy, no-nonsense business woman, which is precisely what a bride wants in a wedding coordinator! With my background in events, public relations and marketing, I set a high bar for the job. After a call and correspondence, I decided SunCelebrations was the right fit to coordinate my wedding.
Cindy’s first in-person activity with our wedding party was the ceremony rehearsal. She began giving instruction and as some side conversations continued among our large and social group, she stopped to get everyone’s attention in a polite but assertive manner. Perfect! Someone else to say the things that need to be said for our wedding to run smoothly, without me being labeled a dreaded “bridezilla!”
To all bride-to-be’s, I cannot tell you how priceless it is to be free of stress on your wedding day. My husband and I actually got to sit down and eat dinner just like the other guests at our wedding reception (which I have heard from countless brides is a rarity)!
Getting my hair done for the big day
On my wedding day, my job entailed getting pampered at the Carambola spa and taking in every moment with complete confidence the details were taken care of. Not by my bridesmaids or family members (they were on vacation too), but by competent and experienced professionals. Our wedding day was perfect!
So days after the big day, my new hubby and I met Cindy for happy hour at Fort Christian Brew Pub in Christiansted and told her we were considering relocating. Moving to paradise was something we had talked about since we first started dating! Cindy mentioned that I may be a good fit for her SunCelebrations team, which was just the jump start we needed to start seriously planning our move. Ever since, she has been an invaluable resource and friend during our transition.
Manicured nails are a must for perfect wedding pics!
Now that we’ve settled into a place on the east end of the island and Greg is also working, I’m ready to dive into destination weddings. I look forward to working with SunCelebrations, a business I truly believe in. Cindy is an incredibly talented event planner who is only limited by the fact that she can only be in one place at a time. I am confident my first-hand experience as a destination bride combined with my event planning background will lend itself well to SunCelebrations.
About
SunCelebrations specializes in affordable, celebrity-style destination weddings. By taking the time to get to know you and your fiance, we design events that are an intimate reflection of you both. Destination weddings are about personal touch and creating a wedding experience that you and your guests will cherish for a lifetime. Barefoot in the sand to formal country club, we make it happen with island style! We offer a wide range of services and packages to suit all budgets …And we’re affiliated with a full-service travel agency serving the island community for over 25 years…A one-stop shop for all your event, travel and honeymoon needs. Arriving on a cruise ship and want to say “I do!” on our beautiful shores… we can do that too! Contact us today to make your Caribbean dreams a reality!
WeddingWire.com has awarded SunCelebrations a 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards. The Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by newlywed client reviews through surveys and reviews. This year’s recipients represent the top 3% of over 100,000 wedding vendors across the US.
